The city has received a gift of open space, thanks to the efforts of two citizens, two mayors, two state legislators and the director of Transportation and Environmental Services.
The 11,000 square feet of grass is located at the corner of Powhatan Street and Bashford Lane in the city’s northeast section. Until about a month ago, it was owned by the Virginia Department of Transportation, obtained by them as right-of-way for the current Monroe Avenue Bridge. The city became interested in obtaining the property from VDOT in February, 2002, when some citizens asked about it at a public hearing.
“It came up at a public hearing when the city was selling the sign shop and someone asked Mayor Kerry Donley about the city getting the property from VDOT to use as open space,” said Mariella Posey who was co-chair of the Northeast Citizens Association’s land use committee with Sylvia Sibrover. “Kerry said that he would have staff look into it and we followed up with a letter.
“It got assigned to Rich Baier who has just been wonderful throughout the whole process,” Posey said.
Posey and Sibrover wrote to state Sen. Patricia S. “Patsy” Ticer (D-30) and to State delegate Marian Van Landingham (D-45). “They were very helpful as well,” Posey said.
Ticer wrote to VDOT and asked that VDOT consider deeding the property to the city for use as open space. “You know, sometimes the wheels of bureaucracies move more quickly than we expect,” Ticer said. “I learned a couple of weeks ago that the city had received the deed from VDOT. This is just a wonderful example of how citizen-initiated projects can work out splendidly. Sylvia and Mariella brought this to my attention and VDOT responded quickly. This is how things should work more often.”
THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Environmental Services received the deed from VDOT on May 25. “The deed specifically states that the land must be used for open space or it will revert to VDOT,” said Emily Baker, the city engineer. “We are very pleased that we are able to make a contribution to the city’s open space inventory.”
“We envision some type of passive open space where people can sit and watch the birds and visit with each other,” Posey said.
Baker said that the decision would rest with members of the neighborhood and the department of recreation.
“I am sure that the neighbors will be consulted,” she said. “It’s a small piece of property so I would expect that it would have some type of passive use.”