Scores of New Hotels for Downtown Richmond

[drayrichmond]

The Graduate Hotel is getting ready to open, roof top bar and lounge to come later:

http://www.richmond.com/business/local/the-graduate-richmond-hotel-to-open-next-week-rooftop-pool/article_23eb33bd-1a7a-575c-af51-5aabaf582b16.html

[eandslee]

2 hours ago, drayrichmond said:

The Graduate Hotel is getting ready to open, roof top bar and lounge to come later:

http://www.richmond.com/business/local/the-graduate-richmond-hotel-to-open-next-week-rooftop-pool/article_23eb33bd-1a7a-575c-af51-5aabaf582b16.html

I honestly don't know anything about this hotel.  Is this hotel a big deal?

[Brent114]

It isn't a "big" deal as far as brands  are concerned but it is an upgrade to what was there.  The renovations look great and the design is decidedly "hip".  The restaurant and bar will do a brisk business (especially the rooftop bar) which will change the feel of the neighborhood. 

So yeah, I think it's a big deal.  They painted the building (blue) and replaced all of the windows and have replanted long neglected flower beds.  It looks great. 

Edited June 22, 2017 by Brent114

[eandslee]

8 minutes ago, Brent114 said:

It isn't a "big" deal as far as brands  are concerned but it is an upgrade to what was there.  The renovations look great and the design is decidedly "hip".  The restaurant and bar will do a brisk business (especially the rooftop bar) which will change the feel of the neighborhood. 

So yeah, I think it's a big deal.  They painted the building (blue) and replaced all of the windows and have replanted long neglected flower beds.  It looks great. 

Thanks for the explanation...I just honestly did not know anything about this place. Well, it all sounds very nice indeed. I hope it is a great success!

[drayrichmond]

And just one more thing to point out with this piece;

I could be wrong, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of hotels left in the downtown/vcu area that haven't been remodeled or re-branded: The Hilton has been recently remodeled and upgraded, the Crown Plaza is undergoing renovation/re-branding, the Commonwealth Park Suites is or has been renovated, the Jefferson has been newly remodeled, the new Homewood Suites downtown, etc etc...

Anyway, the point is, I think if anybody wants to put another full service hotel in the urban core, then they might have to build something new. So, given the expansion our hotel industry has seen, recent articles indicate that hotels are doing great in RVA, we might see a company say it's worth it to build a new hotel somewhere in the city.

Just a thought

[Icetera]

We may see more office/retail building conversions such as Hampton Inn / Homewood Suites, Moxy, Quirk and Hilton.  This would be great for new office construction.

As far as existing, I believe both Holiday Inn and Marriott have been renovated but under the same brands.  Berkeley and Omni may be the last ones left.  Hyatt and Wyndham still lack presence in downtown.

[Wahoo 07]

One brand that I would like to see downtown is Westin.  The Reynolds Crossing one is good, but a downtown location would be great.

[Icetera]

Just now, Wahoo 07 said:

One brand that I would like to see downtown is Westin.  The Reynolds Crossing one is good, but a downtown location would be great.

I almost added Westin as well but apparently they are part of Marriott.  Given that Marriott has now invested in 4 brands downtown (Marriott, Residence, Courtyard, and the Crown conversion), Westin sounds unlikely.  Wyndham and Hyatt have no presence.

On the lower end, Choice Hotels is surprisingly lacking (closest was the Comfort / Quality Inn Midtown), though they have the Clarion at Boulevard and I-95.  With the Crown conversion, InterContinental only has the Holiday Inn downtown.  Radisson's group, Carlson Rezidor, is also not present.

[eandslee]

With the office vacancy rates the way they are in the CBD (at about 10.4%) and a possible need for a new-build hotel - there could be a case building for a new tower...especially if those two elements are combined!  I'm looking at you, big developers!  Fountain Head had one announced on the canal last year...it might be time for a renewed proposal (hopefully, taller)!

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

On 6/22/2017 at 0:39 PM, Icetera said:

I almost added Westin as well but apparently they are part of Marriott.  Given that Marriott has now invested in 4 brands downtown (Marriott, Residence, Courtyard, and the Crown conversion), Westin sounds unlikely.  Wyndham and Hyatt have no presence.

On the lower end, Choice Hotels is surprisingly lacking (closest was the Comfort / Quality Inn Midtown), though they have the Clarion at Boulevard and I-95.  With the Crown conversion, InterContinental only has the Holiday Inn downtown.  Radisson's group, Carlson Rezidor, is also not present.

