winter 2020 fandistrict.org 2020 Holiday House Tour Twist By Kimberly Hitchens The Fan District Association is delighted to whatever makes you announce it’s found a creative alternative for go Ho! Ho! Ho! while the annual holiday home tour. Since the logistics raising money for our of pulling-off the traditional fundraiser are public schools, parks impossible to bridge during a pandemic, the and local non-profits. board and volunteers are organizing an outdoor Just as important as holiday home parade December 12 - 24th. the grant funding is At the time of printing, the committee is still the joy you will bring accepting home sponsors as well as homeowners neighbors and those who would like to deck their exterior halls. This is who enjoy driving your chance to go BIG with lights, tinsel and/or through the Fan during the holidays. Let’s make sure it’s a tradition we don’t skip this year! If you are interested in volunteering, sponsoring, or having your home considered please email HHT@ fandistrict.org. “Tour” details will be distributed via membership emails, social media channels and the website fandistrict.org. Join the Fun: Outdoor Holiday Home Parade Dec 12 - 24 Inside This Issue Downtown Events Calendar Fall Photo Album Broad Street Rezoning Update Fan Woman’s Club Plaques COVID Resources Tabernacle Row House Update winter 2020 • fandistrict.org 1 president’s message President’s Message By Martha Warthen Despite eight months of the been working diligently to remove graffiti from pandemic and six months of protests our sidewalks and street signs over the last several and civil unrest in our neighborhood, months. The FDA has contributed to this effort the FDA has much to be thankful for by funding the supplies, but the real thanks goes this year. I wanted to name a few of to the volunteers who have been putting in the those things and the people to whom work. Recently, the FDA partnered with RVA Clean we owe our thanks. Sweep to pick up trash in our streets and alleys and This time of year the FDA would remove graffiti and stickers from public property. An normally be working down to the wire enormous thank you to everyone who came out to to prepare for the Holiday House Tour, help, and especially to Julia Scott who hosted us, which raises money for our programs fed us, and generally kept us organized all morning. Martha Warthen FDA President and funds $25,000 in community Big thank-yous go to Charlie Diradour and Chris grants annually. Unfortunately, like Dovi who organized a thoughtful and informative many other events this year, we had to cancel the tour forum with our second district council candidates, in order to keep everyone safe during the pandemic. Tavarris Spinks and Katherine Jordan. We should all But also like many events this year, it proved to be an be grateful to have had two consummate professionals opportunity for innovation as we flip the script and running to represent us in City Council. They both ran are planning for a festive, first-ever, exterior Holiday positive campaigns and waited until all votes were Home Parade. Details are being finalized but whether counted and all questions answered before accepting you choose to participate formally or not, I hope we the outcome. We would be lucky to have either all attempt to keep the holiday cheer flowing in this candidate as our councilperson and congratulate historically challenging year. Katherine Jordan on her victory. This reimagined tour would not be possible without Finally, I would like to thank the FDA Board the Holiday House Tour Committee, and I would members who have all worked diligently under like to thank tour chair Kimberly Hitchens and the stressful conditions for the betterment of our past chairs helping her pull off this new and exciting neighborhood. Here’s to hoping we can actually meet iteration! If you are interested in being part of the tour, in person next year! please contact her at [email protected]. Sincerely, We also owe a big thanks to a group of volunteers led by Steve Nuckolls and Susan Smith who have Martha Table of Contents 1. ...........2020 Holiday House Tour Twist 11...........Fan Art Stroll 2 ...........President’s Message 12 ..........Car Club make Special Delivery for Ronald 3 ...........Secretary’s Report McDonald House Bulletin Board 12-14 ....Fall Photo Album 4 ...........New RPD Liaison 16 .........New Historic Plaques Now Available; 5 ...........Fall Fan Clean-up Grants Spotlight; Higher Achievement Fan Area Elected Representatives 17 ..........FDA Working On The Pulse Corridor Rezoning Local Government Information 18 .........Tabernacle Row Houses Update; 6 ...........Long & Foster’s Strawberry Street Office Quickness RVA Delivers A Designated Toys for Tots Collection Site; 19 .........The Whitmires Celebrate 25th Anniversary Fox Elementary Christmas Tree Sale 20 ........RVA Downtown Holidays 2020 7 ...........Holiday Recipe 22 .......Host a Private Party at the Byrd 8 ...........A Little