Manchester Development

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, Icetera said:

A "friend" can confirm that there is plenty of left-over residue and a strong odor, so significant abatement likely.

And I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that said strong odor (and the accompanying residue) is not only likely toxic to some degree or another - but potentially flammable. Again - the uneducated guess of a layman - but given what the building was used for previously, that would come as no shock to the system at all.

[rjp212]

Our buddy, Nahum, has updated their portfolio.   

[Flood Zone]

Not sure about this one. The current view of half-skyline, half-hill-and-bushes-strewn-with-trash is familiar and soothing.

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, rjp212 said:

Our buddy, Nahum, has updated their portfolio.   

These towers are just stunningly gorgeous! A true "big city" project for RVA - and a real step up in development.

Man - can you imagine Manchester in the next, say, three to five years? With the Avery Hall and Hourigan towers on the riverfront. What an amazing pair of "big city" projects that will transform Manchester in particular and RVA in general. Methinks W. 6th Street is about to become a VERY posh address! 

[eandslee]

23 minutes ago, I miss RVA said:

These towers are just stunningly gorgeous! A true "big city" project for RVA - and a real step up in development.

Man - can you imagine Manchester in the next, say, three to five years? With the Avery Hall and Hourigan towers on the riverfront. What an amazing pair of "big city" projects that will transform Manchester in particular and RVA in general. Methinks W. 6th Street is about to become a VERY posh address! 

My only worry is that this project will be built in phases. That leaves the chance that the second tower might not get built, which notoriously happens in this town…especially given our current economic environment. Not trying to be a downer, but when I read that it was going to be built in phases, I couldn’t help but to think of all the phased projects in Richmond that were never fully completed. 

[wrldcoupe4]

Upzoningisgood can speak to this, but based upon unit count and lease up process the phased approach makes total sense. 
 

i liked the more interesting ground level details in the older rendering. This is a little blander but the density is great.  

[I miss RVA]

2 hours ago, eandslee said:

My only worry is that this project will be built in phases. That leaves the chance that the second tower might not get built, which notoriously happens in this town…especially given our current economic environment. Not trying to be a downer, but when I read that it was going to be built in phases, I couldn’t help but to think of all the phased projects in Richmond that were never fully completed. 

I must admit to having felt the exact same misgivings when I read that it will be built in phases as well. However, given what @wrldcoupe4said about a phased approach making sense, my hope is that RVA is a much different city nowadays, and the failure of phased projects to ever be fully built out - something as you correctly pointed out, @eandslee, for which Richmond has a notoriously poor track record - is hopefully a thing of the past. I'd like to think that the Richmond of yesteryear - one that was not even remotely close to enjoying the amazing - and sustained - level of development - is a ghost of the past that this city is quickly shedding - and that the Richmond of today - which has gone nuclear in terms of unprecedented development - will be more than a strong enough market that Avery Hall will see this project through to full build-out of both towers. Particularly with Hourigan in process farther east on the Manchester riverfront, I'm thinking the paradigm of "success begets success" will come into play here, barring any kind of national-level economic collapse.

Let's consider this: earlier this year, it was reported that Tom Papa has started moving toward getting South Falls II underway. Now, South Falls I was completed a couple of years ago already, correct? And Papa has SEVERAL other projects on both sides of the river in the pipeline or under construction. I feel confident that South Falls II is going to move forward in the near future even as the other highrise projects, such as Avery Hall and Hourigan, are taking shape just blocks away.

Mind you, I'm just a layman and I could be wrong - but I think we have to look at the overall dynamic of Richmond today and see just how totally different a city she is now than she was previously - when many other multi-phase projects never got past the first phase being built. Avery Hall is a big-time, national-level institutional developer - and they've spent a ton on the land, endured a ton of unnecessary pushback, and are still charging ahead to get this project underway. Unlike times in the past - in which I honestly had no confidence in a project ever reaching full build-out, I DO have confidence that Avery Hall will see this development through to the finish line - and we'll see both towers rising on the Manchester riverfront over the next several years.

Edited June 7, 2023 by I miss RVA

[ancientcarpenter]

18 hours ago, rjp212 said:

Our buddy, Nahum, has updated their portfolio.   

16-17 stories right on the river. The view will be great from all angles, especially those driving in from the south. I imagine a "twin cities" feel where in 3-5 years there is innocent fun banter between the two sides of "oh, you live on THAT side of the river...," even more than it is now. Very exciting as these projects change the culture and social dynamics of our beautiful RVA.

Edited June 8, 2023 by ancientcarpenter

[I miss RVA]

57 minutes ago, ancientcarpenter said:

16-17 stories right on the river. The view will be great from all angles, especially those driving in from the south. I imagine a "twin cities" feel where in 3-5 years there is innocent fun banter between the two sides of "oh, you live on THAT side of the river...," even more than it is now. Very exciting as these projects change the culture and social dynamics of our beautiful RVA.

!!!  I could not have said it better, @ancientcarpenter

To your point - add the Hourigan tower (20 occupied floors atop a four-story base - and an equivalent building height of about 24 stories) - not to mention South Falls II (14 stories) - and down the road, South Falls III (11 stories) - and we will witness Manchester's burgeoning skyline develop right before our very eyes.

I LOVE the idea of folks being able to clamor (boastfully) about on what side of "the Ruvvah" they live. Manchester - well, at least "lower" Manchester (Commerce Road north to the riverfront - with the lower-number street names) is becoming a very posh RVA address -- and will become even more posh in the coming years.

