Richmond's Suburban Developments

[calwinston]

Why did Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors wait so long to change the zoning law? In a 2 month time span developers submitted 26 subdivision applications for the area that opened up.

If these homes are built more schools will have to be built, roads, libraries, etc. In a area that was intended by the County to stay rural ends up costing the taxpayers of this county more money. Board of Supervisors get off your butt. When a problem arises take care of it immediately. If you dont next time you may cost the county more than $64 million.

The board closed the door last night, re-establishing the 5-acre minimum, but not before agricultural property owners submitted 26 subdivision applications.If those applications were developed, it would mean 2,514 new homes on 5,656 acres in a county that's trying to slow residential growth.

Based on the county's $25,511 estimated impact of each new home on public infrastructure, that could cost the county more than $64 million because cash proffers -- fees paid per home by developers -- are only paid through the rezoning process.

Eight property owners are filing a class action law suit against the county saying the county cannot say what they can do with their own property

The suit alleges that land zoned agriculture is “permitted residential uses as a matter of right” and those properties, by county code, do “not require connection to public water or public wastewater systems because the zoning for residential uses had existed…” previously.

“Chesterfield County [has] violated the zoning and property rights of agricultural landowners by unlawfully…using its subdivision ordinance to unlawfully restrict lots sizes in contravention of zoning,” reads the suit.

Several of the plaintiffs have filed with the county to divide their land into a subdivision, but Chesterfield officials required them to go through the zoning process by applying for a special-exception permit because they lacked access to county water and/or public wastewater. In his filing, Shewmake alleges the county has “taken numerous steps to deliberately slow down, delay and reject the [plaintiffs’] plans in the hopes of divesting them of zoning and property rights…Such conduct denies equal protection and constitutes a taking of private property rights and a denial process of law in violation of the Constitution of Virginia…”

Hopefully these greedy property owners selling off their farms for profit get turned backed!

In due time the Metro Area will expand out to them! Be patient!

http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2010-06-09/Front_Page/Lawsuit_alleges_county_is_taking_away_property_rig.html

Edited June 10, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

The Caroline County Board of Supervisors approved 4-1 Carmel Church Station to move forward! The development 25 miles north of Richmond will cover 1,059 acres of land with 3.16 million sq ft of retail and commercial space, 8,659 residential units, and a 120 acre regional park!

Also in the same area the Caroline County Board of Supervisors learned that pharmaceutical company McKesson Corp plans to build a 340,000 sq ft distribution center. This will create 150 to 190 jobs in the area over 3 years.

http://www2.timesdis...-221806/349906/

Here is an in-depth article of how the residents feel about the new development Carmel Church Station in Caroline County

http://www2.timesdis...-222403/351013/

http://carmelchurchstation.com/

Edited June 14, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

Are cash proffers the reason Chesterfield County doesnt have any dense mixed use developments?!

Two years ago, developer George Emerson requested a rezoning to add 65 apartments to the 300 already built at his Chester Village Green. After the case was twice being sent back by the Board of Supervisors, the county Planning Commission last week reluctantly recommended denial of the proposal for the third time.

The reason? Emerson refuses to pay the county's $18,966-per-unit cash proffer, a fee paid by developers to offset the impact of new residents on infrastructure, such as schools, roads and parks.Calling the Planning Department's staff report "ridiculous," Emerson said last week that he has already gone above and beyond at Chester Village Green.

"When you look at me and tell me I haven't paid my share -- I built every road!" Emerson said. "I paid for the maintenance, I cut the grass. . . . I provide the place for the art center to have their meetings."

Chesterfield's cash proffers are the second highest in the region behind Hanover County's $19,503 fee.Henrico County and the city of Richmond do not levy cash proffers.

Tomorrow, Chesterfield supervisors will set the cash-proffer amount for the year. Based on the county's calculated impact of each new home on public facilities, the fee could go as high as $25,901.

