CenterStage Foundation today announced a $10 million contribution from Altria as part of a Naming Rights agreement for the Landmark Theater.  The announcement of this leadership gift to the Foundation’s Landmark and Legacies Capital and Endowment Campaign was made this morning by CenterStage Executive Director Richard M. Parison, Jr., Altria Chairman and CEO and Chairman Martin J. Barrington, and Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones in the lobby of the soon-to-be renamed Altria Theater in Richmond’s Fan District. The renovations approved by City Council to the theater will include significant safety and infrastructure improvements, including the fire alarm and suppression system, plumbing and electrical.  The Landmark Theater’s acoustics systems and several patron-centered amenities will also receive a much-needed upgrade.  “We are fortunate to have a partner like Altria which understands the power of the arts and the impact they as a corporate citizen can...

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works is partnering with the Virginia Army National Guard to begin a two week assignment clearing land and performing the initial construction for Phase II of the Cannon Creek Trail Greenway Improvements Project. In preparation for the work, Richmond Henrico Turnpike from Dove Street to East Brookland Park Boulevard will be closed from Friday, July 13 to Monday, July 30.  The work begins Sunday, July 15.  This phase is a 0.6 mile stretch that begins at Dove Street and extends to Brookland Park Boulevard.  Construction will include asphalt pavement on the trail, pavement markings, new trees, concrete curb and gutter installation and drainage improvements.   The work for this portion of the project is divided into three segments: Dove Street to the Richmond Henrico Turnpike – shared-use path, 10’ wide with 3’ shoulders Henrico Drive to Fourquerean Lane – milling and resurfacing, bike sharrows, sidewalk replacement ...

The City’s Department of Procurement Services was presented the Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Agency Accreditation Award by the National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) Board of Directors. The City joins 116 government entities that have attained this NIGP distinction from more than 2,400 member governmental agencies throughout the United States and Canada. “This procurement accreditation brings credibility and recognition to the work performed by our City’s procurement services’ staff in providing the most efficient and effective procurement process possible,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. "Excellent performance and achieving the highest standards in government procurement is critical to a well-managed government.” The accreditation formally recognizes excellence in public procurement. Some of the areas of criteria recognized for excellence were mission and strategies, authority and responsibility, standards and specifications, personnel and profe...

The city of Richmond and the Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) have been awarded more than $59,000 in grant funding for the Bellemeade Creek Watershed Coalition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award, $59,671, is part of $2.7 million in total awards to 46 organizations in 32 states and Puerto Rico to help restore urban waters, support community revitalization and protect Americans’ health. The proposed Bellemeade Watershed Coalition project builds upon widespread local support for environmental restoration of Bellemeade Creek in South Richmond. The project will establish a new community-based coalition that will be trained in myriad aspects of watershed stewardship and healthy communities. Bellemeade Creek is part of an urban watershed that includes the Bellemeade neighborhood and Hillside Court public housing development. It feeds into Goodes Creek, a tributary of the James River. Land use is primarily residential within the neighborhood, but the watershe...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Sheriff C.T. Woody toured the site of the new Justice Center construction project last week. The tour was done as contractors reached the milestone of setting the first cornerstone of the city’s new Justice Center. The project is estimated to cost $134.6 million. “I am pleased to see the progress on this very important and long overdue project,” said Mayor Jones. “We are building this new Justice Center with an eye to the future; a future in which this facility will only house those who actually belong here.” “My employees, our daily visitors, and our jail’s residents all look forward to the transition into the country’s newest, most modern facility. The Richmond Justice center will serve as a model for years to come for other jails across the Nation, and it’s exciting to see it take shape before our eyes,” comments Sheriff C.T. Woody, Jr. “We are grateful for the efforts of the Mayor and all the members of our surrounding community for their suppo...

The City’s Department of Public Works Transportation Engineering Division will begin work July 9 on upgrades to the first 100 traffic signals that will be linked to the City’s proposed Traffic Operations Center (TOC).  This $21 million federally funded project will upgrade the City’s outdated traffic signal system and will install a new state-of-the-art system to the TOC, which is scheduled to open in City Hall next year. The upgrade of the signal system will involve installation of fiber optic and copper communication cables that will connect approximately 300 intersections to the (TOC).  This is the start of the first of three phases that comprise the project.  WHO:   City of Richmond Department of Public Works WHAT:   Richmond Signal System upgrade WHEN:  Tuesday, July 10 through Friday, November 2, 2012, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.                  WHERE:   This project will take place at the followi...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today following the initial meeting of the Steering Committee he appointed to advise him on the opening of the Washington Redskins’ Summer Training Camp in the city of Richmond. “Today marks the launching of our review process. The Steering Committee we’ve assembled is tasked with helping us prepare for this world-class opportunity to host the Redskins Summer Training Camp here in Richmond for the next eight years and I was pleased to formally convene the work of the Committee today. “I’ve named Mike Fraizer, owner of the Richmond Raiders, as chair of the Steering Committee. We have designed the work of the Steering Committee to take place in a relatively quick turnaround process as we plan to get this review done inside of three months. Ultimately, we want to produce a top training camp; not only from the player perspective, but also from the fan perspective. “Right now we are using a wide funnel and all sites are unde...