On Thursday, Wilder sought to separate his plan from the one advanced by Jones. “We are a stand-alone entity. We have never been connected. And we are not connected now,” Wilder said.

The competing proposals have a common interest in a pending state budget that includes $1 million for enhancements to the Richmond Slave Trail, $5 million for the Lumpkin’s pavilion and $5 million for a slavery museum. The city would have to put up $5 million to secure the state funding, which is included in the city budget that’s being finalized.

Wilder said the $5 million marked for a museum would be enough to establish his vision, but indicated later he would seek additional state funds.

The Jones administration has pitched the Shockoe slave commemoration as part of a broad revitalization of the area, warning that the city won’t be able to raise the private money to see it to fruition without the nearby baseball stadium and other commercial and residential development.

The state budget specifies that the money would go to the city, but the spending plan remains in limbo because of the ongoing legislative battle over Medicaid expansion. The terms of the state funding could change.