Henrico Planning Director R. Joseph Emerson Jr. said the county's tax base -- 70 percent residential and 30 percent commercial -- was the main reason it doesn't need proffers. Chesterfield's is closer to 20 percent commercial, meaning less tax revenue

http://www2.timesdis...HES22-ar-54036/

Chester Village is great for the county because of its smart growth approach and infill development in the town of Chester ! So why are they being treated like this?

http://www.chestervi...n.com/home.html

P.S. This will also be a great location for a commuter rail station in the future!

http://www.chestervillagegreen.com/media/cvg_site_plan.pdf

http://www.chestervillagegreen.com/directions.html

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Chester&state=VA&address=11801+Centre+St&zipcode=23831-1781&country=US&latitude=37.358029&longitude=-77.447368

This also reminds me of what Stonebridge is going to look like! What a waste!

Fall 2010! At least that is what Crosland says but who can trust them with all the failed developments they have had lately? So far only Kroger has signed on to the development!

Edited June 22, 2010 by calwinston

[turboturtle]

Does anyone know the current status on a parcel of land located at the northeast corner of Nuckols Rd and Twin Hickory in Glen Allen? The property shares a parking lot with a Walgreens. Access to the property is from Twin Hickory Lane on the South and Wyndham Forest Dr. on the North. The development was planned to become a Ukrops store prior to the recession and subsequent the sell of Ukrops to Giant(Martins). I recall reading something about this property, but I don't remember what it was.

The property was developed to the point that a building could be constructed. There is curb, gutter, but no asphalt. There are weeds coming up through the gravel where building were planned to be. I guess the original plan had a pond. A crew came in the spring and filled in the pond and converted it to additional parking.

The Wyndham Forest Neighborhood would greatly benefit if a grocery store development would be realized. This little area seems to have decent potential with a good mix of office, residential and commercial development. Holman Middle School is scheduled to open later this summer. I visited the school yesterday and noted that the parking lot had been painted. I suspect teachers will be able to see their classroom in the next couple of weeks.

Again, if anyone knows what is to come of the property describe above, I'm interested in keeping tabs on it.

[burt]

Does anyone know the current status on a parcel of land located at the northeast corner of Nuckols Rd and Twin Hickory in Glen Allen? The property shares a parking lot with a Walgreens. Access to the property is from Twin Hickory Lane on the South and Wyndham Forest Dr. on the North. The development was planned to become a Ukrops store prior to the recession and subsequent the sell of Ukrops to Giant(Martins). I recall reading something about this property, but I don't remember what it was.

The property was developed to the point that a building could be constructed. There is curb, gutter, but no asphalt. There are weeds coming up through the gravel where building were planned to be. I guess the original plan had a pond. A crew came in the spring and filled in the pond and converted it to additional parking.

The Wyndham Forest Neighborhood would greatly benefit if a grocery store development would be realized. This little area seems to have decent potential with a good mix of office, residential and commercial development. Holman Middle School is scheduled to open later this summer. I visited the school yesterday and noted that the parking lot had been painted. I suspect teachers will be able to see their classroom in the next couple of weeks.

Again, if anyone knows what is to come of the property describe above, I'm interested in keeping tabs on it.

Tommy (TBurban) is our expert on that part of suburbia. If I'm not mistaken he lives in Twin Hickory.

Edited June 28, 2010 by burt

[TBurban]

Tommy (TBurban) is our expert on that part of suburbia. If I'm not mistaken he lives in Twin Hickory.

I don't think the owners of Martin's see the full potential that immediate area has to offer the way Ukrops had. If I can remember correctly, the Ukrops was supposed to start construction last summer and open this fall. As of yet, I don't think there are any plans for the property's immediate future. I don't see why Martins wouldn't look into it in the near future though. It's a great location, I'm sure something will fill the space soon enough..I thought it was suspicious that no 'for lease' signs have been posted on the property yet, maybe something's up? I'd email the the guy who runs downtownshortpump.com to see if he can fish out answers about the property. He usually gets the scoop early on about developments in the Short Pump/Wyndham area!

Burt--I'll be renting an apartment in Richmond with a buddy of mine starting this Thursday..officially living downtown!

