Manchester Development

[BigBobbyG]

2 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

I guess the NIMBY trolls who read Richmond BizSense needed a second wind - there are still a few smoldering embers over comments made on the RBS story re: the Avery Hall project going on today. Wowwww... 

Completely baseless but it wouldn't surprise me a bit if the author or the owner of legend's got some people to make comments supporting their view. Their arguments are NIMBYism at its finest and completely disregards the fact that the plot of land is already zoned and approved for a height that would destroy the view regardless. Hell, if they wanted less towers (something I definitely want more of)  in the future they should hope for taller ones now to ease the pressure on building new ones to keep up with demand.

Edited September 26, 2022 by BigBobbyG

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, BigBobbyG said:

Completely baseless but it wouldn't surprise me a bit if the author or the owner of legend's got some people to make comments supporting their view. Their arguments are NIMBYism at its finest and completely disregards the fact that the plot of land is already zoned and approved for a height that would destroy the view regardless. Hell, if they wanted less towers (something I definitely want more of)  in the future they should hope for taller ones now to ease the pressure on building new ones to keep up with demand.

This is true - Avery Hall can build by-right up to 13 stories. And they're adjusting the footprint and building positioning to accommodate Legends and restore as much of the riverfront view as is reasonably possible. In doing so, they have to add floors, and you KNOW I'm 100% in favor of adding floors! 

As you said, it's Richmond NIMBYism at its absolute finest.  

Anyway - I/m hoping and praying the city will approve the SUP (once it's filed - which Avery Hall needs to do) and we can move forward with growing Manchester.

[I miss RVA]

HOHHHHHHHHHH--LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Gentlemen, what's the old adage about ... "money talks, you-know-what walks..." ?

It would appear that Avery Hall has just made a POTENT statement with their checkbook. As in a $17.25 MILLION statement. WOW!!! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! And I love their comment upon closing on the deal, essentially saying "we're here and we ain't goin' anywhere..."

Avery Hall partner Brian Ezra said in a statement that the company is excited to take this step toward bringing the project to life. “After listening to the community, we’ve worked hard over the past few months to modify our designs and look forward to being a part of the Manchester community and add (to) it its vibrancy,” Ezra said.

And guess who brokered the deal? 

Bruce, of course! 

From today's Richmond BizSense:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2022/10/05/firm-pays-nearly-6m-per-acre-for-riverfront-manchester-site-next-to-legend/

[eandslee]

2 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

HOHHHHHHHHHH--LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Gentlemen, what's the old adage about ... "money talks, you-know-what walks..." ?

It would appear that Avery Hall has just made a POTENT statement with their checkbook. As in a $17.25 MILLION statement. WOW!!! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! And I love their comment upon closing on the deal, essentially saying "we're here and we ain't goin' anywhere..."

Avery Hall partner Brian Ezra said in a statement that the company is excited to take this step toward bringing the project to life. “After listening to the community, we’ve worked hard over the past few months to modify our designs and look forward to being a part of the Manchester community and add (to) it its vibrancy,” Ezra said.

And guess who brokered the deal? 

Bruce, of course! 

From today's Richmond BizSense:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2022/10/05/firm-pays-nearly-6m-per-acre-for-riverfront-manchester-site-next-to-legend/

Wonder what Bruce’s commission check looks like for a sale like that?!  Daaang!

[I miss RVA]

7 hours ago, eandslee said:

Wonder what Bruce’s commission check looks like for a sale like that?!  Daaang!

His commission check alone on that sale is prolly more than a bunch of us on here combined will make in an entire year (or more)...

You just KNOW he hammered this one outta the park just like the amazing Aaron Judge has been launching bombs outta MLB parks this year for my beloved Bronx Bombers!

[I miss RVA]

Details about what is planned for the Thurston block in Manchester - new six-story apartment building, one block east of the Tidewater, one block south of Legends, with 263 units. According to the RBS article, the building will be "O" shaped with a pool and courtyard in the middle. No 3-D renderings (I'd love to see how this would look geometrically) - but it certainly sounds like an interesting design - and of course we welcome more density.

From today's Richmond BizSense:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2022/10/25/more-details-emerge-for-redevelopment-of-thurston-spring-site-in-manchester/

 

[rjp212]

Nothing groundbreaking about the design, but I like that it includes an additional 7,000 sf in retail to compliment the 2600 sf in the neighboring complex.  With nearly 500 units between the two complexes, I imagine neighborhood retail will do fine here.

