The James River Green Building Council (JRGBC), the Central Virginia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, will kick off its 2011 Green Spaces Design Competition on January 28th in the “Lost City” of Manchester.

Each year this design competition provides real solutions to existing land-use and development concerns in the Central Virginia region, bringing these important issues to light. Open to both design professionals and students, the 2011 competition opened on Friday, January 7th, and will be followed by the annual kick-off event on Friday, January 28th, from 5:30-7:30 pm. Hosted by Tektonics Design Group, located at 403 Stockton St., #104, Richmond, VA, the kick-off party is an opportunity for interested participants to ask questions, find team members and network.  This event is free and open to the public, pre-registration is required at http://jrgbc.org/green/.

In 1910, the City of Manchester became Virginia’s first “Lost City” when it was incorporated into Richmond. Since then, what is now the Manchester neighborhood has struggled to create a new and accurate identity that reflects its history as well as its current residents and potential. Today the historic neighborhood of Manchester serves as Richmond’s main point of entry from the south.