Local businesses, in particular retailers, say panhandlers scare off customers, even if there is no threat to safety. And a growing homeless population can also be a blemish for economic developers trying to show off the region. To combat the problem, the nonprofit group Homeward launched a three-month campaign Monday to remind residents that handing over spare change might not be the best way to help.
Al Harris
Baseball team purchase in limbo
The purchase of the Class AA Norwich Connecticut Defenders baseball team by the Richmond Baseball Club seems to be undergoing a delay of game. Norwich’s local paper The Day reported yesterday that there is no closing date scheduled for the deal, which current Defenders owner Lou DiBella said was “imminent” in early April. The sale… Read more »
No relief in sight for office vacancy
No matter how you slice it, office vacancy rates are climbing in Richmond. And true to supply and demand, landlords are getting more and more generous with freebies such as up to six months free on a long-term lease to lure tenants.
Q&A: Rewriting role of Va.’s film industry
Virginia Film Commissioner Rita McClenny is trying to keep the momentum going, perhaps by bringing Steven Spielberg to the state. But McClenny says that without government funding for attraction programs, Virginia is not competitive enough with other states that do have lucrative incentive programs.
C’ville crazy for green cars, RVA not so much
At number six, Charlottesville is near the top of a list of American cities most interested in hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles, according to rankings released by Cars.com today. Richmond fell in the middle of 210 cities nationwide, coming in at number 109 just one spot below the Hampton Roads area. Harrisonburg was ranked 58th. The… Read more »
The Pipeline: Commercial Real Estate Round Up for 5.8.09
R.E. Michel Company, a wholesale HVAC distributor, purchased the 20,500-square-foot industrial property in Chesterfield from K.B. Properties LLC for $1.625 million. R.E Michel, plans to relocate their distribution operations to this location. Andrew Todd Properties LLC purchased the 5,900-square-foot office building at 2310 W. Main St. in Richmond from Rich 6 LLC for $402,500.
Support for public transit goes viral
A new viral marketing campaign to promote public transportation funding launched today.
Listener revolt over Clear Channel layoffs
As part of nationwide cuts, radio giant Clear Channel Communications split up a popular morning show duo on Q94 94.5 FM. Sid Kelly, of the Sid and Melissa Morning Show, was fired from the station and the show disbanded. It has been replaced it with The Elvis Duran Morning Show from Z-100 in NYC. The… Read more »
Va. solar biz prepares for $39 million stimulus
The sun hasn’t set on solar incentives yet. The General Assembly rejected a $2 million tax credit program for renewable-energy systems this past session, but that’s small change compared with the $39 million in federal stimulus money the state of Virginia wants to dedicate to fund development of solar and wind energy systems. That is… Read more »
Chesapeake sold for $485 million, HQ moving to UK
Chesapeake Corp., the Richmond-based paper packaging company, announced today its planned acquisition by New York-based Irving Place Capital Management and Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management has been completed for $485 million. The company’s headquarters will move from Richmond to Amersham in the United Kingdom. The company, which began as a pulp mill in West Point,… Read more »