[I miss RVA]

47 minutes ago, rjp212 said:

With nearly 500 units between the two complexes, I imagine neighborhood retail will do fine here.

Fully agreed, particularly if you add in the 500-plus units planned two blocks north by Avery Hall - between the three developments, that's just about 1,000 units on the nose living in a span of three or four blocks - REALLY nice density - which should be VERY inviting for retailers to seriously consider opening in the neighborhood. Let's not forget that from a broader perspective, with several large projects on the way along the Hull Street corridor from the Commodore at 7th and Hull all the way to the Hourigan tower planned for the riverfront - all combined probably would add close to another 1,000 units (if not more) between all of them. One would HAVE to believe that retailers are keeping a VERY keen eye on developments in Manchester and are starting to make calculations as to the feasibility of locating into the area. Here's hoping among those retailers will be a much-needed grocer.

[Brent114]

They have also started on the second phase of townhomes across the street from the Tidewater.   I thought the second phase was scrapped.  There wasn’t any work going on for probably a year. 

Edited October 25, 2022 by Brent114

[I miss RVA]

23 minutes ago, Brent114 said:

They have also started on the second phase of townhomes across the street from the Tidewater.   I thought the second phase was scrapped.  There wasn’t any work going on for probably a year. 

Those should have been completed by now - the photo (taken from today's RBS story) is an old photo -- notice that the Children's Hospital expansion was still under construction (note the tower cranes) - so RBS's file photo is a tad out of date. 

 

[Brent114]

Yes.  That’s why I was concerned.  About two weeks ago they starting digging the footings. 

[I miss RVA]

57 minutes ago, Brent114 said:

Yes.  That’s why I was concerned.  About two weeks ago they starting digging the footings. 

No way? Really? Just two weeks ago - and still they're only working on footings? What happened?

 

[Downtowner]

10 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

No way? Really? Just two weeks ago - and still they're only working on footings? What happened?

 

Materials and labor is still entirely short handed. My company has had a bunch of people out sick including me for the past four weeks, I’ve been sick four weeks in a row catching stuff from my 7 month old daughter and wife. We have had to put projects on the back burner due to lack of labor and materials currently. The main electrical materials are not hard to get it’s the more uncommon stuff that make it’s incredibly hard to get currently. Remember the general assembly building got it’s opening date pushed back and I can tell you the childrens hospital inpatient tower will too. They want us down by spring or 2023 definitely not going to happen considering how much is left to do on the inside of that thing. It’s just the nature of the business unfortunately. I hope we keep pushing skilled trades on people or else nothing will ever get done. 

[I miss RVA]

6 hours ago, Downtowner said:

Materials and labor is still entirely short handed. My company has had a bunch of people out sick including me for the past four weeks, I’ve been sick four weeks in a row catching stuff from my 7 month old daughter and wife. We have had to put projects on the back burner due to lack of labor and materials currently. The main electrical materials are not hard to get it’s the more uncommon stuff that make it’s incredibly hard to get currently. Remember the general assembly building got it’s opening date pushed back and I can tell you the childrens hospital inpatient tower will too. They want us down by spring or 2023 definitely not going to happen considering how much is left to do on the inside of that thing. It’s just the nature of the business unfortunately. I hope we keep pushing skilled trades on people or else nothing will ever get done. 

Wow - that's really good insider information, @Downtowner-- I can see how a lot of projects are being impacted.

[Downtowner]

2 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

Wow - that's really good insider information, @Downtowner-- I can see how a lot of projects are being impacted.

It’s definitely not doing anyone any favors. 

[whw53]

Our friend Nahum must be the principal architect on the Avery Hall project - he has posted renderings of this project to his portfolio. 

Additionally the SUP needed to facilitate this project was submitted last week and is Under Review according to the permit portal.

https://energov.richmondgov.com/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService/richmondvaprod#/plan/e3d1a3ef-8921-4c1b-b2c5-6b4fef5fee4a

 

 

 

I know right now Manchester is touted  for its views of the downtown skyline but in 10 years heck - i think downtown might be marketed for its views of the Manchester skyline. 