[calwinston]

A new interchange at I-295 and the Meadowville Technology Park was recently apporved and is expected to be completed by late 2011. This interchange would give a shot into the technology park by being more accesible!

http://www.grpva.com..._will_be_built/

http://www.chesterfi...nterstate_.html

http://www.meadowville.com/introduction.asp

Edited July 7, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

'Pressure to develop mounting in Goochland'

Goochland County leaders are attempting to lay out a new vision for the county with a fresh focus on economic development, but to succeed, they'll need the cooperation of influential landowners.

This month, county leaders set about establishing strategic priorities for the cash-strapped bedroom community still haunted by past mismanagement issues that have led to an overhaul of county government.

While the preliminary conversation offered few specific answers, one area of consensus was that the key to the future prosperity lies to the east -- in the Tuckahoe Creek Service District.

The 7,800-acre water and sewer district was funded with $63 million borrowed eight years ago from the Virginia Resources Authority to be repaid by commercial growth.

But things haven't gone as planned. Few users have connected to the utility district since it was completed in 2004. That has left the county struggling even to pay the cost of operations, much less the debt, which has ballooned to nearly $74 million with interest.

In conjunction with and encompassing the 3,226-acre West Creek Business Park, the district was supposed be a financial boon for the county and bring big business to one of its corners while allowing the rest to remain rural and undisturbed.......

Eads was unsympathetic about the rate rising. He pointed out that "consenting adults made the deal" and even the combined rate -- including the ad valorem tax and the county's regular real estate tax of 53 cents -- is lower than in many surrounding localities.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/jul/19/gooc19-ar-318207/

You get what you paid for!

[calwinston]

"The YMCA of Greater Richmond wants to set up shop in western Chesterfield County.

A proposal to locate a new branch on 22 vacant acres at the intersection of Hampton Park Drive and Otterdale Road near Hull Street Road will be before the Chesterfield Planning Commission tonight.

The new branch, at the entrance to the 750-home Hampton Park subdivision, would expand the Greater Richmond YMCA's footprint westward into the fastest-growing part of Chesterfield, where thousands of homes are approved but not yet built."

http://www2.timesdis...ca20-ar-319810/

Wow! 25 miles outside the city. Has anyone noticed that the metro population is at 1.25 million! We are gobbling up land at a unsustainable pace. Especially if these homes are built all the way out to the Amelia County line in 5-10 years!

Edited July 20, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

Chesterfield County is defending its 4.3 million dollar 20 year lease of fields at SportsQuest. Many citizens are questioning why the county is leasing from a private for profit business when there are soccer leagues across the county that already fills the void of soccer play.

http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2010-07-21/Front_Page/County_defends_SportsQuest_deal.html

[calwinston]

Video of new Goochland Drive-In Theater

http://hamptonroads.tv/hrtv.php?id=16201088

http://goochlanddriveintheater.com/

The theater opened back in 2009!

Edited July 23, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

Remember the development with a Costco that was put on hold for the past 4 years. Woodlands Marketplace is currently under construction behind Chesterfield Towne Center

http://www.virginiab...7-26-10/262880/

New grocery stores are going up in these two markets. Just completed is an 86,750-square-foot Kroger near Short Pump in Henrico County. Currently under construction is a 153,000-square-foot Costco in Chesterfield County and an Aldi grocery store in Stafford County. The 17,700-square-foot Aldi is part of Berea Marketplace, a five-acre shopping center across from Geico on U.S. 17.

http://www.theshoppi...es/pf000629.pdf

http://www.chesterfi...00&comments=All

Edited July 26, 2010 by calwinston

[Shakman]

Remember the development with a Costco that we have been put on hold for the past 4 years. Woodlands Marketplace is currently under construction behind Chesterfield Towne Center

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/commercial-real-estate-roundup-7-26-10/262880/

http://www.theshoppingcentergroup.com/DSN/wwwtheshoppingcentergroupcom/Commerce/ProductImages/pf000629.pdf

http://www.chesterfield.gov/eservices/planning/siteplanreviews/querycase.aspx?casenum=08PR0200&comments=All

Thanks for the post. I have been wondering of its exact location. It also a pleasure to see apartments as part of the overall development plan.

