RVA Street Art Festival organizers say pickleball venue will obstruct views of murals

Catch up quick: The former hydroelectric plant at 1201 Haxall Point was largely abandoned for decades until 2012, when locals brought together artists from across town to cover the building in murals.

• They did it again with fresh murals and new artists in 2022 for the 10-year anniversary of the OG event.
• Developers bought the building in January for $3.15 million with plans to open Padel Plant, a racket sport venue with an in-house cafe, pizzeria and bar, but said they'd preserve nearly all of the murals and keep access to them "completely open to the public," the Times-Dispatch reported.

Yes, but: That's not what's happening, according to the street art festival organizers, who include Richmond artist Ed Trask and former city councilman Jon Baliles.

• While the murals will remain and still be visible from the outside, they will be covered with glass on all sides, which could create a glare, the festival board said in an email sent last week.
• Plus, standing in front of the murals — which provides the best views of them — will not be possible when the business is closed or if the court is in use, making the murals less accessible.

• "Unimpeded access to the murals has always been the goal of the non-profit RVA Street Art Festival," board members wrote in the email.

Worth noting: The board does not oppose the development, but wrote that the work serving "as a backdrop for a private enterprise" is at odds with the spirit and public enjoyment context in which the murals were created.

What's next: Padel Plant is slated to open in the fall.

• The developers were asked to comment but did not respond by press time.