>>> OKAY, THE DEBATE CONTINUES IN RICHMOND, IT IS ABOUT PICKLE BALL COURTS BEING BUILT IN A PUBLIC SPACE. >> THIS HAPPENS IN ALMOST EVERY CITY, THIS TIME IT IS REGIMEN. CITY OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A RESOLUTION, WITH SOME RESIDENTS CLAIMING IT IS
TAKING AWAY AN IMPORTANT SPACE FROM THE COMMUNITY. HERE IS NBC’S PETE SURATOS. >> I DON’T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH– >> Reporter: MIXED REACTION FROM RESIDENTS SPEAKING UP INTO MY’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING. PICKLE BALL COURTS BEING ADDED TO THE PAVILION.
>> I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RIGHT NOW RICHMOND COULD BE PROUD OF AND COULD BE PART OF MANY YEARS TO COME. >> ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES IS ROLLERSKATING THERE, WHICH WE CAN’T DO WITH PICKLE BALL MAPS GLUED TO THE FLOOR.
>> Reporter: THE HISTORIC VENUE IS OWNED BY THE CITY, BUT HAS BEEN LEASED FOR DECADES FOR DEVELOPMENT, PRIMARILY BEING USED FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS AS WELL AS RESTAURANT SPACE. WILSON, OF RICHMOND BELIEVED THE PICKLE BALL COURTS DON’T MEET THE CRITERIA.
>> WE THINK THAT IS NOT WHAT THE CONTRACT ALLOWS FOR THAT THEY SIGNED WITH THE CITY AND SO WE WANT TO HOLD THEM TO THAT ORIGINAL CONTRACT SO THEY HAVE EVENTS. >> SOME PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED TO THE FACT THAT MR. ORTON IS NOT
CONSTRUCTING ANYTHING, HE HASN’T HAD TO GET ANY BUILDING PERMITS. >> IN A REPORT PRESENTED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY AT HER HE EXPLAINS IT WAS DENIED AN ALLEGATION LAST YEAR TO BUILD AN INDOOR PICKLE BALL FACILITY. HOWEVER, THE REPORT EXPLAINED THAT THE
DEVELOPERS BELIEVE, BY KEEPING THE RESTAURANT OPEN AND INTRODUCING GAMES, SUCH AS PICKLE BALL THEY ARE STAYING CONSISTENT WITH THE LEASE AGREEMENT, FOR THE TIME BEING PICKLE BALL COURTS ARE STAYING PUT. I REACHED OUT ORTON DEPARTMENT FOR A COMMENT, BUT HAVE YET TO
HEAR BACK. THE CITY IS A DISCUSSION FOR THE DEVELOPER FOR PICKLE BALL COURSE TO CREATE A MORE MIXED- USE FACILITY, AS WELL AS COLLABORATING ON A MORE SPECIFIC AGREEMENT ON CRITERIA FOR EVENTS. SUE HOPES THE CITY WILL FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND TO BENEFIT
BOTH SIDES. >> AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY KIDS
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