Chamberlayne / VUU / Northside

[RiverYuppy]

Bid goes out to reinvent old Six Points BofA building in Highland Park

I hope that something good goes there.  It will be interesting to see what the responses are.

 

A lot is going on in my part of Northside.  There aren't any new cool highrise buildings or anything, but there are so many little projects that put together they are pretty cool.

There are a ton of houses being renovated in the area. To give y'all an idea of how crazy the renovation market is right now, take a look at this recently renovated house that sold for $460k.

Here is a before and after about one year apart.

The before is from google maps

 

It's crazy how many abandoned houses are being rehabbed into beautiful homes.  It's great because people are finally living in these houses again, raising the population of the area.  Also it brings in $$$ for the city because the taxable assessment for the house will go from $100k to about $460k.

There are still a lot of old dilapidated houses that need to be renovated, but the momentum is picking up and good.  While no individual house is really all that big of a deal, the amalgamation of renovations is pretty significant.

The influx of people is also driving demand for new businesses in the area. 

Here is Gourmet Market on North Ave in Google Maps before + an after

 

Here is a before and after of the new coffee and BBQ place Smokey Mug.  I need to go back and get a picture from farther out.  The abandoned house is no longer there and the wooden fence has a really cool mural.

 

\

 

Here is a before and after of a Vietnamese Creole fusion takeout place Manchu

 

At the intersection of Garland and BPB two places seem to be currently under renovation

 

Here on BPB you can see a new ice cream shop and juice bar opened.

 

 

On this corner Boho fitness studio, Diamonds dog spa, Hand Spun ceramics studio, and Scrap RVA have taken up shop.

 

Ninja Kombucha

 

The Richmond Art Garage is a new art gallery

Alma's Art consignment

Fuzzy Cactus bar and music venue

 

Brookland Park Market

 

There are a few I have missed or that don't really show as well because it was more so an inside renovation.  I think this should kind of give you the idea the level of change that is happening in the area though.

Edited June 25, 2021 by RiverYuppy
Added Ninja

[I miss RVA]

River Yuppy - I wish there was a way to give you a double "thank you" for this fantastic post! What a GREAT chronicle of the amazing resurrection of that part of Northside! Really, yeoman's work to take and post all of these before/after pictures. It's so great to see the changes and the developments going on just in that part of the city. Thank you for doing this!

[RiverYuppy]

VUU acquires warehouse across from football stadium for $2.5M.  Hopefully they don't sit on it for too long. 

They also purchased a motel in December 2019 that is slated for demolition and redevelopment, though they have unfortunately yet to start on it.

That area is seeing some other developments for the first time now too.  It will be interesting to see how much it changes over the next 5 years.  VUU carrying through with these projects could help significantly bring the area around, prompting even more new developments.

Edited July 6, 2021 by RiverYuppy

[rjp212]

2 hours ago, RiverYuppy said:

VUU acquires warehouse across from football stadium for $2.5M.  Hopefully they don't sit on it for too long. 

They also purchased a motel in December 2019 that is slated for demolition and redevelopment, though they have unfortunately yet to start on it.

That area is seeing some other developments for the first time now too.  It will be interesting to see how much it changes over the next 5 years.  VUU carrying through with these projects could help significantly bring the area around, prompting even more new developments.

The large lot next to it,  is also under contract by an unnamed buyer.

https://www.cbre.us/people-and-offices/corporate-offices/richmond/richmond-property-search/details/US-SMPL-22490/1320-school-street-richmond-va-23220?view=isSale

Edited July 6, 2021 by rjp212

[123fakestreet]

18 hours ago, RiverYuppy said:

VUU acquires warehouse across from football stadium for $2.5M.  Hopefully they don't sit on it for too long. 

They also purchased a motel in December 2019 that is slated for demolition and redevelopment, though they have unfortunately yet to start on it.

That area is seeing some other developments for the first time now too.  It will be interesting to see how much it changes over the next 5 years.  VUU carrying through with these projects could help significantly bring the area around, prompting even more new developments.

The Lombardy corridor is set to pop. Apartments across from Maggie Walker set to break ground by end of summer. Run down lots near VUU changing hands.  Some big commercial lots between Chamberlayne and Brook with for sale signs up. Just needs one big project and it will start rolling. I see some nice retail coming in there too, maybe an Aldi or something.

Really hope VUU gets moving on that hotel, that will be big.

Edited July 7, 2021 by 123fakestreet

[RiverYuppy]

18 hours ago, rjp212 said:

The large lot next to it,  is also under contract by an unnamed buyer.

Wow, thanks for showing that.  That will be a huge deal if that section gets redeveloped.  It would be very much a stake in the ground that says 64 is no longer where real investment stops.

2 hours ago, 123fakestreet said:

The Lombardy corridor is set to pop. Apartments across from Maggie Walker set to break ground by end of summer. Run down lots near VUU changing hands.  Some big commercial lots between Chamberlayne and Brook with for sale signs up. Just needs one big project and it will start rolling. I see some nice retail coming in there too, maybe an Aldi or something.

Really hope VUU gets moving on that hotel, that will be big.

It really is set to pop.  Battery Park on the other side of Chamberlayne has houses going for half a million or more. I think previously a big concern with investment in that area was convincing people to cross 64.  With new apartments going in that area, and Bellevue, Seminary, Ginter Park, Battery Park, and Brookland Park areas all being primed with expendable income to support that area, I think it's much less risky.  A Lidl would be great there, since Aldi is already on Boulevard. Right now the only two real options are VCU Kroger (which caters to students) and Whole Foods (AKA "Whole Paycheck"). I think something that caters to middle class families would do great.

