Sometimes it takes a stranger to help us appreciate our beautiful city. Recently, a local children’s fantasy author came to Richmond to visit 4 elementary schools, including Mary Munford and Fox. James Dashner, is promoting his new book, The 13th Reality.
Here’s what he had to say:

I heap praise on the 4 awesome schools we visited, I want to make 2 observations about this area around Richmond, VA.

This place is unbelievably beautiful. I mean it. I seriously want to live here. Rolling hills, farms, wheatfields, tree-lined roads, awesome architecture everywhere. All somehow magically surrounding this pretty big city. In fact, it was kind of eerie. Angie and I really thought that somehow we went through a portal and entered another world (or yes, another Reality).

Honest to goodness, we were in downtown Richmond, skyscrapers everywhere, and then 2 minutes later we were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by breathtaking scenery but not a single restaurant in sight. The Dashner Dude almost had to skip lunch and groan and whine incessantly during the last 2 presentations, but a gas station suddenly popped out of nowhere and had a deli inside. Our lives were saved at the last minute.

Based on the schools he visited and his description, I’d say he’s talking about the East End off of Route 5, an area slated to be developed into Tree Hill Farm. Tree Hill is certainly one of my favorite parts of Richmond, and I will be so sad to see it developed.
…

Next came Mary Munford Elementary. Another awesome assembly, more awesome kids. Thanks to the librarian, Elena Yamashev, who had such a cool accent I could’ve talked to her all day.

A developer’s plan to turn a 531-acre farm on the James River in eastern Henrico County into an urban village took a step forward last night.

The Henrico Planning Commission voted 5-0 to endorse plans to turn Tree Hill Farm into the Town of Tree Hill., The Times Dispatch reports.

I know this is the Near West End News, but, I’ve had my eye on the Near East End for quite sometime….and I wonder if maybe I’m not alone. My husband and I love the East End along the River, we’ve thought about trying to buy a farm close in…you know, right next to the Tree Hill Farm where they just go approval to build an entire town, 10 minutes from downtown, right on the James River.

We opted for the Near West End instead, mainly because of the schools. But one day, when our kids have graduated, we’ll be looking again at the East End near the water and hope we can still afford something. And, we better hope that it still has some of the unspoiled country charm we love too, but I guess that will be asking too much.

Other developments appear to be coming down the line with a mix of secrecy and lack of detail include Curles Neck Farm, which 3 investors bought last year for 22.5 million, and HHHunt’s plan for Wilton at the 895 interchange. All of these developments are prime real estate, right on the river, and no farther from downtown than Short Pump. The question is, can Varina handle it? And, do they even want to?
I have a prayer for these three developments: May they plan the area more carefully than Short Pump was planned. May the traffic be better, may they take in to account the people who already live there, the nature and the river that will be affected and please, please, please don’t build more houses than infrastructure can support. Build the schools the roads, and the sewer, with much care, anticipating all of the people it will bring, and make the developers pay their fare share.