06.21.2024

Today’s Forecast

94º | 5% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 5:49 a.m. | Sunset 8:34 p.m.

Are you ready for rezoning?

Richmond is rewriting its zoning ordinance. What does this mean?

RICtoday_ZoningOrdinance_NeighborhoodSign

For many years, City Council has taken a piecemeal approach to rezoning and amending the zoning ordinance. | Photo by RICtoday

The city is rewriting its zoning ordinance — the section of the city code that establishes what can be built where — and how — in Richmond.

The ordinance is a legal document that maps the entire city based on what can be built and how sites must be designed. You can find it in chapter 30 of the city code.

How can I get involved?

With the rewrite process kicking into gear, the city is hosting two hour-long webinars for interested parties to brush up on their zoning knowledge. Click the dates to register for a session.

Monday, June 24 | 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 25 | 6 p.m.

Pro tip: You can brush up on some common terms with our guide to understanding development news.

Further along in the process there will be working groups, community engagement sessions, and public hearings to participate in.

RICtoday_ZoningOrdinance_ConstructionHistoryMap — The rewrite will include mapping when current structures were built, which can stretch back 200+ years.
|
Map via city documents

What’s the timeline?

The first step is developing what Dept. of Planning and Review Director Kevin Vonck calls a “citywide development pattern book” — a way to document what’s been built already and when. Many structures in the city would not technically be legal to build today, but the new zoning ordinance might legalize them.

The planning commission will then build a framework to establish definitions, processes, and guidelines for the new ordinance and the new districts.

Vonck anticipates that those steps will take the rest of 2024. Starting in 2025, the department will dive into actually drafting the ordinance.

Who is in charge of the rewrite?

The planning commission is at the helm of the process, along with the Zoning Advisory Council subcommittee to assist in the rewrite and build community awareness and participation in the process.

Get more information at the button below.

What's going to change?

Events

Friday, June 21

Pride at the Market | Friday, June 21 | 6-10 p.m. | 17th St. Market, 100 N. 17th St., Richmond | Free entry | Get ready for an evening of live music, dancing, shopping, and celebrating complete with a silent disco and an afterparty at Fallout.
Baroness | Friday, June 21 | 7 p.m. | The Broadberry, 2729 W. Broad St., Richmond | $30-$125 | Jam with the heavy metal band and openers Ruby The Hatchet and Filth Is Eternal.
A Midsummer Night’s Slam | Friday, June 21 | 8 p.m. | Dogwood Dell, 600 S. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Richmond | Free | Shakespeare and spoken word collide at this Festival of Arts event with original music by Tiara & Andrew, Charli Ra, and Jahnel Daliya.

Saturday, June 22

Immersecon 2024 | Saturday, June 22-Sunday, June 23 | Times vary | Henrico Sports & Events Center, 11000 Telegraph Rd., Glen Allen | $15-$85 | Expect arcade and console games, tabletop battles, cosplay contests, and panel discussions at this gaming and STEM convention.
Stone Soul Music and Food Festival | Saturday, June 22 | 2-9 p.m. | Browns Island, S. 7th St., Richmond | $65 | Enjoy performances from Juvenile, Trina, Tamar Braxton, and over a dozen other artists and DJs.
Midsummer Mocktails | Saturday, June 22 | 6-9 p.m. | The Workshop by T&D, 1400 Mactavish Ave., Richmond | Free entry | Celebrate the two-year anniversary of Point 5, Richmond’s first non-alcoholic bottle shop, with live music, a vendor market, raffles, and plenty of mocktails.
Find Liz Love | Saturday, June 22 | 9-10:30 p.m. | Coalition Theater, 8 W. Broad St., Richmond | $5-$10 | At the end of this half-comedy-show-half-date, the audience will vote on if it’s a love match or snuffed flame.

