Earlier this week, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution that calls for archaeological research at an important former tobacco warehouse site and on all city-owned property in Shockoe Bottom, "as appropriate." This is a significant development as we, along with many local Richmond citizens and activists, have long held the belief that a thorough archaeological survey of what lies beneath the site should be executed before any development takes place there. Stephanie Meeks and Elizabeth Kostelny, executive director of Preservation Virginia, released a statement after the vote, which the Richmond Times-Dispatch picked up in a news story.

As Stephanie conveys in the statement:

“We fully endorse additional archaeology in Shockoe Bottom, and thank the Richmond City Council for their support. This research will help all Americans better understand the full history of Shockoe Bottom, and allow for more informed decisions about the most appropriate path forward for this neighborhood’s future revitalization. We remain committed to a vision for Shockoe Bottom that balances respectful commemoration of its slave trade history, cultural heritage tourism, and economic opportunity.”

The news story also includes a video that asks folks to weigh in on what they would like to see in Shockoe Bottom.

Keep up with our latest developments on SavingPlaces and on Twitter @SavingPlaces as we work to #SaveShockoe.