Fusion @ Neon (Under Construction)

[BeagleAccountant]

A new apartment building they're calling Fusion Apartments is on the discussion agenda for the May 11th ARB meeting. This will be located on the former lot of the Norfolk Community Services Board at 225 W Olney.

http://norfolkcityva.iqm2.com/citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1347&Inline=True

Edit; I knew this sounded familiar. This project was first mentioned when Buddy bought the building a few years ago. In the following article, it says 250 apartments, some retail and parking.

https://www.pilotonline.com/news/health/article_b0c8b469-bdcd-512a-ba4d-a24ffb7d224b.html

[vdogg]

Very nicely designed apartments coming up on May 21st design review.

Very near Chrysler in the arts district. This will be a good fit for the area. Really wish they would incorporate a mixed use component though.

[Norfolk757Kid]

yeah but those first floor porches look pretty sweet

[vdogg]

27 minutes ago, Norfolk757Kid said:

yeah but those first floor porches look pretty sweet

Those would be better as storefronts though. 

[Urbanlooker]

Retail and 2 more floors would be great.

[Willy18]

For those of you that want to know where this is located.

[BFG]

This is a great opportunity to bridge the NEON District to the museums and create a walkable, creative area. I definitely think they need retail or a pop-up studio of some sort on the ground level.

[baobabs727]

Hmmm. New blood. Looks good. Angles superimposed on a box is marginally better than a box, alone. 

[lammius]

A little more elbow room on that sidewalk might be nice

[urbanlife]

The building looks cool and would make a great addition, but I agree that retail along the street is needed to help make that area a more mixed use walkable area.

[Norf Native]

Pilot article of the new Fusion apartments 

https://www.pilotonline.com/business/vp-nw-norfolk-neon-apartments-gadams-20200813-yegpb3t64nbapbryzxlbxhajzy-story.html

[vdogg]

Looks like this will indeed be mixed use.

"Renderings of Fusion @ NEON, another project from developer Frank “Buddy” Gadams, detail a five-story complex with a ground-level parking garage, walk-up townhouse-style apartments and coworking space on the first floor and more apartments above"

[baobabs727]

I guess ....

Has it gone through ARB already? I mean, it’s fine. It’s not blowing my socks off.  In some ways I like it better than the original Gravity renderings.

BG does specifically state that “retail would be tricky” here. Meaning there won’t be any lol.  And that is purportedly due to the extra elevation needed to protect the Bldg from flooding. But sorry, I’m thinking he just doesn’t like retail all that much. Let’s be real. Look at what happened at Gravity400 . Planning commission Chairman and ARB said they had wanted to activate Waterside Dr with retail but caved on this priority because BG cited “limitations“ in his Bldg design. He was also literally dragged kicking & screaming into build retail along the Eastern end of that building. He did not want to. I think it was simply a concession to get them off his back, otherwise there would’ve been zero retail at Gravity because he was given an exemption on the western end.

With this Fusion building, there will be zero retail, as well. Co-working space, but no retail. Everyone here said they wanted the street to be activated by retail, so do we still want that? Will this design activate the street?  It’s right across from the Chrysler and the Perry. Do you think the design fits?

Edited August 13, 2020 by baobabs727

[BFG]

I don’t mind the design, but I think retail is essential in order to connect parts of the NEON District. Go ahead and spring for the extra six feet in height, but create a mural to take away from it being a giant slab of concrete. 

[baobabs727]

16 hours ago, BFG said:

I don’t mind the design, but I think retail is essential in order to connect parts of the NEON District. Go ahead and spring for the extra six feet in height, but create a mural to take away from it being a giant slab of concrete. 

I concur 

[Norf Native]

Latest Fusion renderings

 

[mistermetaj]

That's a really disappointing update. Really watered it down back to a pretty generic apartment complex. Removed all uniqueness from the building. Even the color got blander. Value engineer much?

[baobabs727]

OM*G.  I have had enough of this guy. Who the hell would’ve approved this design over the previous design? What is going on?  
 

NEW BLOOD PLEASE. 

Edited September 1, 2020 by baobabs727

[vdogg]

This is not a good look for the "arts" district. The previous rendering was modern, funky, and unique. This bland crap could be placed anywhere downtown. The architecture in the arts district should stand out, it should be different, it most certainly should not conform. Ridiculously disappointing, I'm done. 

I really liked the blue too...

[lammius]

[Norf Native]

Fusion update:

 

 

[baobabs727]

No. 

[BFG]

What happened to the six foot wall to reduce flooding risks?

[vdogg]

I have no idea what this thing is supposed to look like. They haven’t gone back before design review, that very well may be an earlier unreleased rendering.

[Willy18]

Breaking News:

VB Town Center and Summit Pointe officials have reached out to Wavy stating that a thumb drive with all their $hi++Y  designs saved on it has been stolen. Surveillance cameras show a black Lexus SUV speeding westbound towards DT Norfolk.  Also in the article both parties issued a statement that they would willing to forgive the culprit in exchange for a $50 IKEA gift card. 

Very strange article