Bishop Richard Hall announced a plan in March to convert the Higher Ground Tabernacle into a coffee shop. It now looks like the property is up for auction… We’ve also heard that Sandra’s Home Cooked on 29th Street has moved out.

The City of Richmond Planning Commission will hold what may be the last public hearing on the June 2008 Revised Draft Downtown Master Plan TONIGHT, July 7 @6:30PM on the 5th floor conference room in city hall. John Sarvay over at Buttermilk&Molasses has a timely update and recap on the Richmond Downtown Master Plan.

Fireman are working to control a house fire at 22nd and Cedar Streets. No word on what started the fire or the fate of the residents.

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Liberty or Death Reenactment ; Beginning Computer Classes for Adults; open mic @ Poe’s Pub; CAPS Meeting / Public Safety Meeting; Unity Civic League; Union Hill July clean-up; MORE…

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The Richmond Parcel Mapper is a map of the city of Richmond that “permits querying and display of real estate Parcels”, and can also be used as an interactive map of the various Council Districts.

Remember: it is the season of minor property crime! Lawn equipment from yards and sheds, tools that can be resold or used to make money, are always popular targets. Make sure that your stuff is secure and keep an eye out on your block.
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A reader writes: “I’m considering buying a multi-family property set of apartments in Church Hill as an investment, and to be able to provide some guidance as this part of the neighborhood cleans itself up a little. I have some questions and I’m not sure who to turn to.”

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Style Weekly’s Edwin Slipek Jr. delves into the history and architectural import of the old WRVA tower, now the headquarters for the nonprofit ChildSavers.

ChildSavers, an organization providing care for local children since 1924, has renewed one of the city’s most visible and important mid-20th-century architectural landmarks. [...] A row of dilapidated brick houses near the corner of East Grace and 22nd streets, in the then-rejuvenating historic district, was demolished and an intriguing, Acropolis-like broadcasting complex was completed in 1968. It was a brilliant move architecturally on the part of the radio station, as the facility all but claimed Richmond: Its broadcasters looked out from their studios through cargo-bay-sized windows over the downtown skyline, the sweep of the James River and the curves of Interstate 95.

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Style Weekly has the story on how Samuel Best, Armstrong High School’s class of ‘08 valedictorian, may not be able to attend UVa because his parents make a little too much money to get much help but not enough to able to come up with even with the share required by student loans.

Hey folks! This site was hacked to spew some kind of malware at y’all for a while today. Everything should be clean now. Thanks to everyone that contacted us!

7th District School Board member Keith West will join mayoral candidate Paul Goldman at an 11AM press conference at Bellevue Elementary School to discuss “the need for a citywide school uniform policy”. The announcement quotes West as saying that “Goldman is the only candidate willing to challenge the failed status quo and call for a badly needed citywide School Uniform policy. He will be the Education Mayor.”

FOJP and UHCA Summer Picnic/Cookout & Tree; Beginning Computer Classes for Adults; open mic @ Poe’s Pub; MORE…

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A message from the nice people of the Church Hill Dog Park:

Hey folks! The Church Hill Dog Park is so very almost ready to use, but is not quite there yet. We’re close enough, actually, that some dogs have already taken their people to the park to hang out. In a way this is great because it gives us all a sense of how cool this will be when the park is open for use. Unfortunately, having dogs (and their people) using the park before it is ready opens us up to liability issues. Because of this, we need to ask everyone to wait just a little longer before making the CHPD part of your day.

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The Richmond SPCA, Richmond Animal Care & Control (RAC&C), Ring Dog Rescue, Annabelle’s Second Chance, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Dogs Deserve Better, BARK, and Misunderstood announced today “The Richmond Neuter Project,” a collaborative effort to encourage spaying and neutering of pit bulls within Richmond City. The first iteration of this event will focus on the Church Hill area of Richmond; pit bulls and pit bull mixes from this area will be spayed or neutered for free on July 22-24, 2008.

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A reader writes with a question regarding the stairs between Libby Terrace and 31st Street:

I run or walk these stairs probably 4-5x/week. Is there a group or point person that is responsible for maintaining this area? I’d be glad to volunteer to help if there is ever a clean-up day. [...] The steps are growing over with kudzu, the steps are awash in leaves, and there is a fresh crop of condoms deposited there regularly.

The half of a duplex at 1216 North 30th Street was heavily damaged by an overnight fire. All of the residents are reported to have escaped uninjured.

Richmond police announced the arrest of 14 members of the “Church Hill Boyz”, a gang involved in violence and drug activity in the area around 22nd and T streets. [via]

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The RTD is reporting that the wine shop & cafe Barrel Thief has plans to open in Church Hill “in late 2009″.

From the Coleman for School Board folks:

We want to hear from you! Please join us at Capt Buzzy’s Friday 27th from 6:00pm-7:30pm to have your voice heard regarding 7th District Schools, the last year’s school board and what you want from your school board in the future. [...] Don Coleman will be there to share his own story and listen to your thoughts and concerns. Free cup of coffee for participants! Send an e-mail to colemanforschoolboard@gmail.com if you plan on stopping by.