Urban Design Committee Meeting – July 21, 2026: Shoko Valley Streets and Lumpkin's Jail Pavilion
Urban Design Committee Meeting – July 21, 2026
Note on date discrepancy: The meeting minutes state the meeting was held on July 16, 2026, but the user-provided instructions specify the meeting date as July 21, 2026. This summary uses the latter date as instructed.
The Urban Design Committee (UDC) convened on July 21, 2026, to review two major items: a Location, Character, and Extent (LCE) application for the Shoko Valley Streets Project (UDC 2026-07) and a final architecture review for the Lumpkin's Jail Archaeological Pavilion (UDC 2026-08). The committee also deferred a discussion on the Urban Design Guidelines Update for parks. The meeting lasted approximately three hours and included robust public comment and deliberation.
Consent Calendar
- No items were listed on the consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Emily Shreer (Policy and Planning Manager, BikeWalk RVA at Sportsbackers) expressed support for the project's potential to calm traffic and improve safety, but raised concerns about bike infrastructure clarity and safety at the Mosby Street roundabout. She recommended a bike box, one-way bike lanes instead of a two-way cycle track, and clear wayfinding.
- Craig Martin (Partner, Shako Records) supported the roundabouts and overall improvements, noting the area is currently dangerous. He emphasized the need for safe bike access to the Shako Arts and Culture area and upcoming events.
- Cyan Crump (Executive Director, Historic Richmond) acknowledged positive elements (bike lanes, shared use paths, public art) but criticized the project's prioritization of cars, the widening of Oliver Hill Way, and the lack of meaningful public space. She urged a redesign of the primary roundabout and intersection with Broad Street.
Discussion Items
1. Shoko Valley Streets Project (UDC 2026-07)
- Staff Report (Ray, Planning Department): Presented a $50 million project funded largely by Smart Scale grants, featuring street improvements, bike lanes, shared-use paths, three traffic circles, and a new I-95 off-ramp. Staff recommended denial of the primary traffic circle layout due to poor use of residual land (a full city block converted to a roundabout with inaccessible green space). Staff recommended approval with six conditions, including adjusting the Lee Street/Mosby Street roundabout to be more pedestrian-oriented, adding gateway elements for the historic district, coordinating with the Shako Institute, and preparing for future art installations. Staff emphasized that the primary circle did not meet the 2019 conceptual condition to study residual land use.
- Applicant Presentation (Lamont Benjamin, Public Works; Owen Peary, RK&K; Chris Daly, traffic engineer; David Beale, engineer): Detailed the project's history, outreach (34 engagements, 90% public acceptance), and engineering constraints. They defended the primary roundabout design, citing grade challenges, property impacts, and safety. They argued that the slip lane at Mosby/Lee Street provided a single-lane roundabout and that pedestrian crossings were improved. They requested approval to proceed to right-of-way acquisition.
- Committee Discussion: Members raised concerns about the prioritization of vehicles over pedestrians and cyclists, especially at the Mosby roundabout (slip lane), the lack of placemaking at the primary entrance to the city, and the failure to integrate urban design principles. Some members favored a continuation or denial, while others argued for approval with conditions and a subcommittee to work with the applicant. The applicant requested no delays, warning of funding risks.
2. Lumpkin's Jail Archaeological Pavilion (UDC 2026-08)
- Staff Report (Ray): The project involves a pavilion over the archaeological site of Lumpkin's Jail (a slave jail) as part of the Shako Institute campus. The architecture-only review (site plan to come later) was recommended for approval. The design features a brick masonry structure with integrated text panels, a perforated brick screen, and a reflection space. The pavilion is designed to withstand floodway constraints and preserve the archaeological remains.
- Applicant Presentation (Genie Woolliver, City of Richmond; Bert Pennock, Baskerville): Explained the evolution from the 2019 concept, driven by floodway regulations and archaeological preservation needs. The design uses a "solid to open" metaphor, incorporates quotes from historical witnesses, and includes a bronze imprint of a cell floor. The pavilion is intended to be a gateway for the Richmond Slave Trail.
- Committee Discussion: Members praised the design, noting it improved upon the concept. Questions covered materials, lighting, wayfinding, and integration with the future site. The committee commended the project's storytelling and sensitivity.
Key Outcomes
- Shoko Valley Streets Project (UDC 2026-07): Motion to recommend denial passed (7-0). The committee voted to recommend denial to the Planning Commission, citing:
- Prioritization of vehicular traffic over pedestrian and bicycle modes.
- Absence of human-scale placemaking at a primary city entrance.
- Negative impact on future urban development.
- Failure to satisfy the 2019 condition on residual land use.
- The committee also recommended that if the Planning Commission approves the project, it should include the staff's six conditions and incorporate recommendations from BikeWalk RVA and Historic Richmond.
- Lumpkin's Jail Archaeological Pavilion (UDC 2026-08): Motion to recommend approval passed unanimously (7-0). The committee found the architecture met the intent of the conceptual approval.
- Urban Design Guidelines Update: Deferred to the August 16, 2026 meeting.
- Next Steps: The Shoko Valley project will proceed to the Planning Commission on August 4, 2026. The applicant was urged to work with staff and community stakeholders before returning to UDC if changes are needed.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, your mic is on now. Right. Mr. Secretary, this meeting is called an order. Do you mind reviewing our uh public accession instructions? Yes. To access the meeting via Microsoft Teams, please use the link available on the agenda or dial star sixty-seven eight oh four three one six nine four five seven and enter ID seven four two four two zero five five zero count. Public comment will be requested in turn for each item on the agenda. Please stay on mute during other times to reduce background noise. If you're using a phone to access the meeting, you can use star six to mute and unmute yourself. Thank you. Roll call. Uh here. Miss Clark? Yeah. Mr. Doyle? Here. Mr. Ben Inmidjid? Here. Miss Wheelett? Here. Mr. Bootsman? Here. Mr. Hamlet. Here. You do have a quart. Thank you. Approval minutes. A high level summary statement will be provided before voting on the final motion for each individual item. The summary statement will be transmitted to the planning commission along with the motion outcome and be recorded as minutes for the record. Thank you. Secretary's report. The scope of review reminder. We have 1707 of the city charter, general location, character, extent, approval of public buildings, structures, streets, parks, etc. And items of a specific nature that are designed by professionals such as engineers and architects are not considered general. We have 1705 of the city charter. And again, my beautiful rendition, just a very quick um layout of what's being proposed, street improvements along almost all of these streets, bike lane and shared use path along almost all of these streets, and the addition of three traffic circles, as well as a new section of the off-ramp for I-95. Currently, the off-ramp for I-95 goes south onto Oliver Hillway to Broad Street. The new section will allow you to exit from the off-ramp into a traffic circle and head up into the Mosby area and church hill without hitting Broad Street. On the left here, we have Broad Street is the thick red line. North is kind of sideways. We have the Lee Street Viaduct and the Mechanicsville Turnpike or the other red lines. And the in the center, we have the proposal of two traffic circles, as well as what I'm going to call residual land from that work, which can be green space, and we have the offering up for I-95. And to orientate ourselves with what's happening in the neighborhood, uh, this is adjacent to the Shako Institute, but does not include the Shaco Institute. It does include uh say some gateway areas for that. It includes uh throughout the Shaco Valley, we've seen a lot of development.
openpublica.com