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Why Richmond, Why?!?

It seems that, too often, Richmond.com covers the city proper with such vigor that we forget about our suburban neighbors.

Well, not this week.

"Why Richmond, Why?!?" is answering questions about the Southside and West End, so take that city-dwellers. Can the Southside get more farmers market time and will the West End be getting a new restaurant and park? We've got your answers.

I love the South of the James Farmer's Market. Right now the market is every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Are there any plans to add another day or extend the hours (noon comes and goes pretty quickly on Saturday)?

-- Amy

 

I spoke to the South of the James Market's manager, Karen Atkinson . Atkinson runs the Market Umbrella , which sponsors a dozen or so markets all over Richmond. Sorry Amy, but according to Atkinson, there are no immediate plans to add a second day at the Forest Hill Park location.

 

"What we're looking at doing is starting the same type of market on a Tuesday night in the Bellvue and Ginter Park area, maybe in Bryan Park," Atkinson said.

 

There is good news, however. The South of the James Market has already signed up for a second year and the Market Umbrella is considering expanding the hours beyond noon.

 

Do we know what is being built at the corner of Broad and Cox out in the West End? One building looks like it will be a restaurant, but there are no signs around I have noticed promoting anything.

-- David

 

Thanks for the question, David. Actually another reader posted an answer before I could.

 

"The restaurant going at Cox and Broad is called The Silver Diner ," Bob posted to the last "Why Richmond, Why?!?" And he's right. The Maryland-based diner chain, which brings the feel of a classic American diner into the 21st century, is slated to open this fall.

 

In the HHHunt marketing materials for the Twin Hickory neighborhood, there was promise of a new neighborhood park to be built behind the new Twin Hickory library. [The] Library has now been built. Can you find out the status of the park? I fear this is just another HHHunt marketing ploy that will never actually be delivered to the community.

-- WestEnder

 

The park is in the works. Sort of.

I spoke to Al Azzareone , parks planning supervisor for the Henrico County Department of Parks and Recreation . According to Azzareone, the land of which you speak was purchased in 2005 to be used to both a library and a park. The library opened last year, but because of a bond referendum, the money for the park will not be available until the 2010 fiscal year. That means you probably won't see the park until 2011 or 2012 ... but rest assured that it hasn't been forgotten.

 

So what do you want to know, Richmond? Send questions to: karri.peifer@corp.richmond.com with "Why Richmond, Why?!?" in the subject line or leave it in the comments sections below. And if you missed last week's "Why Richmond, Why?" , just click the title to read it.