Edited June 8, 2023 by I miss RVA

[ancientcarpenter]

51 minutes ago, I miss RVA said:

!!!  I could not have said it better, @ancientcarpenter

To your point - add the Hourigan tower (20 occupied floors atop a four-story base - and an equivalent building height of about 24 stories) - not to mention South Falls II (14 stories) - and down the road, South Falls III (11 stories) - and we will witness Manchester's burgeoning skyline develop right before our very eyes.

I LOVE the idea of folks being able to clamor (boastfully) about on what side of "the Ruvvah" they live. Manchester - well, at least "lower" Manchester (Commerce Road north to the riverfront - with the lower-number street names) is becoming a very posh RVA address -- and will become even more posh in the coming years.

Yes! Do we have renderings of South Falls II? Can't find anything on google.

[I miss RVA]

25 minutes ago, ancientcarpenter said:

Yes! Do we have renderings of South Falls II? Can't find anything on google.

 

[Flood Zone]

2 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

the Hourigan tower (20 occupied floors atop a four-story base - and an equivalent building height of about 24 stories)

Feels like it's been a spell since we've heard anything about this.......

 

 

[I miss RVA]

2 hours ago, Flood Zone said:

Feels like it's been a spell since we've heard anything about this.......

 

 

I believe (based on eye-witness accounts from folks here in our community) demo of the Silos is ongoing, albeit ridiculously slowly due to, most likely, abatement issues. So things are moving along, even if not at a pace we'd all like to see.

[whw53]

Avery Hall goes to city council tonight yal. On consent agenda as of now. Even if she gets pulled off to regular agenda outlook is favorable. Out of town but might tune in to later on. 

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, whw53 said:

Avery Hall goes to city council tonight yal. On consent agenda as of now. Even if she gets pulled off to regular agenda outlook is favorable. Out of town but might tune in to later on. 

Hopefully since planning commission approval was unanimous and since Manchester Alliance is supporting the project, it will get approved as part of the consent agenda without objection and without delay. We need this to be approved and to get started. It's THE game changer at this point.

[wrldcoupe4]

Can someone confirm if it is the rezoning that is on the agenda? I assume once that occurs, the POD will just need staff approvals going forward?

[I miss RVA]

51 minutes ago, wrldcoupe4 said:

Can someone confirm if it is the rezoning that is on the agenda? I assume once that occurs, the POD will just need staff approvals going forward?

Does the parcel need actual rezoning? I thought it was merely an SUP filing.   ... ?

Edited June 12, 2023 by I miss RVA

[wrldcoupe4]

SUP / rezone 

[whw53]

1 hour ago, wrldcoupe4 said:

SUP / rezone 

To clarify yes- SUP is before council tonight.

[I miss RVA]

If anyone is following tonight's council meeting, PLEASE post the latest news and the vote as soon as you learn the outcome! 

[BigBobbyG]

I can’t tell if it was taken off the consent agenda but it looks like the consent agenda was passed! I think some of the snark on that twitter account has to do with the casino. 

There was an interesting bit in there about blocking the amphitheater which I hope did not happen. I get history has to be preserved but not at the expense (in my opinion) of denying a large track of land being put to use. Again, just my opinion but an exhibit in a museum or markers around the site would accomplish just as much. 

Here is a link if y’all want to check the thread out yourself: https://twitter.com/rvadirt/status/1668413540888182785?s=46&t=gaCV3DT1Yz9RPPEsSIRQxA

[Brent114]

The Eddy has some nice lighting…

It is  pretty visible from 95 too!

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, BigBobbyG said:

I can’t tell if it was taken off the consent agenda but it looks like the consent agenda was passed! I think some of the snark on that twitter account has to do with the casino. 

There was an interesting bit in there about blocking the amphitheater which I hope did not happen. I get history has to be preserved but not at the expense (in my opinion) of denying a large track of land being put to use. Again, just my opinion but an exhibit in a museum or markers around the site would accomplish just as much. 

Here is a link if y’all want to check the thread out yourself: https://twitter.com/rvadirt/status/1668413540888182785?s=46&t=gaCV3DT1Yz9RPPEsSIRQxA

Okay - it's hard to tell looking at the twitter thread.

UGH - what's the deal with these "hysterical preservationists" going overboard YET AGAIN about "history"? Such a crock of crap to want to kibosh something as 100% beneficial to downtown, to the city, to the metro and to the region as a fantastic, much desired, much wanted, much NEEDED amphitheater that could REALLY put Richmond on the map in terms of having epic warm-season musical events (what a perfect venue!) -- particularly when the developers are promising to be respectful of and sensitive to the history of the area near Tredegar. Un-freakin'-real.

THIS is the exact mindset y'all hear me jumping up and down screaming and yelling against so vociferously. I have despised this myopic mentality my entire life. Jesus - LET MY CITY GROW, DAMNIT!!! 

Okay - stepping down off my soapbox and taking blood pressure meds.

Edited June 13, 2023 by I miss RVA

[eandslee]

The amphitheater passed. So did the ability to vote on a casino again this November. Virginia Business is reporting both. 

Edited June 13, 2023 by eandslee

[I miss RVA]

8 minutes ago, eandslee said:

The amphitheater passed. So did the ability to vote on a casino again this November. 

And Avery Hall? Since it was on the consent agenda - and it passed ... ??