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April 2015
Notice to Members
Annual Meeting of the Fan District Association
Wednesday, May 13, 2014 - 7:00 PM
Virginia Historical Society
Election of New
Board Members
Jack Burke
Tim Feehan
Katherine Jordan
Heather McQuillin
*Call Matthew Stanley at 804-332-1794
for an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots
must be delivered to the FDA Office,
208 Strawberry Street, on or before
noon on May 12 to be counted. Annual
membership dues must be paid in full to
be eligible to vote.
Renew your
2015 FDA Membership now
to be eligible to vote
at the Annual Meeting in May.
Form is available online at
http://fandistrict.org/members/join/
All Fan District Association members are invited to the 53rd Annual
Membership Meeting that will take place on Wednesday, May 13 at
7:00 PM. The Virginia Historical Society will be location of the meeting.
This meeting will include an overview of the association’s accomplishments
of the past year and a celebration of good works by our residents in the
form of three separate awards.
We also will be electing four new FDA Board members, in order to fill
the seats of the four current board members ending their three-year terms.
Pictures and biographies of the current candidates are included in this issue
on page 3.
Agenda will include:
• Approval of minutes from last year’s meeting
• Treasurer’s report
• Overview of accomplishments in 2013-2014
• Introduction of board candidates
• Comments by Matthew Stanley, FDA President
Honorary Awards Presentation to include:
• Excellence in Volunteerism Award
• Excellence in Residential Restoration Award
• Excellence in Commercial Renovation Award
Finally, after recognizing our outgoing board members and concluding
the business meeting, we will invite all attendees to enjoy a neighborhood
social with delicious hors d’oeuvres, and beer and wine. This is a great
opportunity to chat with your new board members, neighbors from across
the Fan, and make new acquaintances.
Tree Stewards Readying for Spring
Tree stewards Janine Lester and her assistant Elle, worked their way
up Hanover Avenue on the first warm March day in the Fan. Janine is
Virginia’s only female certified master arborist. Thanks to Bennette Burks
for the photo.
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
President’s Message
Matthew P. Stanley
Friends and Neighbors,
Now that we are finally thawed out
from a brutal winter, the FDA is in high
gear preparing for our annual meeting
and other warmer-weather programs.
There are a number of issues to highlight
but I first want to thank the current
Board of Directors for their support
in electing me to continue to serve as
the FDA President going into the next
elective year of the Association. We
have new board candidates who are excellently qualified and
ready to fill the large shoes of our outgoing board members;
Laura Bateman, Bennette Burks, and Ted Theofanos. I cannot
thank the three of them enough for all of the time and energy
that they have put into the FDA over the last three years.
It has been amazing how quickly time flies and
the number of issues that pop up requiring the FDA’s
involvement. There are still a number of priorities on which
I would like to continue the FDA’s focus, including the Fan
lighting program and the implementation of further historical
protections for the Fan district.
Other issues have arisen requiring involvement of the
FDA in the months since our last Fanfare issue. One of the
most significant developments has been the final design
plans and approval of the Floyd Bike Boulevard – also
Fan Bulletin Board
FDA Board Meeting
April 6, 7:00pm, 208 N. Strawberry St.
Clean the Parks Day – Grace Street Park
April 11th, 9:00am-Noon
Clean the Parks Day – All Other Fan Parks
April 18th, 9:00am-Noon
Fan Village at VMFA’s Best Café
April 14, 11:00am
FDA Board Meeting
May 4, 7:00pm, 208 N. Strawberry St.
35th Annual Strawberry Street Festival
May 10, Wm. Fox Elementary School
Fan Village at VMFA’s Best Café
May 12, 11:00am
FDA Annual Meeting, Virginia Historical Society
May 13, 7:00pm
Meadow Park Concert Series
May 24, 5:00-7:00pm
FDA Board Meeting
June 1, 7:00pm, 208 N. Strawberry St.
FDA Board Meeting
July 6, 7:00pm, 208 N. Strawberry St.
2
referred to as the Floyd Bike Walk Street. There is an article
in this issue with further details of the final, approved design
plans. Before these final plans were agreed upon, other
iterations of the design plans were considered. There was
serious concern among Floyd Avenue residents regarding
the possible loss of parking spaces and other negative
consequences of the proposed neighborhood traffic circles.
I want to personally thank the group of Fan residents that
worked with the City and their planners to agree upon design
elements that reflected the input of Floyd Avenue residents.
An issue that has recently emerged requiring the
involvement and attention of the FDA is the proposed Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) design plan put forth by the GRTC.
While we have known about this $54 million project and its
impending implementation for some time, initial design plans
were only just released in January. Coming as a shock to the
Fan District and other neighborhoods was a component of
the design plans calling for the elimination of ALL parking
on Broad Street between Thompson Street in the Museum
District and 14th Street downtown. This would eliminate
close to almost 800 parking spaces and numerous loading
zones. The direct negative impact on Broad Street businesses
and the indirect impact on parking in our and other
neighborhoods is unacceptable. The FDA Board has already
partnered with our sister civic and business associations
to work with the City and find alternatives to these design
plans that do not eliminate parking on Broad Street. We are
opposed to this plan that eliminates all parking on Broad and
will continue to advocate on behalf of our neighborhood, our
residents, and our businesses.
The FDA Grants Committee and Board of Directors are
in the process of finalizing our grant awards for 2015. Our
grants program is funded through the proceeds of our annual
Holiday House Tour. This year, thanks to incredible work
by the Tour leadership and wonderful weather, we had a
blockbuster year and have been able to increase our grants
budget. Our original budget contained $20,000 in funding,
but the Board of Directors voted in March to increase this to
$25,000. We will announce and disburse these grant awards
at the annual meeting this May.
