To follow this project on Twitter please visit the project’s Twitter feed or follow  @NaturalGrownVA.

Project updates will also be published on Facebook under the page “Naturally Grown Virginia.”

Critiques, suggestions, story ideas and general comments are welcome; please e-mail me with your thoughts. This project is part of a converged media applications course at Virginia Commonwealth University and is under the direction of Dr.Timothy Bajkiewicz.

The American Tobacco Center is one example of an industrial building converted into residential use in the Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood; original elements of the industrial architecture are still in tact.

Editor’s Note: The author is a resident of Shockoe Bottom.

The streets of Shockoe Bottom often thrive with diners at restaurants dotting East Main Street and play host to visitors at the 17th Street Farmers’ Market.

Nightclubs in the historic neighborhood are hot spots on Friday and Saturday nights; crowds can be seen lining up outside various bars waiting to escape the cobblestone streets.

For Richmond officials, this River District neighborhood has a lot to offer. Their hope is that it will have a lot more to offer in years to come.

This summer the city will launch an economic revitalization study to determine what types of new business developments the Bottom—as it’s often called—can handle.

In April, the city started courting potential consultants to develop an economic blueprint for the future—a second attempt to find a consultant after an initial try last year. The budgeted cost for the study is $125,000.

Brooke Hardin, the deputy director of Planning and Development Review for the city, said the plan will give city leaders an idea of how the neighborhood should develop. More specifically the plan will identify what residential or commercial opportunities exist and what the city can do to further invest in neighborhood infrastructure. [Click here to listen to Hardin explain who should contribute ideas.]

Hardin explained that housing is plentiful in the area as a result of the adaptive re-use of former tobacco warehouses into apartments.

The two main factors for blossoming residential opportunities came from historic tax credits to developers for re-using warehouses and the construction of a flood wall to help protect the area from river floods.

Jeannie Welliver, the acting director of special projects for the Department of Economic and Community Development, said some business possibilities include mixed-use or transit-oriented development.

The neighborhood is intersected by two major roadways—Main Street and Broad Street—and has immediate access to Interstate 95 and rail services at Main Street Station. In addition, the Virginia Capital Trail for hiking and biking is under construction and will eventually connect the city with Williamsburg, Va.

Because of these transportation corridors, Welliver said the Bottom can support neighborhood or destination retail. An example of destination retail would be the home and office retail outlet Ikea. [Click here to listen to Welliver's audio description of retail in the Bottom.]

Welliver said business  and cultural tourism offerings can add to the Bottom’s potential as a “live-work-play” community; a place in which residents don’t have to leave or travel far in order to get what they need.

City officials plan on inviting residents to offer their input on what’s needed, or wanted, in the Bottom.

Some residents already have an idea of what they’d like to see near their homes.

Shockoe Bottom resident Adam Casper, who has lived in various city neighborhoods, noted that while there are a lot of bars near his home there’s no ABC liquor store nearby. Casper said he could use a good hardware or clothing store too.

Casper thinks the city should consider installing kiosks that serve as information centers on local events at numerous venues. For now, residents and visitors have to depend on flyers or other means of advertising by restaurants and clubs to find out what’s going on.

“This neighborhood has events going on left and right and you’re lucky to get wind of it,” Casper said.

Resident Lena Collins jokingly said the area could use more bars and dance venues, but, like Casper, would be in favor of retail.

“I miss some big stores, like Wal-Mart or something like that,” Collins said. “At least one of them that we could…walk to would be good.”

Welliver said she hopes the city will have a plan in place by the end of this year.

Ashland festival turns out strawberry creations and features local successes in tough economic times.

June 20, 2009

By Corey Byers

With the state’s strawberry season stretching into this month, visitors packed Saturday’s Strawberry Faire in Ashland looking to taste homemade shortcakes and enjoy local entertainment.

Despite rough economic conditions country-wide, the community-based event drew thousands to the Randolph-Macon College campus, where organizers and vendors said business was thriving.

BUSTLING SCENE

Mary Claire Coster, president of Ashland Strawberry Faire Inc., estimated that the event brought more than 30,000 people—the biggest turnout since it started nearly 30 years ago.

There’s no admission charge and guests listened to musical acts for free. Coster said that kind of affordability is a draw for residents during this kind of economy.

More than 280 vendor tents featuring, food, crafts, jewelry, clothing, community organizations and children’s activities lined the campus’ streets.

“Even if people don’t buy anything it’s an entertaining day,” Coster said.

Economics aside, Coster said strawberry shortcake has always been the staple favorite of the day throughout her 26 years with the fair committee.

“As long as it has strawberry in it, I think everyone is happy,” she said.

STRONG SALES

As for strawberries sales, those weren’t sour.

“The best way to eat it is fresh cut with Cool Whip on strawberry shortcake,” said Jodi Roberts, a retail manager with Ashland Berry Farm.

Stalls for the Beaverdam-based business had lines for strawberries by the pint, shortcakes and berry-laden cheesecake. Some people use strawberries in recipes, some can them for later consumption and others just eat them plain.

Roberts said sales were great.

Straying away from shortcakes, vendor Kim Cortez showcased homemade jams and jellies, including a sweet strawberry champagne jam.

As the owner of Fresh Batch Jams, a family business out of Chesapeake, Cortez said the venture is a way for her family to slow down and reconnect during the economic downturn. In addition, she said her products use as many locally-grown ingredients as possible.

Her plan seems to be working since she already has intentions to expand.

Cortez’s sister-in-law, Anne Cortez, plans on expanding the company by creating cupcakes compliment to the original product, such as a vanilla-almond-biscotti-flavored cupcake stuffed with strawberry jam. Saturday’s event was her first time showcasing her spin on the traditional dessert.

“Filled cupcakes are kind of something new and different that’s just starting to catch on,” Anne Cortez said.
At the end of a line of food vendors, Keith Wood kept an eye on his smoothie sales at Maui Wowi. The beverage business is based out of Short Pump and is part of a national franchise.

Wood, the franchise owner, said the most popular smoothie flavor for the day was strawberry-banana—appropriate for the venue. He described business as “ok,” saying the size of the event and number of other vendors could have affected sales.

As the sun started breaking through the clouds, Wood said the sunny weather could drive business for the ice-cold drinks. He added that smoothie and coffee sales during the past three years have been churning out a 40 percent profit.

CLOSE TO HOME

Ashland resident Sue Watson, accompanied by her children and grandchildren, said she bought so many strawberries that her family had to store them in the car before returning to the festivities.

Watson’s daughter Jane Forbes Fields, of Ashland, said she enjoyed community organizations and local businesses represented at the fair.

“But mostly we like it because it’s fun,” Fields said. “The fun and the food.”

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(Originally published on http://coreybyers.wordpress.com/ on June 20, 2009)