Sunday, June 23

Writing Workshop: Hybrid Forms | Sunday, June 23 | 3-5 p.m. | Benchtop Brewing, 434 Hull St., Richmond | Free entry | Join Poems for People VA for a writing workshop exploring the boundaries of style and multimedia expression.
“Bottoms” | Sunday, June 23 | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre, 2908 W. Cary St., Richmond | $9 | This new-classic teen comedy stars Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott.

More weekend events

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Traffic

Expect major delays near the Broad Street Bridge over I-95 this weekend. Starting tonight at 8 p.m., I-95 northbound and southbound will be reduced to one lane and Broad Street will be closed in both directions. The closures will end on Monday, June 24 at 6 a.m.

Theater

This weekend is your last chance to catch “Much Ado About Nothing” at the Richmond Shakespeare Festival. The final performances will take place tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday. “Doctor Faustus” opens at Agecroft on Thursday, July 4. Get tickets.

Development

A developer is seeking a special-use permit to build 180 income-restricted apartments on Southside. The Lawson Cos. plan to construct six three-story buildings on a 10-acre site near Walmsley and Broad Rock Boulevards. (Richmond BizSense)

Opening

A local couple is launching a hand-crafted water ice business. They plan to donate 1% of each purchase to the SPCA. You can catch the Good Vices trailer at its grand opening on Saturday, July 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 3115 Wharf St. near Rocketts Landing.

History

Style Weekly has created a new resource to explore local queer history. The interactive map has over 50 points with influential figures, community resources, and locations critical to Richmond’s past and present. You can even suggest points to add. (Style Weekly)

Arts

Local artist Matt Lively is working on a new mural on Southside. The river-inspired work is taking shape on the side of an apartment building on Forest Hill Avenue. (South Richmond News)

Shop

Starting in July, join a Carytown-wide Where’s Waldo search. Find him in 23 shops and keep track with a stamp card to gather prizes including stickers, raffle entries, and gift cards. The whole thing wraps up at bbgb’s grand party on July 27 at 3 p.m.

Cause

Join local nonprofit The READ Center for a celebration of 40 years of promoting adult literacy. A Moveable Feast will take place Sept. 19 at the Library of Virginia. The event will include specialty drinks, live jazz, and an auction. $75 early bird tickets are available through Friday, July 19.

Featured Deal

Shop ‘til you drop at the Ruby Boutique before it permanently closes on Sunday, June 30 (think: savings of up to 75% on 100+ pairs of shoes and clothing). Their sister store, The Phoenix, will remain open — so look for new summer arrivals.*

Home

Renewal by Andersen^® windows combine stunning beauty with energy-efficient design. Buy one, get one 40% off + get $200 off your order for a limited time.*

Arts

🎨 Know an up-and-coming artist?

RVA Thriving Artists program promotes emerging local artists

Check out works by Bridge artists Tuesdays-Sundays at Art Works. | Photo by RICtoday

Local nonprofit RVA Thriving Artists sponsors several programs to help support underserved and emerging artists in the River City — including giving some artists an early opportunity to display and sell their work.

The Community Bridge Project gives artists a three-month gallery exhibit at Art Works in Manchester at no cost. They also have their work promoted by the gallery and gain experience in curating, hanging, and pricing pieces.

Right now, you can see watercolors by Asia Anderson on display at the gallery through Aug. 31.

Applications are open to artists from around Virginia for the next two Bridge Project exhibits in the fall and winter.

The Buy

The Buy 6.21.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Our Place’s take on a pressure + slow cooker. The Dream Cooker has the brand’s signature modern finish with multi-cooking capabilities. If you’re looking for a kitchen appliance that also has countertop appeal, this is it.

The Wrap

Robin Schwartzkopf in a red button down shirt

Today’s edition by:
Robin

From the editor

With temperatures inching close to 100° this weekend, I’m thinking I’ll keep my outdoor activities to the evening hours. Luckily, the Festival of Arts lineup is stacked with a new poetry event, a jazz legend, and a tribute to Taylor Swift.

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