Finally, I want to extend a special thank you to our
communications team. Between our weekly emails,
Facebook and social media involvement, and Fanfare, they
keep busy engaging and informing the community, and they
do an excellent job! As I noted in my last column (but worth
repeating), one of our best tools for communicating with
you, our members, is through our weekly email newsletters.
These newsletters have great information and help keep you
engaged with the community. If you do not receive them,
please let us know so that we can add you to our list. And in
regards to Fanfare, be on the lookout for a new design and
layout in our summer issue.
Thank you for reading and hope to see you at the Annual
Meeting!
Matthew
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
Meet the Candidates
Jack Burke
Jack Burke is a longtime
Richmond resident,
businessman, and community
volunteer. As the former
President of Leo Burke
Furniture, Jack was a member
of the Richmond business
community for over 30 years.
Currently, he is a leading sales
associate with Long and Foster
Realtors’ Strawberry Street
office. Jack has considerable
expertise in cultivation
of relationships and has
developed a reputation for unsurpassed customer service
with a high level of integrity.
Since graduating from Hampden-Sydney College and
throughout his career, Jack has served in leadership roles
with many community, charitable, religious, and business
associations. Some of these organizations include the
Retail Merchants Association, the Carytown Merchants
Association, Merchant Services, Inc., Benedictine High
School, the 100 Club of Richmond, St. Benedict Church, and
St. Bridget School.
Heather McQuillin
Heather McQuillin and
her husband David moved to
the Fan from Boston in 2008.
Both of their daughters were
attending Virginia colleges
and after several visits to
Richmond they decided to
give it a try. After six months
they knew they loved the
Fan and began a search for a
permanent home, which they
found on Grove Ave.
Working at the gorgeous
Ruth and Ollie store in
Carytown allows Heather to indulge her passion for interior
design. Co-chairing the Fan District Association Holiday
House Tour the past two years has influenced Heather to
learn and do more for the neighborhood. She hopes as
membership chair to find new ways to reach people who
still don’t know about the Fan District Association and all the
wonderful things being done in this great neighborhood.
Katherine Jordan
While a recent newcomer
to the Fan via Dallas,
Texas, Katherine is a native
Richmonder who has spent
most of her life in Virginia.
With two degrees from
UVA, Katherine’s professional
experience includes serving as
Assistant Director for Campus
Design and Sustainability
for Duke Medicine. While
in Durham, she was an
active board member for the
Trinity Park Neighborhood
Association and the Triangle Chapter of the US Green
Building Council. She also served on the Durham City/
County Appearance Commission and volunteered with
Preservation Durham.
Prior to Durham, she worked at Cooper, Robertson &
Partners in NYC, the architects behind the Lewis Ginter
Botanical Garden’s visitor center. She has two girls, a blue
heeler mix and a husband who shares her love for old houses
and urban neighborhoods.
Tim Feehan
Tim and his wife, Alison,
have lived on West Avenue for
17 years. They have two sons
(ages 7 and 12), with whom
they have spent countless
hours at Lombardy Park and
walking through the Fan. Tim has had the privilege
of serving as general counsel
to the Henrico Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
program, was the Secretary,
Vice Mayor and Mayor of the
West Avenue Improvement
Association, and is the President of the Fishing Bay Trace Home Owners’ Association. As an attorney with the law firm of Cook, Heyward, Lee,
Hopper & Feehan, he represents individuals and professionals with business, employment, and commercial real estate
matters. By some standards his tenure as a Fan resident is
short; by others he’s an old hand. But what he hopes he
shares with all who chose to make the Fan their home is a
reverence for the rich traditions of the area, the gratefulness
of being able to live within such a diverse neighborhood, and
the opportunities that the future holds for the Fan. Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
3
And No One Knows
What It Takes To Sell
Your Beloved Fan District Home
Better Than Realtor® Chris Small!
4
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
FDA Community Grants Program:
Investing in our Community
By Jenna Mosman
The
Community
Grants
Program is
a vital part
of the FDA’s
service to the
Fan and its
residences.
These grants
support
Fan District
capital
projects, park
renovations
and
maintenance,
community events, beautification efforts and Fan-based
educational, cultural and human service organizations.
In 2014, the FDA awarded a total of $19,115 in grant
funds to nine grantees. These funds provided for
• the premier sponsorship of the Fox Elementary School’s
annual Strawberry Street Festival,
• a new window at the Braille Circulating Library for the
Blind
• numerous infrastructure and capital improvements to
Fan parks (including Meadow, Lombardy and Sydney
Parks)
• five custom-made bike hitches in Fan public spaces;
and
• the educational enrichment of Binford students through
ENGAGE: Art Around the Corner at the Visual Arts
Center.
Examples of FDA Grant Funding at Work:
Binford Middle School students engage in cumulative arts
education, interactive tours and rare learning experiences
with exhibitions and artists.
One of the many instances in which Fan volunteers
perform maintenance and landscaping work throughout Fan
parks and other public Fan spaces. The volunteers wear
safety vests provided by an FDA Community Grant.
One of the five custom bike hitches to be created for and
erected throughout the Fan.
The FDA Grant
Program in 2015:
The FDA
received 15
applications for the
2015 grant cycle
with a cumulative
total of $84,415 in
requested funds.
With a grant budget
of $25,000, the FDA
will allocate the
available funds to
have as positive an
impact as possible.
The FDA Board
will vote on grant
allocations at its
April 2015 meeting.
Awarded grants
will be officially
announced in May.
Be sure to
attend the FDA’s
annual meeting in
May to learn how
the FDA grants
program will be
investing in your
neighborhood!
