Building A Better Canal Walk

It has been more than 10 years since the completion of the Canal Walk and while beautifully landscaped walkways may have replaced the abandoned wasteland that frequently hosted bonfires set by Richmond's homeless, the promise of the area remains unfulfilled.

The Canal Walk is a 1.25-mile greenway that connects Tredegar Ironworks to 17th Street in Shockoe Bottom. It features a series of markers and signs that interpret Richmond's history and provides a link to many of downtown's best attractions. And while there has been some commercial development, it hasn't developed into a tourist hub.

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Last week (July 26), Richmond City Council unanimously approved a special-use permit to relieve some zoning requirements for a development proposed for the 6-acre Reynolds Packaging Group's North Plant property along the Canal Walk at 12th and East Byrd streets.

WVS Cos. and Fountainhead Development LLC plan to build more than 225 apartments in a mixed-use development that should remove the Canal Walk's biggest roadblock.

"The Reynolds property could be the key to unlocking the area," said Erika Gay of Venture Richmond, the organization responsible for the Canal Walk. "It plays a huge part of what will tie the western portion with the eastern portion."

West of the Reynolds property on the Haxall Canal, the Canal Walk links museums, bike trails, river access and park space at Brown's Island. East of Reynolds on the Kanawha canal, there are many nearby restaurants and retail options as well as the Richmond Slave Walk and the developing Virginia Capital Trail.

The lone restaurant located on the eastern portion of Canal Walk is Current at the Hat Factory, which has done well with theme nights and live music acts, Gay said.

Canal boat cruises run on evenings and weekends from 14th Street to Great Shiplock Park and back. Tour guides dish out plenty of history during the 40-minute rides through the narrow granite walls of the canal.

"We haven't plateaued at success, but we're working on it," Gaysaid. The cruises set a record in 2009 with more than 14,600 riders, and that doesn't factor in private charters.

So, that's two good things. And at least the homeless have been replaced by skateboarders, which is an upgrade.

"Go down there at lunch and see all the people walking, eating, jogging," Gay said, noting that there are plenty of restaurants that offer take out in the River District area that includes Shockoe Slip and Shockoe Bottom.

An important hub for the area was lost when the Southern Railway Deli closed in late April. The store offered cheaper lunch fare and was a quick-stop shop for many weekday workers.

"We were sad to lose a great partner," Gay said of the deli, which was located on 14th Street at the Turning Basin and combined well with riders waiting for a canal cruise. "We are hoping that the people that manage the property would step up quickly to fill the void."

There is also retail space available on the first floor of the Vistas on the James property, located on the other side of the Turning Basin.

CANAL WALK TAXI SERVICE?

When the canal first opened, Bottoms Up Pizza had an arrangement to allow customers to ride the canal boats while they were on the waiting list for a table, which I always thought was a brilliant idea.

But what about the restaurants and retail shops in the area? What if the canal cruises acted as a taxi service between Tobacco Row on Dock Street and The Hat Factory?

"If restaurants wanted to do something like that, we'd definitely be open to that," though Venture Richmond would need more than just one eatery to participate, Gay said.

CANAL WALK EVENTS?

Why aren't there any festivals in the eastern portion of Canal Walk? Richmonders love festivals and we have them everywhere else in town.

Gay said Venture Richmond has hosted events like Midweek Mojo and beer festivals on Canal Walk but the boundaries of the linear property are difficult to manage when alcohol is involved.

What about a segway race? An outdoor art show? Maybe a model train exhibition in honor of the famed Triple Railway Crossing?

Why not dye the canal water green like they do in Chicago? Let's create the Richmond Irish Festival and line the Turning Basin with clover. After all, Sine Irish Pub is just two blocks away.

"We haven't had any requests for that, but we've thought about that kind of event," Gay said.

THINK SMALLER

Let's take a step back. Why does every business venture have to be huge? Or permanent?

Why not allow small family-friendly vendors -- like food and ice cream carts - to come in on the weekends or for special occasions?

Canal Walk is a fun place to walk and explore for children. There is large amount of transportation activity in the area - with trains, automobiles, canal boats zooming around on multiple levels and crossings - which displays the city's bustle from a safe distance.

What would you like to see on the Canal? Add to our wish list and post your suggestions in the Comments section!

This is part of a series on exploring the James River with Phil Riggan, Executive Producer of New Media for NBC12.com.  You can see more on our River Guide. He writes his own blog at Richmond on the James.