Talk of the Point

So there it is, finally. The Trainmaster Building has been carried from the Burlington yard and plopped onto Cutting in to particular relation to the tracks, in the unhappy company of the Plunge and the wretched Todd Hotel (aka, “Gerlach Building”). It seems to promise the Plunge’s respectability while still a Todd-like ruin.

“Simple Architect” Tom […]

Andrew Butt, who campaigned tirelessly for the first NICE, has a darker view than mine on the prospects for a business improvement district. Don’t miss the comment he posted in response to “A New NICE Rises From The Mud.”

Let’s not miss the point about last night’s Son of NICE meeting in the parish hall of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.

Forget attendance. It could have been better–26 signed in–but so what. What matters is who showed up: nearly everyone necessary for a new drive.

Forget that they often disagreed, sometimes vehemently. After all, what […]

Paula Asmus, leader of the first attempt to establish a business improvement district in the Point, has announced a meeting to organize a second attempt. The meeting is to be held October 25 at 5:30, and the location hasn’t been set. Everyone’s welcome to attend.

Wherever it’s held, I plan to be there. As I’ve said […]

I was talking to a long-time Pointer about Tom Butt the other day. He said, “I’m ambivalent about Tom. He’s been courageous. He’s often been the lone dissenter on the City Council. That takes courage. And then he does something like the email to Masquers.”

And then there’s the grouchy comment last week to “An aspirin […]

N.I.C.E. is down but not out, I’m sure. So I’ve been poking around at sites on business improvement districts, and I’ve found insights here and there.

Here’s one in an article by a consultant, John L. Gann, called “Aspirins for Downtown.” It’s one of several articles.

Downtowns didn’t go downhill because building facades had been modified to […]

Masquers Playhouse president Bob Goshay is happy now. The theater’s neighbor is acting more neighborly.

Just a week ago, things looked different. That’s about when neighbor Tom Butt, a partner in the next-door landlord, threatened to deny an easement for maintenance.

Tom was peeved that the Masquers had voted against N.I.C.E.–and demanded in a now-infamous email to […]

N.I.C.E. didn’t get anywhere near a majority. Votes against amounted to 70.96 percent, according to the city clerk. Votes in favor amounted to just 20.04 percent. More details soon.

N.I.C.E. lost Tuesday night. N.I.C.E. lost big. I’ll post details any hour now.

In the meantime, we hear from correspondent David Moore, curator of the fine Point Richmond Online. He says of the post-N.I.C.E. period, “This thing is getting to be like the Hatfields and McCoys. I’d like to see the opponents and proponents, as well […]

N.I.C.E. leader Paula Asmus emails tonight that a few “key players” will vote after tomorrow night’s City Council hearing. Earlier today, she emailed supporters asking them to lobby the Council. A yes vote by the city is crucial for N.I.C.E.

Has she rethought her Friday morning analysis? Perhaps her heroic efforts have brought the patient back […]