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
5
Renovated Greenspace Proposed for Allen Avenue
By Janet Heltzel (Board President-Friends of Allen Avenue Common)
Friends of Allen Avenue Common (FAAC) formed as
a partner group of Enrichmond Foundation in December
2012. We plan to rejuvenate the median strip of North
Allen Avenue running from the Lee Monument south to
the intersection with Park Avenue. Current conditions of
hardpacked earth, struggling grass and standing water after
rainstorms make the median unattractive and unusable.
A new urban green space is envisioned - a new park to
be enjoyed by the FAN community and the city at large.
Designed by renowned landscape architects Anna Galusha
Aquino and Bryan Puckett, it will be simple, elegant, stately
and low maintenance in keeping with the entire historic
district in which it resides.
Avenue median. FAAC hopes to complete these formalities
by Spring 2015.
This urban park will be a lovely gateway for tourists to
linger, residents to sit, chat, watch children ride tricycles, toss
a ball, walk a dog, enjoy a lunch sandwich and gather for
community concerts, picnics, art shows, etc.
We are currently in the process of preparing grant
requests to community associations and more fundraising
activities are planned for the coming year. Stay tuned for
more updates on our progress!
Tax deductible contributions can be made to Enrichmond
Foundation - 100 North 17th Street, Richmond, 23219.
*Please note Friends of Allen Avenue Common (FAAC) in
the memo line.
The FAAC Board has presented the plans to various city
departments during the past year. Currently Councilman
Charles Samuels is helping to liaison the transformation of
this area to a park under the auspices of the Department of
Parks and Recreation. Parks & Rec is currently preparing a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the FAAC board
that both parties will review and sign. Councilman Samuels
will then present an Ordinance & Resolution (OAR) to City
Council to accept the “gift” of improvements to the Allen
6
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
VCU Issues Trolley Barn Site Study
Many Fan residents have
been waiting patiently to see
the plans for the redevelopment
of the Trolley Barn site in
the quadrant bordered by
Cary Street, Robinson Street,
Grayland Avenue and Davis
Avenue. VCU’s Master of
Urban and Regional Planning
Program at the L. Douglas
Wilder School of Government
and Public Affairs recently
issued its Richmond Trolley
Barns Site Study. Multi-use
recommendations for the site
can be found at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/
b4klkm95my7simt/Final%20
Trolley%20Barn%20Document.
pdf?dl=0. |We look forward to
some exciting changes.
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
7
Floyd Bike Boulevard
Approved for Construction
By Matthew Stanley
In February, the City Planning Commission approved
final design plans for the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard. This
action marked the final procedural step before construction
can proceed on converting 2.25 miles of Floyd Avenue
between Thompson Street and Monroe Park (Laurel
Street) into a more biker
and pedestrian friendly
thoroughfare.
The Bike Boulevard
was first proposed to the
community in the fall of
2013. It is a project funded
through the Richmond
Regional Transportation
Alternatives Program,
which encompasses local,
state, and federal funding.
Bike boulevards use traffic
calming measures to
accomplish their purpose,
but the goals of such projects are to:
• Reduce automobile cut-through traffic
• Reduce motor vehicle traffic speeds
• Improve the efficiency of bicycle travel
• Provide safer connections
• Help people walk across our busier streets
• Guide people to their destinations
After community meetings in the spring and summer
of 2014 to receive neighborhood input on the project and
present conceptual design ideas, the Fan District Association
and Museum District Association gauged neighborhood
support through public comment and surveys. After
receiving a favorable response, both organizations took
positions to support the project. In the fall, Richmond City
Council adopted resolutions to accept the state and federal
funding to proceed into the design and implementation
phases of the project.
8
This past winter, final design plans were released for the
Bike Boulevard. Although the City claimed that no parking
would be eliminated on Floyd, there were serious concerns
that parking would still be impacted. The plans eliminated
all four way stop signs and called for the construction of
neighborhood traffic circles at multiple intersections. Initially,
because of neighborhood and design concerns, the City
Planning Commission delayed a final vote on the plans.
The City revised the plans with additional neighborhood
involvement and a final plan was approved with changes that
allayed some concerns of residents.
Some of the final, approved changes to Floyd Avenue to
convert it to the bike boulevard include:
• Removal of all 4-way stop signs. Stop signs will remain
in the north and south directions at all intersections.
• Neighborhood traffic circles at several intersections in
the Museum District and at three intersections in the
Fan at Davis Street, Allen Avenue, Vine Street, and
Morris Street.
• 3-inch elevated crosswalks at four intersections
including at Strawberry, Rowland, Plum, and Harvie
streets.
• Two existing traffic signals, one at North Belmont
Avenue and the other at North Linden Street, will be
removed, while all others will remain.
• All intersections will have marked, pedestrian
crosswalks.
• Pedestrian curb extensions, or “bump outs”, at Harrison
Street, Linden Street, and Cherry Street.
• Identification signs like the example on this page will
be installed at Thompson Street, Boulevard, Harrison
Street, and Laurel Street.
• Construction on Floyd Avenue should begin soon. The
City’s goal is to have construction completed before the
UCI 2015 bicycling races in September.
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
Boys and Girls Club Site to Be Redeveloped
into Town Homes
When the Boys and Girls Club organization closed the
facility at 2601 Kensington Avenue, the Fan lost some good
neighbors, but we will gain some new homes when the
property is redeveloped by NCRE with general contractor,
The Nolde Company. Fanfare contacted John Nolde, who
answered a few questions about his approach to the project.
What appealed to you about the site and the challenges of
a project like this?
