The project has drawn opposition from groups such as Preservation Virginia, Scenic Virginia and a group calling itself 180RVA.

“People in Richmond care about these views,” said Leighton Powell, executive director of Scenic Virginia. “It’s not just neighbors, it’s people all over. I would say that those views are some of the most important in the entire commonwealth.”

The most cherished view from the park is of the James River bend to the east, which is said to have been the view that gave Richmond its name due to its resemblance to the Thames in England. Supporters of the project note that the high-rise would not affect that view, but critics contend that the city and river views to the west also offer an important picture of the city and its history.

The Historic Richmond Foundation has taken a nuanced position, lending some support to the project but stopping short of a full-throated endorsement.

“Historic Richmond applauds well-designed new iconic buildings,” Historic Richmond Foundation Executive Director Mary Jane Hogue said in a letter to city officials last year. “They are the future of our city, and hopefully these future buildings will be so iconic that the next generation of Historic Richmond will work to protect their legacy for the future.”