Page 22 - Jackson Ward News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Several articles in the Nov. 16, 2023, edition of the Richmond Free Press chronicled the discovery of more than 140 badly decaying boxes containing personal documents, artifacts and archival materials that belonged to the late civil rights attorney and Virginia State Delegate Roland J. “Duke” Ealey. The documents were found several years ago by James “Jim” Vigeant and Sasha Finch while restoring their Clay Street home in Richmond’s Historic Jackson Ward.

In reality, the money at stake supersedes all else. This business is so profitable that there are no tax incentives attached to the project, or other government subsidies, which means there are no real clawback mechanisms if the casino developers fail to deliver what’s been promised. It boils down to a simple question: Is it worth the risk?

Five years into the renovation of a 143-year-old brick house on East Clay Street in Jackson Ward, James Vigeant’s work halted. To his surprise and amazement, he found an unexpected treasure — 144 moldy boxes filled with the decaying legal papers of one of Richmond’s legal giants, Roland J. “Duke” Ealey.

How can Richmond be proactive in drafting and initiating a fresh, imaginative and practical narrative for respecting and building upon the past? Here are three ideas.

The concept is called Aces High, a reference both to old Las Vegas casinos and bars as well as to the Iron Maiden song of the same name.