Pickleball Concern for RVA Street Art Festival: Organizers of the RVA Street Art Festival have voiced concerns over the impending opening of Padel Plant, a new pickleball and paddlesport venue located at the historic Haxall Power Plant. Despite initial invitations to collaborate, the festival has decided against partnering with the developers, citing significant issues with how the project affects the visibility of the building’s renowned murals.
Significance of the Murals
The Haxall Power Plant, situated at 1201 Haxall Point, has been a celebrated local landmark since it was first transformed into an open-air gallery in 2012. Local artists covered the building with vibrant murals, which have been a prominent feature of the city’s street art scene. This artistic endeavor was refreshed in 2022, marking the 10th anniversary with new artwork.
Development Controversy
In January, developers purchased the building for $3.15 million, with plans to convert it into Padel Plant—a venue featuring pickleball courts, an in-house cafe, pizzeria, and bar. They committed to preserving the majority of the murals and ensuring public access to them. However, RVA Street Art Festival organizers, including Richmond artist Ed Trask and former city councilman Jon Baliles, have raised objections.
Concerns Over Visibility and Access
According to the festival’s board, while the murals will remain visible from the outside, they will be enclosed with glass, potentially creating glare and obstructing the view. Furthermore, the prime viewing areas of the murals will be inaccessible when the venue is closed or when the courts are in use, diminishing public enjoyment and access.
The festival’s board emphasized that their opposition is not to the development itself but to the way the murals will serve as a backdrop for a private business, which they argue undermines the murals’ original public and artistic purpose.
The Padel Plant is expected to open in the fall. As of now, the developers have not responded to requests for comment on the festival organizers’ concerns.
News in Brief: Pickleball Concern for RVA Street Art Festival
Organizers of the RVA Street Art Festival are expressing concerns about the impact of Padel Planton RVA, a new pickleball and paddlesport venue set to open at the former Haxall Power Plant. While the developers pledged to preserve the building’s murals and ensure public access, festival organizers argue that the murals will be obscured by glass, potentially causing glare and obstructing views.
They also worry that access to the murals will be limited when the venue is closed or when courts are in use. The festival’s board, including Richmond artist Ed Trask and former city councilman Jon Baliles, emphasizes that their concerns are about the murals’ visibility and public accessibility rather than opposing the development itself. Padel Plant is scheduled to open in the fall.
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