Re: “Henrico Coliseum? Navy Hill developers who were rejected in Richmond plan to build a bigger development with a new 17,000-seat arena off Parham Road in Henrico County,” Free Press Dec. 3-5 edition:

Henrico County officials are thrilled and excited about the prospects of landing a new $2.3 billion development project planned to be built on a 250-acre parcel of land situated between Parham Road and Scott Road to the east adjacent to Interstate 95. The county announced that local developer, GreenCity LLC, has proposed to build a mixed-use “ecodistrict” development that will include a 17,000-seat arena, 280,000 square feet of retail space, two hotels and 2,400 housing units.

In these challenging times, we all welcome news that will bring jobs, housing opportunity and financial increase to the area. Like most people, I’m in favor of progress and I do not wish to assail positive change.

However, I was disappointed that the families that have a long-standing history of living in the neighborhood had to find out about this project via media accounts.

This neighborhood made up of families living on Scott Road is home to a quiet stable community of homeowners, the vast majority of whom are retired and elderly who were hoping to enjoy a peaceful life without disruption or possible displace- ment. The majority of the families in this neighborhood are African-American and homeowners who have nurtured and raised families in this community.

Yet county officials boast that this development project is creating a “new kind of community intricately planned, inclusive for all and thoughtfully designed, ...” It does not appear that anyone from the county thought to reach out to these families to take the time to inform them of what was being considered.

In the spirit of inclusiveness, someone from the county could have offered some measure of information regarding what is being planned. After all, these families have established a history with the county of meeting their civic obligations as tax-paying county residents.

My elderly parents, like all of their neighbors, will be directly affected by what is to come. None of these families at this juncture have a clue of what to expect and the impact it will have on their lives.

I’m not trying to cast aspersions or doubt about the potential benefits that may emanate in the future from this project, but I am calling attention to the lack of transparency that complicates joining the chorus of praise from the various officials.

If we can take away anything from this situation, it is that trust and confidence in our government institutions and officials are developed and enhanced with “true transparency.”

I hope in the weeks and months to follow, as the county and GreenCity collaborate on plans to bring this project to fruition, that the county stands by its commitment to “inclusiveness” and shares needed information with not only the media, but also with those families most affected. That shouldn’t be too much to ask.

BARKSDALE HAGGINS JR.

Dallas