Stuck in between rapidly expanding VCU and the Greator Richmond Convention Center, a 5 block stretch of W. Broad Street is in desperate need of attention. What was once a busy, populated commercial area of Broad Street, the area is now largely abandoned, littered with trash and buildings in dangerously poor conditions, yet seemingly unnoticed by government officials. Considerng the many city, state and federally funded projects in nearly every neighboring area, it seems quite possible that planners and developers assumed the area would eventually be taken over by VCU in their quest of ever-expansion.
Despite all its neglection, some Richmonders have decided to take the matter into their own hands. This 5 block section of W. Broad is slowly being revitalized by a group of artists, property and business owners who have united over their common concerns for their neighborhood. Called the Broad Street Corridor Coalition, the group faces many challenges such as the large number of vacant properties that are improperly taken care of. They are working to use their diverse sets of strengths and experiences to find ways to restore their section of town.
Many in the coalition are local artists who are using their creative skills in the beautification of the street-fronts of various buildings. Others have created business out of the consolidated effort, such as Kevin Korda’s Renovation Resources, which sells renovation-friendly supplies and decor.
The neighborhood group’s efforts demonstrate the heart that goes into local activism, and what I believe ultimately leads groups such as the Broad Street Corridor Coalition to success. When a group of diverse people come together out of a shared passion to “do something” for the betterment of their own community, they have a personal stake in the issue that creates the sense of urgency necessary to get things done.
What is unfortunate is the amount of personal and group resources required for these types of citizens’ groups to come together. Although I am not sure of the exact demographic make-up of the Broad Street Corridor Coalition, I imagine that since they are mostly business operators and artists that these are people who are privileged to have both the time and resources necessary to devote their efforts to a revitalization project. Without taking away from the coalition’s admirable undertaking, let us not forget the many neighborhoods in Richmond whose residents would equally jump at the opportunity to fix up their own communities. Throughout history, neighborhood coalitions present a strong force in local politics. How can groups such as the Broad Street Corridor Coalition work to empower less privileged neighborhoods with similar interests?
March 18, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I know of one business in that area that has a hand in residential and commercial restoration of properties on Broad and Marshall Streets, some of the connecting streets, and other similar environments in the city. Besides working to get the buildings back as functioning spaces, the owner of the business also provides decent commercial spaces and apartments for rent, and is located in the area. Being located in the area, the employees of the company add to the economy of the specific area. Some of the employees have relocated to housing within a 1/2 mile of the office since their employment. The bulk of the rest of the employees live in connected neighborhoods close by.
My point is that by really being engaged and planted in a community, developers and employers have ripple effects in that specific community and other neighborhoods close by, beyond the redevelopment of the buildings. If they can get this section of Broad Street really humming, that energy will connect with what is already happening in Jackson Ward for an effect larger than the sum of the parts.