Didn't Radisson have a hotel before in Monroe Ward before it got converted to something i think. I think it was in the Graduate's current spot actually

[Icetera]

1 hour ago, RVA-Is-The-Best said:

Didn't Radisson have a hotel before in Monroe Ward before it got converted to something i think. I think it was in the Graduate's current spot actually

I believe so.  Radisson > Doubletree > Graduate

[Brent114]

It was a holiday inn when I (very briefly) worked there in college. 

[jbjust]

1 hour ago, hikendesign said:

check out the interior of the new graduate hotel  - pretty slick looking.

http://www.richmond.com/business/local/photos-inside-the-graduate-richmond-hotel/collection_35c5104e-21e4-5faa-a6ae-247364ca9011.html#24

It's a shame the outside looks so dated.  Not much you can do about that I guess. 

[drayrichmond]

This could probably go under the Economy thread as well but it concentrates on the hospitality/hotel market.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4083631.html

Really good read on the state of the Richmond areas hotel market, with some synopsis on the areas economy and growth. I really enjoyed reading it and it comes off as a very positive article on the city.

On the Moxy Hotel "Neil Amin, President and CEO of Shamin Hotels, expects this adaptive-reuse construction project to be completed by February 2018."

[meegwell]

The crown plaza downtown has been going through extensive interior renovations.  Today I noticed the sign on the newly painted grey parking deck has a new brand name - I already forgot what it said but it begins with a D.

[drayrichmond]

3 minutes ago, meegwell said:

The crown plaza downtown has been going through extensive interior renovations.  Today I noticed the sign on the newly painted grey parking deck has a new brand name - I already forgot what it said but it begins with a D.

D for Delta Hotels

[RiverYuppy]

10-story Hyatt Place hotel planned for Canal Walk in downtown Richmond

From the renderings, it looks like they might have retail right on the canal too!

[drayrichmond]

8 minutes ago, RiverYuppy said:

10-story Hyatt Place hotel planned for Canal Walk in downtown Richmond

From the renderings, it looks like they might have retail right on the canal too!

We were just talking about this in the Richmond Developments thread!

Great news and so many little bits on info in this article!

I was hoping for at least 10 stories for this so I'm happy there. Even though it's only 10 stories with this location it will add to the density of our skyline from the I95 view.

Really glad it's a major brand hotel and not another boutique hotel, no offense to boutique hotels, but having a major brand in this location will be great for business.

Other bits of info from the article:

A settlement is in the works over the disputed alleyway, good news.

The "SunTrust Tower" development is moving towards all residential, lets hope they keep it close to 20 stories;

"A corner lot at South 10th and East Byrd streets, once targeted for the regional headquarters for SunTrust Banks Inc. until those plans were shelved in October 2016, is slated now for a residential building. The Locks' developers intend to build apartments on the site, but plans are not final, Souter said."

Here are the renderings from RTD:

 

[eandslee]

51 minutes ago, RiverYuppy said:

10-story Hyatt Place hotel planned for Canal Walk in downtown Richmond

From the renderings, it looks like they might have retail right on the canal too!

This is good news!  I'm excited to see another building go up on the canal!  Love the rendering...just wish it wasn't so boxy, but that's a minor critique.  Like all the glass though!

Of note:  Construction not to begin until 2nd Quarter of 2018 and completion is set for 2019.

Do you think they will connect the two parts of the canal together...inside the hotel lobby?  That would be cool!

Edited August 25, 2017 by eandslee

[Icetera]

1 hour ago, hikendesign said:

A Friday gift from the architecture gods - love surprises and on a Friday too - time for a Hardywood Cream Ale to toast urban density.   Building looks decent and will hopefully spur more development.  The other tidbits are also good news, cheers.

p.s. Has anyone tried cream ale? it's been my summer favorite.

Certainly one of my Squirrel game go-tos!

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

YOOO damnit you guys beat  me to it

Easily the greatest development news all month in this rather slow month.

Edited August 26, 2017 by RVA-Is-The-Best

[eandslee]

A few different perspectives:

 

See anything weird with regard to the building placement in the background?

Edited August 26, 2017 by eandslee

[blopp1234]

I love the federal reserve in the background of the first pic!

[tparkerzut]

On 8/26/2017 at 6:13 PM, eandslee said:

A few different perspectives:

 

See anything weird with regard to the building placement in the background?

Hahaha, yes I do. They just seemed to randomly place Richmond buildings in the background. There is no place that you could have multiple views like that.

With that said, where exactly is this thing going to be. Also, rather pleased with the facade facing the canal.

[Shakman]

There no plans to connect the canal?

The Hyatt Place looks to be 11-stories from the Canal elevation.

Edited August 28, 2017 by Shakman