Richmond's Carytown & Museum District news events in Richmond Virginia

Awesomer than The Fan.

July 18, 2007

“The Paver” defended

Remember the Monument Avenue grassy field that was paved over (without city permission) by a Richmond landlord? Well, he has at least one fan out there, who wrote a letter to the editor to Style Weekly full of praise.

The letter credits Bill Jefferson with rehabilitating many of the houses on Boulevard and contributing to the renewal of the Fan and Museum District. The letter also states that the former field was private property, so it should not have been used by the neighborhood as an urban park.

That’s all well and good, but he could have asked permission and filed the necessary permits to build his parking lot. That’s what a good citizen would do. Bill Jefferson is not one.

Speaking of which, I hadn’t bothered to contact anyone about the paving incident. The 1st District Representative is Bruce Tyler (Bruce.Tyler@richmondgov.com), so I might start with him, and I encourage you to do the same.

Posted by Sam @ 9:12 am |

7 Comments.

Haha dude, “the paver.” Brilliant.

Ross @ July 18th, 2007 at 11:55 am
I think we would all like to see more green spaces in the city rather than another paved parking lot. But does that make Bill Jefferson a bad citizen? He paved some property that he already owns. And the dispute is — did he have to get a permit to do so? Maybe. But how many of us “Good Citizens” build fences, add a deck, put in a small blow up pool, enclose a porch, build a shed (over 150 square feet) — without obtaining the necessary building permits? Does that make us “Bad Citizens”.

Eric @ July 18th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
It is private property so he should be able to do as he pleases. The government is already too involved in what people can and can not do on their property. I have never even heard of this guy, but from your description it sounds more like you wanted something for nothing. This grass patch of land cost money to up keep (to city codes) and I am sure there is a nice hefty tax bill every year. As the owner he pays this, and then when he wants to use this land, as he sees fit, all the free-loaders are upset because they can no longer trespass on it.

Matt @ July 18th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
All I ask is that Bill Jefferson follow the law and get a permit before building something that requires a permit.

We have laws for a reason. If he disagrees with the law, he should work to fix the law, not just disregard it.

I would consider someone that intentionally breaks the law a bad citizen. It’s not like he’s Rosa Parks, protesting a discriminatory law, or something.

Sam @ July 18th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Small blow up pools are teh rox.

Ross @ July 18th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
I’m sorry, but that stretch of Boulevard is still quite slummy. River City could do more for that then just pave the green areas.

Jason @ July 18th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
The reason that you cant pave over your land without a permit is drainage. Where does all that water go that once absorbed into the grass? Well it runs off to the next lot, which he probably doesnt own

James @ July 22nd, 2007 at 7:25 pm