The location was the key appeal of the site. Being in the
Fan within walking distance to the VMFA, Science Museum,
shops and good Fan restaurants makes this location very
appealing. The biggest challenge of this project was trying
to see if the existing building could be reused in any way.
Ultimately it was determined that it was a tough building to
reuse so demolition was the route we chose. That presents
a new challenge -- what to do with the demolished building
waste while respecting the environment. This is still a work in
progress, but we will crush the concrete block and use some
of it to fill the hole that will be left, we will recycle some of
the steel beams in the building, and we are talking to salvage
companies about what they can take out of the building to
reuse or recycle.
What kind of neighborhood feedback did you receive?
I have received lots of feedback. Most all of it has been
positive, which is rare in the development business. The
neighbors have been great and are very supportive of the
project that is sensitive to the period of adjacent structures.
What were the stumbling blocks in the permitting approval
process?
I am working through the Plan of Development and
Subdivision process with the City now. This has not really
presented any stumbling blocks for the project, other than
it takes a long time. After that, I just need to get a building
permit.
What inspired you about a design?
The Fan architecture is inspirational in itself and has stood
the test of time. The existing fabric of the neighborhood was
my inspiration. When do you expect to break ground and how long will it
be before the first owners move in?
We expect to break ground the first part of June with
the hope that we will have new home owners in the homes
around February of next year.
You may read more about the project at their website,
http://hunttsrow.com.
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
9
Our Neighborhood Schools:
An Update on Binford Middle School
By Randall Ware
On the verge of closing its doors
only a year ago, Binford Middle School
is hoping for a rebirth this fall. A $1.2
million investment, which has been
approved by the School Board and
adopted as part of the budget by City
Council, is behind the plan to attract more
students to the struggling school. The
money will go towards implementing a
new program designed to enhance student
achievement through creative learning.
The program combines an integrative
arts curriculum with the College Board
Springboard program. The dual nature
of the program is intended to expand
instructional methods to include more
visual aids, performing arts activities and
physical participation by the students in
the classroom. At a recent informational
meeting at Binford, school administrators
said that teachers will “use the arts as
a tool to master the academics.” As an
additional support tool, parents and
students will have access to digital
textbooks.
Currently, Binford’s enrollment is less than 50% of its
capacity. There aren’t even enough 6th, 7th and 8th graders
living in the district to fill the school. In order attract more
students, the city offered an extended open enrollment for
families living outside Binford’s district. The open enrollment
process, which had a deadline of March 6, is non-exclusive,
meaning that students will be accepted through a lottery
system. No consideration is given to academic achievement.
Students living in Binford’s district do not have to apply
through open enrollment – they are automatically admitted
to the school. Bus transportation to Binford will be provided
by hub stops. The goal is to have a total enrollment at Binford
of at least 525 students and an average
class size of 21 by 2018.
Named for James H. Binford,
Richmond school superintendent from
1870-1876, Binford Middle School opened
in 1915. Its highest enrollment, at 1,376
students, was during the 1920s. The
most distinctive feature of the school,
its architect Charles M. Robinson once
said, is the two inclined planes, or ramps,
which make it possible to go from the
basement to the roof without walking up
a single step. Another notable attraction,
found in the auditorium, is a display
of Caproni casts made by the famous
Florentine master craftsman of museum
reproductions. In the early years, the
school also had an open-air gymnasium
on the roof.
In 1989 the Virginia Department
of Education recognized and awarded
Binford as a “vanguard” middle school
for its innovative approaches to program
design and instruction. The new program,
set to be in place by September, hopes
to recapture this reputation for Binford. According to school
administrators, suspension rates have dropped an average of
23% in schools with arts-based learning programs.
Binford is teaming up with several theatrical, cultural
and academic organizations that will help with professional
development, teacher training and program administration.
These partners include the University of Richmond Partners
in Arts, the VCU Art Department, the Richmond Symphony,
Richmond CenterStage, Virginia Repertory Theatre and the
Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Binford is also planning
to hire five additional teachers in anticipation of increased
enrollment.
So Long Winter! The 2015 winter
brought the most snow to the Fan in
five years. The signs were masked
by snow, but this scene at Park &
Harrison of Howitzer Park shows the
7+ inch first of three snowfalls that
blanketed the area.
10
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
What’s Happening at Broad & Belvidere?
VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art: A New Fan Landmark at a Fortuitous Moment for RVA
By Carrie Culpepper, Public Relations Manager, Institute for Contemporary Art
The Fan’s northeast corner is undergoing a major
transformation. The Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at
Virginia Commonwealth University will soon be rising at
the intersection of Belvidere and Broad streets. The ICA’s
striking gray-zinc and glass-clad structure will be a think tank
that presents various forms of art as a means to investigate
the central issues of our time. Conveniently, it will be within
walking distance to Fan residents. With four galleries, a
sculpture terrace, a 250 seat auditorium, café, retail shop,
forum, and outside garden, it will offer many different kinds of
experiences for visitors.
“The ICA will serve our community and contribute to
conversations occurring across the art world,” says ICA
Director Lisa Freiman. “We plan to bring art to Richmond
that’s never been seen here before. We want the ICA to be a
welcoming place for our community, a place where people
can come and relax, hang out, meet with friends, and expand
their horizons.”
Freiman and her team are already working across the
university, the city, and the country to ensure that the ICA
serves as an incubator for new ideas. The curatorial team
has been visiting artist studios in Richmond, New York,
Baltimore, Miami, Pittsburgh, Boston, San Francisco, and
beyond to identify work that will be included in the opening
exhibitions. They are also in conversations with museums
around the United States about bringing important exhibitions
of contemporary art from other cities to Richmond.
