197 replies to this topic

[wrldcoupe4]

More news to come

[TBurban]

wrldcoupe4, on May 1 2006, 01:23 PM, said:

More news to come

2-26 or 1-20.  As in new towers?!

Edited by TBurban, 01 May 2006 - 11:29 AM.

[vdogg]

Sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper Coupe   James Center Expansion

Quote

The dynamics of the area are changing," he said.

His plans for the James Center, which include adding 700,000 to 1 million square feet of space:

# Add 12 stories to the 14-story Three James Center.

"It was built structurally to handle that. It has elevator shafts and everything ready to go," he said.

If a tenant can be found, the addition could be done in two years.

One tenant could be MeadWestvaco Corp., the packaging and paper company that is relocating its corporate headquarters to the area this year. "We have chatted with them and we are chatting with them," Jerome said.

# Turn a surface parking lot between state Route 195 and Canal Street into a 20-story office tower with 300,000 square feet.

# Build an office building of up to a 26 stories on land where there is a pedestrian plaza at 10th and Cary streets, basically in front of 22-story Two James Center. The new building could have 400,000 square feet to 450,000 square feet.

"This is a long term project," he said of his plans. "I would say it would take three to six years to do all of the development."

The 21-story One James Center was completed in 1985. The other buildings opened in 1987.

[urbanvb]

wow.. that is truly amazing!!  

[TBurban]

My gosh, its all happening at once.  Like it's too good to be true......

[wrldcoupe4]

vdogg, on May 1 2006, 01:32 PM, said:

Sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper Coupe   James Center Expansion

haha I know I finally found it but had to run out to class! This is awesome news.

[wrldcoupe4]

Here's a live local view of what's going to happen:

James Center Expansion

Man if it all goes through it would create some INSANE density right there....

Edited by wrldcoupe4, 01 May 2006 - 01:10 PM.

[mclawsdrive]

Looks like downtown IS still in the running for  mead/westvaco.  Now all thats needed is high speed rail, from the CEO's house in goochland - right to 10th and Canal St.  
Or maybe just a nice helicopter pad on top of the 26th floor of the James Center.

Edited by mclawsdrive, 01 May 2006 - 02:32 PM.

[krazeeboi]

Good for Richmond!

Edited by krazeeboi, 03 May 2006 - 12:03 AM.

[wrldcoupe4]

Hey there... yes it's very good! That's 2 new towers plus one that will be growing to almost double its current height. Not to mention the 2 towers of Centennial Towers, the 18-story Vistas on the James, and the new 15-story critical bed tower at VCU. So that's 6 new highrises downtown, plus the 7 or so planned directly across the river. Plus the probability of 3 more at the Ethyl Site... Renaissance anyone?

Edited by wrldcoupe4, 01 May 2006 - 03:44 PM.

[krazeeboi]

That's what it sounds like to me!

[TBurban]

wrldcoupe4, on May 1 2006, 05:44 PM, said:

Hey there... yes it's very good! That's 2 new towers plus one that will be growing to almost double its current height. Not to mention the 2 towers of Centennial Towers, the 18-story Vistas on the James, and the new 15-story critical bed tower at VCU. So that's 6 new highrises downtown, plus the 7 or so planned directly across the river. Plus the probability of 3 more at the Ethyl Site... Renaissance anyone?

I never thought this much could ever happen within the next 5 to 10 years.  Its incredible!  I mean, 6 definite highrises to be done by around 2010?!  Very exciting  

[Cadeho]

And here I am...

I'd love to see the city of the future. We had the building boom in the 80s and then we squeezed out the Tyler building in the early 90s and that was it. It seemed like it was over and we'd never have a new skyline. And you know we were stuck with basically the same skyline from the 40s to the early 70s! I thought I'd surely be an old old man by the time the buildings that were just a tad older than I would be replaced and we'd see another neat new building. Well I'm glad that won't be so!  I wouldn't call it a renaissance because we didn't go anywhere, but it's definitely a new boom and hopefully one that won't die down for decades to come.

I bet some people will one day include Rocketts, the entire riverfront, and Manchester as downtown. Then people would say we really do have a huge downtown for a city our size! We still need a radical crowning glory that identifies Richmond to the world.

Edited by Cadeho, 01 May 2006 - 05:45 PM.

[TBurban]

Cadeho, on May 1 2006, 07:39 PM, said:

We still need a radical crowning glory that identifies Richmond to the world.

2007 is coming!

[Cadeho]

I mean a signature building... and something tall that's not a box!

[TBurban]

Cadeho, on May 1 2006, 07:47 PM, said:

I mean a signature building... and something tall that's not a box!

Haha, my bad  

Edited by TBurban, 01 May 2006 - 05:49 PM.

[Cadeho]

And then there are these sites that have eyes watering for more towers... if dreams can become realtity.

[wrldcoupe4]

I've pointed out those sites and several others to a development company looking for a site in Richmond to work with...

[eandslee]

This is all really great news and I'm totally excited!  I just hope they all come to fruition...and I mean that in a totally optimistic tone.  I'd still like to see some kind of rendering though, even if it isn't exact and just a vision.  I hope that many suburban and new companies that move to Richmond will locate downtown instead of in the burbs.  Just think if all of Innsbrook moved downtown what the skyline would look like!  Holy cow!  I love that Richmond is going through this renaissance...it's been a long time coming!

[Cadeho]

eandslee, on May 1 2006, 09:09 PM, said:

This is all really great news and I'm totally excited!  I just hope they all come to fruition...and I mean that in a totally optimistic tone.  I'd still like to see some kind of rendering though, even if it isn't exact and just a vision.  I hope that many suburban and new companies that move to Richmond will locate downtown instead of in the burbs.  Just think if all of Innsbrook moved downtown what the skyline would look like!  Holy cow!  I love that Richmond is going through this renaissance...it's been a long time coming!

Oh yeah definitely. Being at Capital One out there, it just amazed me that they have 4 buildings where I am, another building or two further up the road, and West Creek.  Then there's the old building (that I miss) in Chester. We could have a massive building here if Capital One wanted.  And Tommy and I talked about this, but why did Innsbrook get all the neat geometrically neat buildings and downtown gets giant refrigerator boxes?

Oh and let's dream that Capital One's investment in jackson Ward could be feelers coming downtown from the west.

Edited by Cadeho, 01 May 2006 - 07:21 PM.