Richmond has a tortured history. And I’m not simply talking about our role as the epicenter of the slave trade, stalwart resister to desegregation, or leader in suburban sprawl. We’ve also elected corrupt politicians, stymied public input on urban development, listened to “old money” rather than “average” residents, and generally privileged money & power, too often to the detriment of the community’s well-being.
Nevertheless, Richmond is home to a ridiculous number of fabulous people, non-profits, artists, activists, restauranteurs who could easily find a city more interested in using their talent and implementing their innovative visions than Richmond is. Rachel Flynn, director of community development and the city’s leader of the master plan process, is one of those people. I hope she sticks around for a while.
Today’s lead Style article is a profile of her, complete with battle stories between her and Jerry Falwell and the powerful Richmonders who are nervous about her ideas.
A representative excerpt:
The proposed plan has been giving heartburn to Bruce Hazelgrove — vice president of corporate resources for NewMarket Corp., a subsidiary of Ethyl Corp. — ever since the draft master plan painted green the field beneath Ethyl’s white mansion, the grassy expanse above Tredegar Iron Works where the National Folk Festival was held. The company has been planning to develop the property for years, but Flynn designated the field as a park.
In an attempt to regain control, Hazelgrove shot off a series of e-mails and met with planning staff to try to get his company’s field back. The night before Hazelgrove was supposed to go in for another planning meeting, Flynn called him to say the meeting would be on the second floor of City Hall — the mayor’s office — instead of her fifth-floor planning office.
“Shit,” Hazlegrove said after hanging up the phone. Wilder would be there. Flynn says the meeting was cordial, although Hazelgrove recalls a winding round of he-said, she-said, culminating in the mayor asking him to put what he wanted in writing and assuring him they’d “find a consensus” — an ominous pronouncement.
Whether she’s right or wrong on this, or any, particular issue, I’m glad someone’s willing to stand up to Richmond’s power brokers.
And she’s championing the mantra that many of Richmond’s bloggers have been pushing: increased public participation in planning Richmond’s future.
Flynn likes protest and citizen participation and all things democratic, upper- and lowercase.
She’s also taking on Trani and VCU’s proposed destruction of the Art Deco West Hospital, and the Echo Harbor developers’ riverfront condo proposal.
The politicians are already expressing their reservations- perhaps worried that siding with her puts them in the crosshairs of those who bankroll their campaigns.
“You make a Christmas list and then you become realistic,” says Councilwoman Kathy Graziano, who also sits on the planning commission.
From what I’ve seen so far, I’ll be in Flynn’s corner for this fight.
January 16, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Too bad she does not know much about effective transportation planning and will not enlist the help of those that do…
January 16, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I’ve been real impressed with Rachel. I got the privilege of having a meeting with her about the vacantrichmond.com site we built and came away with nothing but respect for her.
January 16, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Hey Bear… those who made our transportation messes might not be the best ones to solve them. 😉
January 16, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Bear – I’ve been impressed with Rachel’s ability to listen and change her perspective. I’ve also followed your postings about one-way vs. two-way traffic — and have learned a lot that I didn’t know, and even if I haven’t been totally swayed by your knowledge and opinions, it’s been valuable for me to be open to learning from you. If you haven’t reached out to her to have that conversation, I’d encourage you to. If you have reached out and heard nothing back, I’d encourage you to try again. And if she’s blown you off completely, I’d be happy to play matchmaker.
– John
February 13, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Too bad she hasn’t boned up on Keloe case and current sentiments in Virginia on takings.
February 15, 2008 at 11:07 am
[…] it seems he’s not alone in his anger- a visitor to this blog commented on my post about Rachel Flynn suggesting that she’s incompetent and acting illegally. Explore posts in the same […]
June 8, 2008 at 10:08 pm
If Rachel does for Richmond what she did for Lynchburg you can be assured of years of infighting, grandiose schemes that make no financial sense, a true split between City leaders and the business community, an emphasis on “being right” even when you’re clearly wrong on the most of irrelevant of issues, inhospitality to those who disagree with Ms. Flynn’s “master plans” especially if those people are religious or just hard working small business people. Yes, you have a true “one of a kind” with Ms. Flynn in your corner. Even after some time from her departure (which was rejoiced by many in Lynchburg, I have yet to hear anyone missing her in City meetings), Lynchburg is still struggling on many levels to recover from her economically unviable ideas and condescending approach to development. If you aren’t onboard with her extravagant, illogical ideas then I really suggest you find another area of endeavor because there will be no changing her, nor getting rid of her.
October 29, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Im so happy with my big sister! She is doing an awesome job! Rach. i love you and keep up the good work!
January 12, 2013 at 9:19 am
[…] parking fees will finally drive VCU students out of their cars altogether, which is something that the City’s former director of the Department of Planning and Development Review, Rachel Flynn, often suggested as a goal in order to relieve overall congestion and […]