Freiman hasn’t wasted any time getting to know
Richmond. Over the last year and a half, she’s prioritized
getting to know the people, organizations, and corporations
that make the city’s art scene possible. She curated an
installation of video art for the Fall Line Fest just months after
arriving, juried the exhibition at Gallery5 during the Fall Line
Fest this year, and she is working to commission a major
public art installation by a
renowned New York artist
for the 2015 bike race. This
spring she will be one of the
judges of the RVA Creativity
Awards at C3.
“The Richmond
community is brimming
with talent and it’s at
a turning point,” says
Freiman. “I think the ICA
is coming at a fortuitous
moment for this city. It’s an
incredible honor to be part
of this community’s cultural Lisa D. Freiman, Ph.D., director of
the Institute for Contemporary Art.
renaissance.”
The ICA’s temporary
office space at 818 W. Broad St., a block west of the ICA site,
represents the ways Freiman strives to make connections. A
group of green architects, farmers, VCU artists, and students
with VCU’s Middle of Broad (MOB) design collective are
working to transform the interior with aesthetic and graphic
interventions. Outside of the building, they are transforming a
dingy ally into a beautiful secret garden. The MOB students
are in the midst of curating some “ICA Moments,” art
happenings that will occur during First Fridays. They are also
planning some unexpected, art interventions and more.
Rendering of the exterior and garden of Virginia Commonwealth
University’s Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) in Richmond, VA.
Designed by Steven Holl Architects, the ICA is scheduled to open
in 2016. Image courtesy of Steven Hall Architects.
The ICA building, the Markel Center, broke ground in early
June. It is now in the beginning phases of construction. If you
walk or drive by the site, you can see the entire excavated
footprint of the building. And although construction has
started, fundraising for the ICA is still very much underway.
We have raised $33 million of the $35 million project. The
ICA is seeking founding donors for what’s destined to be a
game changer for our neighborhood and our city. There are
many naming opportunities still available that can be viewed
on our website. Please consider helping us close our capital
campaign and give to the ICA at ica.vcu.edu.
5 Facts About the ICA
• ICA architect Steven Holl won the American Institute for
Architects Gold Medal in 2012, the highest honor for an
American architect
• The ICA’s third-floor gallery will have 35-foot ceilings to
accommodate oversized and suspended art
• Close to 80 donors named the first-floor gallery in honor
of Beverly W. Reynolds, who founded the Reynolds
Gallery on Main Street 37 years ago
• ICA Curator Lauren Ross founded the art program at
NYC’s High Line
• You can name the elevator ($1M), bike rack ($25K),
theater seat ($2,500) or another part of the ICA
For updates on the ICA, visit ica.vcu.edu, follow us on
Facebook, or on Twitter and Instagram as @vcu_ica.
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
11
Richmond is on a Roll
By Sharon R. North, Public Information Manager,
City of Richmond, Department of Public Works
What if Richmond residents were able
an opportunity to work out any kinks ahead
to help reduce the City’s carbon footprint
of rolling out the program citywide. In midIn mid-January
by reducing the amount of trash being
January the carts, green with a blue lid, were
sent to landfills? From 2011 through
the carts, green with placed at residences in the initial phase-in
2013 the Department of Public Works
areas, including approximately 815 homes in
(DPW) disposed of 264,282 tons of trash.
the Fan. The new carts, as opposed to the
a blue lid,
Perhaps a significant portion of that could
smaller bins, will give residents an opportunity
have been recycled. The City hopes the
to recycle more. In addition, those who have
were placed at
upgrades to its recycling program will help
alley collection for trash also will have it for
the environment. At the same time, DPW
recycling and still on the same day. TFC even
residences in the
anticipates savings of at least $760,000
upgraded its fleet of trucks to include some
annually by simply diverting the trash
initial phase-in areas, that are small enough to maneuver through the
collected from households. That dollar
City’s tightest alleys.
amount can increase, based on the amount
including
The program offers more than just a chance
of trash kept out of landfills.
at being an environmental steward. Businesses
approximately
In early 2014, DPW applied for
and residents also will be able to sign up for
funding through the Southeast Recycling
Recycling Perks. Participating merchants will
815 homes in the Fan. offer incentives, such as discounts valued at up
Development Council (SERDC). At the
end of the process, Richmond was one
to $25 monthly, to residents who go online and
of only four southeast cities to receive a
register into the program.
portion of a $1.5 million grant, administered by Curbside
The next phase, which will expand the program
Value Partnership. The birth of this first-of-its-kind public/
and distribution of the carts City-wide, will begin in
private recycling collaboration resulted in the City receiving
July and is expected to be completed by December.
$209,000 for public outreach/education and $350,000
For more information, residents can visit
to purchase the first 6,000 95-gallon recycling carts.
www.Richmondgov.com/RichmondRecycles and
DPW and its recycling partners, Central Virginia Waste
www.CVWMA.com. For information on Recycling Perks,
Management Authority (CVWMA) and Tidewater Fiber
go to www.RecyclingPerks.com.
Recycling (TFC), took a close look at the recycling and solid
For more information about the recycling program,
waste routes ahead of determining where to begin testing
Ms. North may be reached at 804.646.5607 or
the program. After careful consideration, it was decided
Sharon.North@RichmondGov.com.
to place carts throughout the City in areas that would pose
the most challenges with alley collection. They wanted
12
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
Meet Your
Retreat Hospital Neighbor:
Martine Schwarz
Some of our neighbors are lucky to both live and
work in the Fan. Martine Schwarz is the Service
Coordinator of Vascular, Thoracic, Laparoscopy, General
& Colorectal Services in the Operating Room at Retreat
Hospital. She describes her colleagues as “a closeknit group of professionals who care deeply about
Retreat Hospital, our patients, and each other.” Martine
reached her silvery anniversary of employment this year
with 20 years at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital and 5 years
in the Fan at Retreat. Her favorite Fan spots are Helen’s
and Bamboo Café.
