2020 Vision: A New Chapter for Jordan’s Point

1860 was a great year for Jordan’s Point, located at the confluence of the Maury River and Woods Creek, some 20 miles southeast of Richmond. It was during this time that the peninsula and nearby island served as a burgeoning industrial complex and a hub of activity for the City of Lexington, Virginia. It accommodated a merchant mill, cotton factory, and numerous industrial buildings. Jordan’s Point was also the terminus for the James River and Kanawha Canal system, which featured a turning basin, wharf and gauging station.

After over 150 years of technological, economic, social, and political change, the site had taken on less important status — underutilized and waiting in situ. More recently, Jordan’s Point became a city park and in 2016 was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Recent removal of the mill dam and the resulting environmental changes and benefits have spurred the community to better realize the potential of this important public land.

LPDA was hired to lead a master planning effort that will result in a dynamic future for Jordan’s Point. Our process considers the site’s complex history, physiology and community relationships. Stakeholder needs and priorities are being gauged and carefully balanced with environmental, regulatory and physical aspects of the site. Our sub-consultants include specialists in river hydrology, environmental permitting, historic sites and interpretive planning.

So far, stakeholders have been very clear about the desire to re-engage with the river, to celebrate and preserve the site’s history and to best accommodate meaningful recreation programs and community events.

Through our team’s various expertise, LPDA has synthesized stakeholder input, technical recommendations and our observations to create a responsive plan aimed at encouraging balanced use of the site. By implementing sustainable ways to integrate community with place and history, the future looks bright for Jordan’s Point. This Wednesday, January 15th LPDA staff will be facilitating a discussion with the community to review and address how to best balance historical, environmental, recreational and economic concerns in our mission to resurrect this local landmark. We are looking forward to getting more community input so that LPDA can determine priorities and develop a plan of implementation.