“Empty Promises” is an excellent title for the article about the failed convention center in downtown Richmond (Cover Story, Feb. 28). The city has let its citizens down on so many levels with this project: too expensive, not enough improvements to Broad Street in front of the center (it is still scary, especially at night).

What really angers me, though, is the decision to build a lower-tier hotel in the old Miller & Rhoads department store. Frankly, it’s insulting to those of us who desire a quality, upscale project that is befitting to the building’s architecture and history and to the former occupant that put Richmond on the retail map decades ago and gave so many of its patrons such enjoyment in sophisticated surroundings.

Too often in this town, an ambitious project is announced with great fanfare, City Council and the major argue and wrangle about it for years, it gets shelved, or, in this case, it gets gutted to the bone.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who read this article with great disappointment.

Chuck Baldwin
Richmond