News for VCA Neighbors:
As of December 2, 2014, the Virginia Center for
Architecture has closed the back garden to pets. This
decision was not an easy one, but the garden’s growing
popularity among pet owners has drawn several
complaints from our guests, tenants, and neighbors.
Also, it has resulted in a number of liability and safety
issues for the Center and its staff, as well as for those
visiting the garden and their pets.
We apologize for any inconvenience
this causes. We hope that people
will continue to visit and enjoy
the garden, but we ask that
you do so without your pets.
Sincerely,
Lauren Bell
Facilities Manager
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
13
14
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
The Fan
Village
ENHANCING YOUR LIFE in the FAN
WHAT IS THE FAN VILLAGE? The Fan Village connects neighbors to enhance home life in the
Fan by meeting basic needs. Simply stated, we are neighbors helping neighbors.
The Fan Village is part of a nationwide movement. Villages assist residents who wish to remain
in their homes as they grow older (“aging in place”). The FDA’s Fan Village volunteers will lend a
hand to those FDA members who require some help around their homes. The Fan Village may be most
valuable to our older Fan residents living at home, but our assistance is not limited to the Fan’s senior
citizens. FDA members who are temporarily disabled due to illness or injury can call on us as well.
Now you can call on Fan Village volunteers for these services:
•Yardworksuchasleafremoval,
simplegardeningtasks,snow
removal,andsoon.
•Pickingupprescriptionsata
•Carryingrecyclebinsandtrashcans
outforcollectionandreturningthem
whenemptied.
•Daily“well-being”phonecalls
•Generalsmallhandymantasks,such
aschanginglightbulbsandsmoke
detectorbatteries,tasksthatrequire
aladder,andsimplerepairs.
localpharmacy.
onrequest.
•Temporarygroceryshoppingfor
homeboundresidents.
•SocialeventsforFanseniors.
Just call the Fan Village at 804-928-1316 to request assistance.
Please leave your name and phone number. We’ll call you back for details
about your needs.
If you have neighbors who could use a little help, please let us know. Send their names and
addresses to fanvillage@fandistrict.org. We will send them a notice about this new Fan District
Association program in our urban village.
Fan Village services are free to FDA members. To join the FDA, see www.fandistrict.org
for membership information (including Friend of the Fan for non-Fan residents). You can find more
information about the Fan Village on the website as well. Please send your questions to:
fanvillage@fandistrict.org. or
FDA Office, 208 N. Strawberry Street, Richmond, VA 23220.
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
12/20/2012
15
Advertiser Profile
Look for a new article each issue on one of our FanFare advertisers. The advertisers profiled have made significant
commitments to advertise in FanFare in support of the FDA. Thank you all!
Getting To Know…
Long and Foster — A Real Estate Landmark
Tucked away on a side street in the
heart of the Fan in what was once a
consignment shop and Laundromat sits
one of the most successful real estate
offices in Richmond. Location, location,
location is a well-known real estate
adage and the Strawberry Street office
of Long & Foster Real Estate certainly
adheres to this belief.
The office was created by Jean
Longest and Ed Andrews in 1999. Two
seasoned Realtors and Fan residents
with a vision to create the first in-town
real estate firm. Their desire to create
a boutique environment with all the
benefits of a large company has become
a real estate landmark for anyone wanting
to learn more about the unique flavor of
city properties. Long and Foster is the
region’s largest Real Estate company and
in fact, is the largest privately held Real
Estate Company in the country.
The Strawberry Street office has long been a wonderful
resource for real estate agents, neighbors and visitors to the
greater Richmond area. With more than 25 active agents,
a third living in the Fan, the office offers clients a vast
perspective of the city, the suburban neighborhoods and all
that the RVA has to offer. Because of the bustling location,
it is not uncommon for people visiting the area to stop in for
more information after becoming enamored with the Fan.
The Strawberry Street sales team is led by John
Martin, who has helped usher in all the advancements
and improvements a modern real estate office needs in
today’s technologically-savvy times. These advantages
not only benefit Strawberry Street’s clients, be it on the
listing or selling side, but gives his agents a leg up on the
competition. 2014 was a banner year for the office with over
$115,000,000 in SALES. This was a 10% increase over last
year. The office is also proud to announce
their new affiliation with Christie’s. Next
time you’re strolling down Strawberry
Street, be sure to check out the new
signage.
The Strawberry Street sales team is
keeping the boutique philosophy thriving
while implementing all the newest
technologies to make each and every real
estate transaction smooth and successful.
Stop in and learn more about how the
agents at Strawberry Street Long & Foster
can help you, your friends, or your family,
with all their Real Estate needs or call,
340-0840, or go and check out their new
website to search for homes directly at
StrawberryStreetSales.com.
Strawberry Street – a simple city street
that can truly open the avenue to your
dreams.
LONG & FOSTER REALTORS® STRAWBERRY STREET SALES
IN THE HEART OF RICHMOND
A Boutique Approach to Customer Service with a
National Network to DRIVE RESULTS
6
16
409 Strawberry Street
www.strawberrystreetsales.com
804-340-0840
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
The Fan District Association
www.fandistrict.org
emailfda@lists.inthefan.net
Quick Reference Numbers
Adopt-A-Tree Program Completes Plantings!
