By Kay Trulaske “This is a very intentional, spiritual community,” Betty Jane Hagan said, looking out at the gardens of the Richmond Hill Retreat Center in Richmond, Virginia. A retired grandmother of three, Betty Jane works and lives at the Retreat Center, set in the neighborhood of historic Church Hill. Formerly a convent and girl’s Read more about Church Hill Walkaround[…]
By Rebecca Fisher “People first, then restaurants, then retail.” Kristy Cotter was talking about the revitalization of Church Hill, which has gone from a rundown area synonymous with urban decay to one of Richmond’s trendiest neighborhoods. First came the urban pioneers, mostly white and well-educated, who bought stately old Victorian homes in disrepair, fixed them Read more about Dear Neighbor: The Trendy Trinkets of Church Hill[…]
By Rebecca Fisher “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!” Those iconic words, proclaimed by Virginia colonist Patrick Henry, ring true today in Church Hill just as they did in 1775, when Henry himself addressed a crowd that consisted of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other important figures of the American Revolution , with that Read more about Where Liberty Found Its Voice[…]
By Jason Villafranca Church Hill is a happening place. According to Peter Chapman, Richmond’s Chief Deputy Officer for Economic and Community Development, the trend goes beyond the mere retention of businesses in the area. New businesses are opening in the historic district at a record rate. Cafes and restaurants are trending and winning national awards. Real estate values are Read more about Food Truck Post Office[…]
By Jason Villafranca The story of Richmond, Virginia spans the full history of the United States, from the Virginia colony to today, and the city is no stranger to the deep historical roots of poverty and racial division in this country. The former capital of the Confederate States of America, Richmond is dotted with grand Read more about A Tale of Church Hill North[…]
I TAKE A SEAT ON A BENCH at the corner of Admiral Gravely Boulevard and Government Road in the Fulton community of downtown Richmond. I’m waiting for the bus at Stop 191. It’s early evening—4:42 pm, to be exact. Behind me, the echo of a basketball smacking asphalt can be heard as two children practice Read more about BUS STOP 191[…]