[calwinston]

The first Chesterfield County master plan has been delayed and will not be available till December 2010

http://www2.timesdis...es26-ar-350071/

In that largely undeveloped part of the county, there are already 14,300 homes approved but not yet built. That represents almost 12 percent of the county's 122,000 current single-family homes.

I think some developers dont like what they see and told Chesterfield officials to go back to the table!

Edited July 26, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

Builders are building to fill the big demand but are receiving less profit by giving homes away a starter home prices between 200,000-300,000 instead of the upper middle 300,000-800,000 prices that the same homes were going for in 2005-2008!

http://www.styleweek...0CF33069AEE1AE0

The original plan for Magnolia Green had been for 3,500 houses in a mix of prices with many in the area of $300,000 to $800,000. After a foreclosure and a new manager, the project is shifting its focus to less expensive, entry-level homes in the $200,000 to $300,000 range, such as those on Great Willow Drive, says Robert Atack, president of Atack Properties, which took over management earlier this year.

The recent uptick can be misleading. The revival involves primarily lower-priced houses, which bring in less tax revenue. Also in hot demand are rental units, which Chesterfield County Administrator Jay Stegmaier says are being leased up so quickly there’s a shortage. At the opposite end there’s a limited market for houses that cost more than $800,000, officials say.

What’s not selling or being built much are houses in the upper-middle category, mostly because buyers can’t meet stiffer credit standards or don’t have the money for a 30 percent down payment, which many banks are requiring despite low interest rates.

Once desirable mid-to-upper-priced properties are white elephants, which comes as sobering news for the fast-growing suburban counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover. For three decades the counties drank a rich wine of new, upper-end luxury houses and the considerable tax revenues they brought in. Coming to grips with the new reality is a struggle.

[burt]

Suburban resurgence:

On-again, off-again and now on-again, Chesterfield's Roseland development is indicative of humming residential activity in the region's most populated county.

And the mood is generally upbeat all over sprawling Chesterfield where the population has passed the 300,000 mark.

Roseland originally was announced as a 5,540-home ring city. It's first neighborhood, called The Landing, is scheduled to see the start of consrtruction this fall.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2010/aug/02/ches02-ar-357857/

[calwinston]

"Fort Lee pumps up local economy"

Most of the influx of people has already hit Chesterfield County, the Tri-Cities and the surrounding area as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) expansion at Fort Lee, but the economic impact has yet to be fully realized. According to David Lees of the BRAC Synchronization Office, 4,799 military personnel, 3,580 civilians and 1,237 contractors are already here. Those numbers will increase to 5,991 people in uniform, 4,993 civilians and 1,884 contractors in two years when the growth spurt subsides. Lees told Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce members last week that 31.2 percent of that population growth is expected to live in Chesterfield. That's more than any other local jurisdiction but down from BRAC's estimate 18 months ago of 45 percent in Chesterfield.

"It's a challenge to find places for these people to live and work," said Lees.

Of the total, 58 percent of them are projected to be homeowners. Currently, some of the military personnel and civilians working at Fort Lee are commuting daily from as far away as Virginia Beach, Dale City and Rockingham County.

Much of the new construction at the military installation is for classrooms for the Sustainment Center of Excellence, which is bringing several training programs to Fort Lee, including the Ordnance Mechanical Maintenance School (from Aberdeen, Md.), the Transportation Center & School (from Fort Eustis, Va.), and the Air Force Transportation Training and Air Force Culinary Training Centers (from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas). Ninety-one construction projects will increase the square footage of buildings under roof from 7.5 million to 14 million.

While this area has seen little impact of the federal stimulus package, BRAC - approved before the economy's steep decline late last year - has provided its own stimulus. Thus far, it's pumped in $1.85 billion for construction, and by 2013 will be worth $1.7 billion to the local economy

http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2009-07-15/news/007.html

This may be a reason why Roseland and other suburban developments are picking up around Chesterfield County!

