746 replies to this topic

[Transit]

Meh. I think ten stories is too much in that area. It's already strapped for parking and there's enough bedrooms in that area between VCU and private developers.

Ground floor retail is a huge plus though.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Transit, on 07 May 2012 - 01:40 PM, said:

Meh. I think ten stories is too much in that area. It's already strapped for parking and there's enough bedrooms in that area between VCU and private developers.

Ground floor retail is a huge plus though.

I don't understand it still, is it a mixed use building, primarily student housing, retail, offices, residences, what? Yes, they have quite enough student housing now, retail would be desirable, not so sure if offices would want to lease spaces there, probably would look at it as a better RESIDENTIAL OVER RETAIL building. Apartments on top of a couple of Starbucks or Subways or something.... anything works for me, so long as people will make USE of it. (e.x. RAMZ Hall )

[TBurban]

As VCU expands, my only complaint is the lack of hotel rooms on campus.  Tons of my friends have relatives coming in from out of town and have nowhere to stay on-campus or within reasonable walking distance to campus.  The Doubletree is across Belvidere with the Jefferson Hotel (and while The Jefferson is a beautiful hotel, it's not the most ideal choice financially for just a short weekend visiting your kids in college).  Many of them end up down Main Street at the Holiday Inn, or all the way down Broad at the Comfort Inn, Garden Inn, or Marriott.

Ideally, I'd love to see VCU put out a bid for developing one of the few remaining surface lots close to campus.  A great spot would be the lot at Harrison and Grace in front of the 500 Academic Centre, or the lot along Pine Street behind the Prestwould Condominuim Building--both are two of the VERY few surface lots large enough left on campus to accomodate a couple-hundred or so room hotel.  I'd even advocate for the demolition of the old Franklin Street Gym and replace it with a nice Hampton Inn or Marriott brand (probably one of the most ideal locations due to the proximity to the freshman dorm buildings).

With the addition of the VCU Institute for Contemporary Art, I think that the university will find an increased demand for additional hotel rooms on or closer to campus.

[burt]

Tommy, wouldn't this look neat at Belvidere and Broad across from the new Steven Holl designed art gallery?  The top 5 or 6 stories would be hotel rooms.

Eric likes it so much he uses it as his avatar.

But I suspect, if it were ever built, the hotel rooms would be very pricey.

http://baskervill.co.../274-ramz-tower

The Richmond Glass Company at Laurel and West Broad is still shabby but has been slightly improved with a new coat of paint.

And I like the replacement for the demolished commercial building at the western end of the VCU dorms on West Broad at Belvidere.  It is 5 (or maybe 6) stories high and looks almost finished.

[TBurban]

burt, on 10 May 2012 - 10:33 AM, said:

Tommy, wouldn't this look neat at Belvidere and Broad across from the new Steven Holl designed art gallery?  The top 5 or 6 stories would be hotel rooms.

Eric likes it so much he uses it as his avatar.

But I suspect, if it were ever built, the hotel rooms would be very pricey.

http://baskervill.co.../274-ramz-tower

The Richmond Glass Company at Laurel and West Broad is still shabby but has been slightly improved with a new coat of paint.

And I like the replacement for the demolished commercial building at the western end of the VCU dorms on West Broad at Belvidere.  It is 5 (or maybe 6) stories high and looks almost finished.

That would look great!  I think we can part with the HESS gas station and the New York Fried Chicken Pizza and Subs that are currently there.  I'd also love to see that BP go--I remember there was a proposal floating around to build an apartment building and have the gas station attached...I wonder if that's still out there.

[TBurban]

Here it is:

http://www.bobarchitecture.net/ --> go to "In the Studio" and then "Belvidere"

It says it's going to be under construction Summer 2012, what a great infill project!!

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

In BizSense's weekly Q&A, this week, they interviewed two "developers" who have worked together to develop two of VCU's wildly popular student housing projects: 8 1/2 Canal, which opened last year to major success, and the Collegiate, which is under construction and located directly north of the interstate in downtown.

http://www.richmondb...n-every-lounge/

They discuss possible saturation in projects, different issues, amenities, and many things that students alike enjoy = with living in these developments.

It is hinted that three other projects are in the works.