Title
Conceptual Location, Character and Extent review of renovations to the RMA Plaza, 210 S. 10th Street.
Body
To: Planning Commission
From: Urban Design Committee
Date: April 21, 2014
APPLICANT
Todd Loney, Department of Public Works
LOCATION
210 S. 10th Street
Property Owner:
The current owner is the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA), however, Ordinance #2013-167-184, adopted by City Council on October 14, 2013, authorized the acquisition of the plaza and the parking deck by the City. The transfer of the property from the RMA to the City has not yet been completed.
PURPOSE
The application is for conceptual location, character and extent review of the renovation of the RMA Plaza at 210 S. 10th Street.
SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION
This project involves the extensive renovation of the RMA Plaza, a small urban park on the south side of the RMA parking deck at the intersection of S. 9th and E. Byrd Streets. Overall, the existing park is in very poor condition, with large sections of marble missing from the seating walls around the planters, heaving walkway pavers and accumulated debris.
The Urban Design Committee finds that the proposal is largely consistent with the recommendations of the Urban Design Guidelines and the Downtown Master Plan. One of the recommendations of the Urban Design Guidelines is that shade trees for pedestrian comfort should be the predominant plant material in an urban setting. Likewise, the Master Plan calls for providing street trees to enhance the pedestrian environment. As such, the Committee finds it important to the success of the park renovations that the existing willow oak trees on E. Byrd Street be retained, if at all possible, during the renovation work. The Committee also felt strongly that additional trees (whether they are provided in the ground or in planters of some design) and/or alternative shade structures should be located wherever feasible. The Committee also discussed the existing l...
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