[calwinston]

The redvelopment of Cloverleaf Mall will probably commence later this year(tentative). The developer Crosland is the same developer that is sitting on 'Manchester on the James'. Well we have seen how that development has gone in the past 3 years. Honestly the redevelopment of 'Cloverleaf Mall' was a opportunity for the county to have a Town Center like approach. Instead of just surface parking everywhere they could have included an approach with office space, a hotel, sidewalks for the people living in the townhomes to the shopping center. Really this is just another example of suburban sprawl without taking more land. To allow this project to go on the way it is a travesty. This site will probably be abandoned again in 20 years because we still have not learned from the past. This region needs to wake up and look at the future of see what we could become, instead of looking at now. If we continue on the path we are now, this region will be built out in 20 years with the current zoning laws.

http://www.chesterfi...rleaf_Mall.html

It's August and nobody has announced the date for this supposed redevelopment! Plus you have the County fencing off 90 acres becuase of illegal dumping and loitering!

http://www.chesterfi...rleaf_Mall.html

Edited August 4, 2010 by calwinston

[eandslee]

That land is cursed!

[calwinston]

"$25 million sports medicine and rehab facility going up in Chesterfield County"

Health-care facilities continue to be a bright spot in Richmond’s commercial real estate market. West End Orthopaedic Clinic and HCA Virginia’s CJW Medical Center announced the groundbreaking Wednesday of a $25 million, 70,000-square-foot project in Chesterfield County that will serve as a regional specialty center for sports medicine treatment and rehabilitation.........

Serving as project developer is Richmond-based Lingerfelt Development. The center is being built at the entrance to Boulders Corporate Park at the intersection of Chippenham Parkway and Jahnke Road, providing easy access to HCA’s Chippenham Hospital.

While under construction, the two-story building is expected to provide 180 jobs. Completion is scheduled for summer 2011. Lingerfelt said it plans to seek LEED certification (Leadership in Energy Efficiency Design) for the building’s green design and operation. It has selected architectural firm Price Studios, Hourigan Construction and engineering firm Rummel, Klepper & Kahl as members of the project team.

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/25-million-sports-medicine-and-rehab-facility-going-up-in-chesterfield-coun/274579/

[calwinston]

Add another health care center to the mix. This one will be in the Innsbrook area!

The Virginia Community Heathcare Association and Community Care Network of Virginia are building a $4.2 million, 25,000-square-foot office building on Westerre Parkway.

The two-story brick and glass structure is expected to create 120 construction jobs. Upon completion next summer, another 45 health care jobs will move to the headquarters. The developer is Richmond-based Lingerfelt Development.

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/another-new-health-facility-coming-to-central-virginia/275447/

[Icetera]

Add another health care center to the mix. This one will be in the Innsbrook area!

http://www.virginiab...irginia/275447/

That headline is a bit misleading, since this just appears to be offices, but glad to see another headquarters moving in.

[blake_p]

The Virginia Community Heathcare Association and Community Care Network of Virginia HQ is going up on the vacant lot behind the Primrose School on Westerre Parkway. I work down the street, so I'll try to stop by from time to time.

[burt]

The Virginia Community Heathcare Association and Community Care Network of Virginia HQ is going up on the vacant lot behind the Primrose School on Westerre Parkway. I work down the street, so I'll try to stop by from time to time.

blake, isn't that near the Circuit City office complex?

Are those buildings still sitting idle and vacant? One might wonder why they are not converted to Healthcare usage rather than constructing a new building.

[blake_p]

blake, isn't that near the Circuit City office complex?

Are those buildings still sitting idle and vacant? One might wonder why they are not converted to Healthcare usage rather than constructing a new building.

The address is listed as 3831 Westerre Parkway. It backs up to the old CC HQ Campus, but there's no through street.

The two old Circuit City buildings are still empty. The third building on the campus is used by the State.