Library at Lombardy 23.........COVID-19 Resources 2 winter 2020 • fandistrict.org Secretary’s Report Bulletin By Julia Seward It is an unusual time and the Fan District Association Board continues to Board address the collective issues and needs of Fan residents. Recent meetings focused in four areas. First, the Board is addressing core priorities as we all lead more sheltered lives. The Fan Newsletter is enhanced to provide frequent, full communications and we closely monitor a steady FDA budget. Unfortunately community grants are currently curtailed but will resume as FDA builds revenues through future neighborhood events. DECEMBER 4-5 Also, there is laser focus on collaboration with surrounding Fox Elementary neighborhood groups during this period of social change. The FDA has School Holiday taken a leadership role in convening conversations with fellow associations. Tree Sale We all look for constructive steps forward. Third, FDA is working with neighborhood safety issues both through the introduction of a VCU covid 19 dashboard (https://together.vcu.edu) and partnership with our police precinct on consistent, accurate safety information. Finally, the Board continues to explore avenues that engage residents December 12 - 24 in safe social activities like the City Council Mayoral Forum. We welcome 2020 Outside resident ideas. Look for more detailed information about FDA work in both Holiday Home the Fan Newsletter and FanFare. Tour Fan District Association Contacts President [email protected] FDA Board Vice President [email protected] Meetings Treasurer [email protected] 7pm. First Monday Secretary [email protected] of the Month Communications [email protected] via zoom Code Enforcement & Zoning [email protected] Grants [email protected] Email secretary@ Safety & VCU [email protected] fandistrict.org to confirm [email protected] Membership and/or attend Programs & Events [email protected] Parks & Trees [email protected] Liaison, Fan Area Business Alliance [email protected] Fanfare is published three times a year (April, August, December) by the Fan District Association (FDA) for the benefit of Fan residents and businesses. Fanfare is mailed directly to all FDA members. For non-FDA members, it is available for download from our website at www.fandistrict.org and at several central drop sites in the Fan. Editor: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] winter 2020 • fandistrict.org 3 safety update New RPD Liaison The FDA would like to recognize Lieutenant Bill Woo for his outstanding service and dedication to our community. Lt Woo has accepted a new assignment in the 1st Precinct after many years working closely with Fan residents and the FDA to improve the safety of our neighborhood. Lt Woo always showed a sincere interest to understand issues and he routinely met with residents and community Lt. David Naoroz leaders to discuss concerns and resolve issues. Many thanks for a job well done! Lieutenant David Naoroz replaces Lt. Woo at the 3rd Precinct. Lt. Naoroz is a 24 year veteran of RPD with previous assignments at the 2nd and 4th precincts and RPD headquarters. He’s a long term resident of Richmond and a graduate of the University of Richmond. In the first two months of his new assignment, Lt Naoroz has been responsive to inquiries and requests, and he’s demonstrated hands on leadership to deal with issues. Welcome to the Fan! New Mural behind the BP on Cary reminding Neighbors to Stay Vigilant! SeeSee what what buyers others and are sellers saying have about been sayingyour Fanabout Realtor! your Fan ...Realtor!... • “For a first-time• “Jack home is professional, buyer, I couldextremely not knowledgeablehave asked for ofa thebetter housing guide, market representative and realtor. Jackand was knows attentive the area and inside on-point and out. throughout He has great the follow entire up process.- always A pleasure to work with.”timely and with thoroughness- and provided excellent advice and guidance. He always finds a sensible, practical solution. Jack has • “We loved workingintegrity with and Jack. very Hehigh assured standards. me In at addition, every turn he isand fun took and alwaysevery crazy call or text withoutpositive hesitation. and constructive. It was seamless He is thanksthe first to person him!” I would call if I was in • We experiencedthe patienthousing guidancemarket again.” through necessary procedures. We felt we had a personal advocate• “Jack Burkefor our is needs.absolutely A relative the best could real estate not agenthave beenthat I morehave ever attentive! • Jack providedworked prompt with. and He honest works guidance efficiently, and knows advice his in marketfinding and a professionhouse in the Fan. His hallmarkswell and are has patience excellent and instincts.” professionalism. We recommend Jack with no reservations.• “Was a breath of fresh air to work with Jack. Very prompt feedback • Was a breath onof freshshowings. air to To work the point, with wellJack.