Edited October 31, 2022 by whw53

[rjp212]

I love that street level detail!  Makes me wish this was a more prominent street crosing.

[I miss RVA]

OH... MY... GOD!!!

THIS is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!  I shudder to even contemplate the NIMBY firestorm (that must no doubt be accompanied by a run on Charmin - if you know what I mean ) that will come now that the SUP has been filed AND Nachum has posted detailed renderings. HOLY WOW - THESE MUST BE BUILT!!! 

WOW - this is STUNNINGLY beautiful! What an outstanding and handsome pair of towers!

 

@whw53-- to your point (that at some point downtown might be marketed for its view of the Manchester skyline) - I agree 100%!! Between Avery Hall and Hourigan, we could soon see a Manchester skyline graced by these beauties - and oh my goodness... how very beautiful it is!

 

MANCHESTER'S BOURGEONING SKYLINE

 

AVERY HALL - 16 and 17 story residential towers

 

HOURIGAN - 20-story (height-equivalent 23-stories?) residential tower plus 6-story office/mixed use building

 

And - let's add to it:

TOM PAPA - SOUTH FALLS II (and possibly also South Falls III) -- 14-story apartment tower (SF II) and 11 story condominium tower (SF III). These are in addition to the already built 14-story South Falls I apartment building.

 

What REALLY boggles my mind with all of this - when South Falls I was constructed - given what had preceded it in Manchester (a couple of 10-story buildings farther west/southwest) - I had my doubts anything would realistically surpass the 14-story building on the Manchester Riverfront, at least for quite a while. And now, here we are - that building has barely been open a year or two - and if these developments (PLEASE GOD!!!) come to pass, South Falls I will be SURPASSED by no fewer than THREE towers across two different projects! How amazing is that!!

Edited November 1, 2022 by I miss RVA

[eandslee]

1 hour ago, whw53 said:

Our friend Nahum must be the principal architect on the Avery Hall project - he has posted renderings of this project to his portfolio. 

Additionally the SUP needed to facilitate this project was submitted last week and is Under Review according to the permit portal.

https://energov.richmondgov.com/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService/richmondvaprod#/plan/e3d1a3ef-8921-4c1b-b2c5-6b4fef5fee4a

 

 

 

I know right now Manchester is touted  for its views of the downtown skyline but in 10 years heck - i think downtown might be marketed for its views of the Manchester skyline. 

Wow!  This is really nice!  At first glance I thought it was some other lucky city, but no - that’s going in RICHMOND!  My gosh, I hope this passes the SUP process. Please let it happen!!!

[I miss RVA]

9 minutes ago, eandslee said:

Wow!  This is really nice!  At first glance I thought it was some other lucky city, but no - that’s going in RICHMOND!  My gosh, I hope this passes the SUP process. Please let it happen!!!

From your keyboard to God's eyes, my dear friend!     

[Downtowner]

2 hours ago, whw53 said:

Our friend Nahum must be the principal architect on the Avery Hall project - he has posted renderings of this project to his portfolio. 

Additionally the SUP needed to facilitate this project was submitted last week and is Under Review according to the permit portal.

https://energov.richmondgov.com/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService/richmondvaprod#/plan/e3d1a3ef-8921-4c1b-b2c5-6b4fef5fee4a

 

 

 

I know right now Manchester is touted  for its views of the downtown skyline but in 10 years heck - i think downtown might be marketed for its views of the Manchester skyline. 

This is an example of some fine looking architecture and a very urbanish looking building. I say pass it and don’t even look back or second guess yourself. Just let her on through.

[I miss RVA]

15 minutes ago, Downtowner said:

This is an example of some fine looking architecture and a very urbanish looking building. I say pass it and don’t even look back or second guess yourself. Just let her on through.

AMEN and AMEN!!!

[plain]

Maaaannnnn..... if THAT gets built.... it could start an even bigger wave than we're already on. 

[I miss RVA]

3 minutes ago, plain said:

Maaaannnnn..... if THAT gets built.... it could start an even bigger wave than we're already on. 

 !!!!

From your keyboard to God's eyes, my friend!!       

[flaneur]

that rendering is lovely! it reminds me a bit of the very underrated, understated, and aging very well welton becket designed BofA/first and merchants national bank building on main. three cheers for thoughtful, good urban design that will age well and enhance the urban fabric!!!