Paul Goldman has seen the future of Carytown, and it's green with no wheels.

Goldman, a Carytown regular and a candidate for Richmond mayor, is proposing to revamp the eclectic West End shopping district into a pedestrian mall to complement its mix of shops, boutiques and restaurants.

Some merchants, however, were skeptical of the idea.

Under Goldman's proposal, West Cary Street would be closed to cars, bicycles and anything else with wheels from Thompson Street to the Boulevard.

Cary then would be turned into a "street fair," with trees and gardens, that would be unrivaled in Virginia and on the East Coast, he said.

"It is time to unleash the potential of Carytown, and to do that, we need to throw out the old rules and open that stretch of Cary Street to the imagination, the ingenuity and the innovation that we need to take Richmond to the next level," Goldman said yesterday in an e-mail announcing his proposal.

He said he's concerned about store vacancies and missed opportunities in Carytown and added that bold changes are needed to let the area reach its potential. Goldman said he started thinking about the possibilities after talking to someone who suggested closing Cary Street to traffic one day a week, as is done with the annual Carytown Watermelon Festival.

Raylene Wilkinson, owner of Raylene's Pennyrich and president of the Carytown Merchants Association, said the number of store vacancies isn't excessive, and they're generally short-lived. "There's a lot of moving going on, but I think it's normal," she said.

Shirley Moore, owner of Bangles and Beads, said she would have to think hard before going along with a closing of Carytown's thoroughfare.

"Thousands of cars drive down Cary Street every day. It's kind of a way of advertising -- your front door," she said. "I'm excited about [the idea] but a little concerned about it."

Thom Suddeth, owner of The Road Runner and co-owner of Carytown Bicycle Company, said many merchants have spent years establishing the area as a shopping destination. He said businesses could be devastated if customers suddenly found it difficult to get to Carytown.

"I think he's got some grandiose ideas," Suddeth said of Goldman. "That's not really fact-based."

He said merchants met this week with city officials to discuss its recent crackdown on violators of the two-hour parking limit. He said there's a plan for the city to allow parking for up to four hours.

Goldman acknowledged his idea would require the investment of millions in public and private dollars, as well as extensive planning to manage traffic and parking impacts. He expected a frosty reception from some but said he's open to suggestions.

"It's the mayor's job to be a catalyst and be a leader," he said. "You need to step back and take a whole new look at this."
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.