By Betsy Coffield
Animal Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646-5573
In record breaking time, the Adopt-A-Tree plantings for
2014-15 have been completed. Many thanks to the “parents”
who adopted trees this year now in its 7th year. With the
addition of this year’s trees, AAT has planted over 500 trees
in the Fan since its inception, and I would like to thank the
following for their support this year: Stephen Allred, Scott
Blackwell, William Blankenship, Grazyna Bojakowski, Lee
Bowman, Drew Carneal, Gene Childs, Evan Davis, Lee
Downey, Doug Drummond, Brian Frank, Lisa Girardi,
Grant Grayson, Dan Green, Greg and Lisa Green, Patrick
Harris, Ben Helfinstein, Alison Kent, Charley King, Charles
Kramer, Robert Lauterberg, Stephanie Lopez, Linwood,
Lunde, Beth Medvedev, Edward Nace, Susan Osofsky, Rick
Ramsey, Gabriel Ricioppo, Kerry Riley, Wylie Schwieder,
David Shanklin, Janet Sheridan, Bill Sigafoos, Joyce Stargardt,
Susan Svensson, William Tate, Mark Terrill, Ken Venos, and
Ron Wolfe. With your help, we planted 54 trees this year.
THANK YOU!
What’s next for the new saplings? Please know that the
trees are still dormant, so the saplings need very little right
now. The ground is still wet from the winter thaw, so they are
getting plenty of nourishment. When you begin to see the
buds of the tree starting to sprout, then you should examine
the tree well and see if the ground is moist. Concurrently, if
the temperature begins to rise -- more than 70 degrees for a
few days -- it will be time to fill your Gator bag twice a week,
so that the tree’s root system can begin to strengthen. (The
instructions for the gator bag are on the flap at the top of the
bag). Fill the bag to the top and the slow seep should last less
than 24 hours in order to drain completely. If the bag does
not drain, please email me as you may have a defective bag.
When Spring arrives and the temperature gets hotter,
take note if the tree needs more than two waterings a week.
How to tell? If the top leaves of the tree start to wither,
then the water is not reaching the top of the tree. It needs
more water. This needs to be monitored very closely for
the first two years, particularly during the summer months,
when the Richmond summers can sometimes be very, very
hot. If you have any questions about your tree, now or in
the future, please feel free to email me @ betsy.coffield@
longandfoster.com.
We will be participating in the Adopt-A-Tree program
again this June, so if you have a need, please be sure to fill
out our form in the August edition of Fanfare or find the form
on our FDA website.
Domestic Violence Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . 643-0888
Free Mulch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646-4706
Graffiti Hotline (Officer Ward Kuper) . . . . 646-1940
Party Patrol/Noise Complaints. . . . . . . . . . 833-5330
Friday & Saturday Nights, Aug–May
Police (Emergency). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911
Police (Non-Emergency). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646-5100
Police (Third Precinct) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646-1412
Power Outage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-888-DOM-HELP
1-866-366-4357
Recycling Hotline & Bins. . . . . . . . . . . . . 340-0900
Richmond City Information Line. . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Code Enforcement
Environmental Enforcement
Litter Report
Trash and Bulk Pickup
Public Utilities
(emergencies after 6pm). . . . . . . 644-3000
SPCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643-6785
Supercan Replacement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646-0999
Zoning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 646-6340
Online for City Services. . . . . . . . richmondgov.com
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
17
Code Committee
Looking for Volunteers
Richmond 2015:
Getting Ready to Welcome the World
By Jenna Mosman and Jay Davis
This is the year! The UCI Road World Cycling Championships
are coming and the world is coming with them! We are
just a few months away from this historical event. These
championships are bringing the excitement and energy of
world-class cycling, as well as tremendous tourism and
economic development opportunities for the Richmond region.
How unique is this opportunity? Consider this is only the
second time in the event’s history that it’s been held in the
United States. The only other time was in Colorado Springs
in 1986! This means the world will get to see Richmond in a
whole new light.
So, what exactly is coming? Here are the races at a glance:
• Taking place from September 19-27, 2015
• Bringing 1000 athletes from all over the world
• Broadcasting to a TV audience in the hundreds of millions
• And involving a projected audience of 450,000 spectators.
Don’t let that spectator number throw you. We won’t
have 450,000 tourists descend on our town. That’s the
cumulative number of people watching the races over
the nine days - both Richmonders and tourists alike. For
example, if you go out and watch a part of the races
everyday (which you should!), you’d equate to “9”
spectators. Some days the crowds will be bigger than others
as different race categories draw varying levels of interests.
There are actually four courses, each for a specific
category of the races. The courses start at different locations
throughout the area (downtown, Kings Dominion and Lewis
Ginter), but all four courses end at 5th and Broad Street and
all four courses come through the Fan at some point. This
means we’ll have the best seats in the house!
The staff at Richmond 2015 have been busy helping
Richmonders, out-of-towners and tourists alike get ready.
They’ve built a website chock-full of valuable information on
the race courses, times, traffic patterns, and opportunities to
volunteer. They’ve kicked off the Société 2015 Learning Series,
a free sequence of educational sessions aimed at helping local
businesses maximize this opportunity. And they’re building a
free app which will allow spectators to follow the races in real
time. This app will be released this summer.
So as our community continues to get ready, you do the
same. Tune up your bike, find your lawn chairs, and figure
out where’ll go to watch the races!
Learn more about the races and how to get involved at
www.richmond2015.com
18
By D. Walton
The mission of the FDA Code Committee is to assist our
neighborhood in the investigation and resolution of code
violations arising from residential and multi-family dwellings
in the FAN. In addition, the Code Committee is also charged
with assisting with FAN wide clean-ups, primarily within
our public alleys. Neither of these important charges can be
successfully undertaken without volunteers.
Please consider volunteering your time, energy and
talent to the Code Committee. Your participation can make
a difference and is even more important this year given
our anticipation of thousands of guests for the upcoming
Richmond 2015 event in September.
For more information, contact Duront “D.” Walton at
waltondd@mac.com.
When you’re buying or selling your home
BEGIN YOUR NEW CHAPTER WITH LEIGH!
THANK YOUS:
I very much appreciate your help. Your professional experience
was greatly needed in very difficult times. You led me by the
hand, strong, persevering, no nonsense and always fair. A kind
and strong soul. You are the very best. And, I KNOW IT!
Joe
Leigh is in a class all by herself (good and great). Dedicated,
committed & wise!
Sarah
LEIGH HULCHER, ASSOCIATE BROKER
WWW.CALLLEIGHTODAY.COM
804-356-4874 cell 888-805-6174 fax
www.youtube.com/user/leighhulcher/videos
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
Fanfare is published three times a year (April, August,
December) by the Fan District Association (FDA) for the
benefit of Fan residents and businesses.
Fanfare is mailed directly to all FDA members. For
non-FDA members, it is available for download from our
website at www.fandistrict.org and at several central drop
sites in the Fan.
Editor: Gail Zwirner, fanfare@fandistrict.org
Advertising: Tonya Utkina, advertising@fandistrict.org
Editorial Policy
We welcome your submittals about upcoming events and
items of interest to those in the Fan. Submittals are best
forwarded in soft copy to fanfare@fandistrict.org. You
may also mail items to FDA, Attn: Fanfare Editor, 208 N.
Strawberry Street, Richmond, VA 23220. Be sure to note
your name and contact information. We reserve the right
to edit or not to publish any submittal.
Article Submittal Deadlines
Please submit all articles or event notices by the 7th day
of the distribution month at the latest.
Advertising Policy
Publication Schedule and Distribution
IssueDistribution
April
March 25
August
July 25
December November 25
Advertising Size and Pricing
$160
$265
$420
$725
1/8 Page
¼ Page ½ Page
Full page
3.60” x 2.2”
7.5” x 2.5” or 3.75” x 4.875”
7.5” x 4.5”
7.5” x 10”
Discounts
10% discount for two publications
20% discount for all three publications
Payments for ad space should be made no later than the
7th day of the distribution month.
Payment by check only.
Please mail to:
Fan District Association
208 N. Strawberry Street
Richmond, VA 23220
Attn: Fanfare Advertising
Fan District Association Officers and Board of Directors
Contact Information and Oversight Responsibilities
Officers
President
Matthew Stanley
804-332-1794; president@fandistrict.org
Vice President Laura Bateman
804-405-5643; vp@fandistrict.org
Treasurer
Christina Murray
804-380-5237; treasurer@fandistrict.org
Secretary
Jenna Mosman
secretary@fandistrict.org
Board of Directors & Oversight Responsibility
Brian Baird
804-586-4156; webmaster@fandistrict.org
Communications
Laura Bateman 804-405-5643;
membership@fandistrict.org
Membership
Tricia Bryant
804-213-0858; pabryant819@aol.com
Holiday House Tour
Bennette Burks 804-873-5000; zoning@fandistrict.org
Zoning & ABC
Danielle Dick
314-616-2866; ddick@vcu.edu
Safety & VCU
Christy Lantz
804-467-5180; christyeliades@me.com
Education
Jenna Mosman 804-614-7789; jenna.mosman@gmail.com
Grants
Jennifer Mullen 804-241-9764; parking@fandistrict.org
Parking
Christina Murray 804-380-5237; treasurer@fandistrict.org
Lighting
Matthew Stanley 804-332-1794; president@fandistrict.org
FDA Building
Ted Theofanos 804-381-8819; ted.theofanos@gmail.com
Programs & Fan Village
Duront “D.” Walton804-212-6589; waltondd@mac.com
Code Enforcement & Parks & Trees
Other Committee Contacts
Adopt-a-Tree, Betsy Coffield, betsy.coffield@longandfoster.com
Fan Village, Barbara Hartung, bhartung@vcu.org
Parks & Trees, Ken Venos, kgvenos@aol.com
Newsletter ad specs:
Black and white digital artwork only.
File formats: PDF, JPEG, TIFF or EPS.
All fonts should be in either outline form, embedded or
rasterized.
Files should be sized in the exact dimensions; borders
must fall within the size of ad space.
MSWord or .DOC files will not be accepted.
Fanfare does not develop ads for its advertisers but we
will refer you to local design resources.
%
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org
19
Pre-Sorted First Class
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #36
Richmond, VA
Fan District Association
208 N. Strawberry Street
Richmond, VA 23220
CAN MY PET GET
HEARTWORMS
IN WINTER?
Yes, with 70 degree plus temperatures in winter,
your pet needs Heartworm Prevention year round.
Mosquitoes the carriers of heartworms are not just
seen in the summer; warm temperatures in winter
mean mosquitoes now! So, start protection today
and make the once a month application a part of
your family’s routine. Protect your pet from the
potentially deadly heartworms.
Special Notes
Fanfare wishes to thank the following
individuals for their contributions to
this issue:
Bennette Burks
Carrie Culpepper
Jay Davis
Barbara Hartung
Janet Heltzel
Kimberly Hynes
Jenna Mosman
John Nolde
Sharon North
Barbara Peters
307 North Robinson Street • Richmond 23220
(804) 358-3779
Jeffrey W. Taylor, DVM
Matthew Stanley
Tonya Utkina
Randall Ware
and
Walk your pet to the Vet
Kelly Woody
Thank you.
Check the FDA web site for regular updates: www.fandistrict.org