VUU redeveloping that motel is one of the biggest steps so far.

Edited July 7, 2021 by RiverYuppy

[123fakestreet]

13 minutes ago, RiverYuppy said:

Wow, thanks for showing that.  That will be a huge deal if that section gets redeveloped.  It would be very much a stake in the ground that says 64 is no longer where real investment stops.

It really is set to pop.  Battery Park on the other side of Chamberlayne has houses going for half a million or more. I think previously a big concern with investment in that area was convincing people to cross 64.  With new apartments going in that area, and Bellevue, Seminary, Ginter Park, Battery Park, and Brookland Park areas all being primed with expendable income to support that area, I think it's much less risky.  A Lidl would be great there, since Aldi is already on Boulevard. Right now the only two real options are VCU Kroger (which caters to students) and Whole Foods (AKA "Whole Paycheck"). I think something that caters to middle class families would do great.

VUU redeveloping that motel is one of the biggest steps so far.

Yeah I forgot about the Aldi on Boulevard. I've always thought you know that area has arrived when a Starbucks goes in. And I can definitely see it happening soon, they're just not going to be the first ones in. 

 

The red VUU has already brought for the hotel/hospitality school, really need that to get going for the dominoes to fall. Once that does I see the yellow parcels filling in one by one with mixed use, apartments, light retail. Then the big green block I could see the Lidl or decent sized retail coming in.

 

 

[RiverYuppy]

It looks like some of the properties along Lombardy are for sale.

Near the corner of Seminary and Lombardy (in blue) an old animal "motel" is for sale on LoopNet.. It was shut down after accusations of animal cruelty in 2018.

The red lot has a for sale sign in front of it but I don't see it on LoopNet yet.  I found this page that says it is under contract.

The apartments in purple also appear to be on the market.  I wonder what is realistic for those?  Perhaps they can be renovated.  At a $2.9m asking price, it might be a bit much to bulldoze and build denser?

[123fakestreet]

On 7/8/2021 at 10:40 AM, RiverYuppy said:

It looks like some of the properties along Lombardy are for sale.

Near the corner of Seminary and Lombardy (in blue) an old animal "motel" is for sale on LoopNet.. It was shut down after accusations of animal cruelty in 2018.

The red lot has a for sale sign in front of it but I don't see it on LoopNet yet.  I found this page that says it is under contract.

The apartments in purple also appear to be on the market.  I wonder what is realistic for those?  Perhaps they can be renovated.  At a $2.9m asking price, it might be a bit much to bulldoze and build denser?

Drove by today and saw several pieces of excavating equipment  on the blue lot...

[I miss RVA]

18 hours ago, 123fakestreet said:

Drove by today and saw several pieces of excavating equipment  on the blue lot...

Things are moving. This is a good sign - no question if property is changing hands, new development can't be too far behind.

[RiverYuppy]

Loopnet says that 11.5 acres in Highland Park southern tip are under contract.

Currently it is zoned commercial.  That area is changing quick.  But I'm not sure it's quite soon enough to garner the support needed for the type of commercial buildings they are suggesting.

I can't see the exact date it went under contract.  However, the listing was created October 2019 and last updated 7/13/2021, so I'm betting the 13th is when it went under contract.

 

[123fakestreet]

https://richmondbizsense.com/2021/08/26/vuu-plans-hotel-in-carver-as-it-rolls-out-hospitality-management-programs/

 

Hotel that was planned for corner of Brook and Lombardy is now going across the street from Maggie Walker, VUU still plans to develop site on the corner of Brook and Lombardy using the original design.  Storefronts at street level with classrooms above instead of hotel rooms, sounds like relocating classrooms in the building they will redevelop to build the hotel. 

No timeline on start or completion of the project, but 1 of 2 ways to look at it: they know the targeted completion date for the hotel as 24-25 so maybe the classrooms that have to replace it need to be done before then so they have somewhere to go.  More likely is they don't know because they have no plans at all, which means the hotel is the priority and the Lombardy building won't be done until well after that, likely putting it into at least 2026 if not later, which would really suck.

[RiverYuppy]

Building at corner of Brookland Park and North Ave lists for $1m on LoopNet.

There was a fairly crappy convenience store that occupied the majority of the ground floor there.  Other than the theater, it is the building with some of the largest square footage on the Brookland Park Corridor. I hope it gets put to good use for something.

Also a new hair salon opened at the corner of BPB and Garland. Their Instagram unfortunately doesn't show off the outside, but it shows off the cool chic inside which is highly visible because of the large windows.  

 

Additionally, another lot on Lombardy near Chamberlayne went up for sale.

Edited September 1, 2021 by RiverYuppy

[123fakestreet]

30 minutes ago, RiverYuppy said:

Building at corner of Brookland Park and North Ave lists for $1m on LoopNet.

There was a fairly crappy convenience store that occupied the majority of the ground floor there.  Other than the theater, it is the building with some of the largest square footage on the Brookland Park Corridor. I hope it gets put to good use for something.

Also a new hair salon opened at the corner of BPB and Garland. Their Instagram unfortunately doesn't show off the outside, but it shows off the cool chic inside which is highly visible because of the large windows.  

 

Additionally, another lot on Lombardy near Chamberlayne went up for sale.

Have long waited for something to happen with that building. It's begging for premium retail with a few condos or offices upstairs.

[I miss RVA]

6 hours ago, RiverYuppy said:

Building at corner of Brookland Park and North Ave lists for $1m on LoopNet.

There was a fairly crappy convenience store that occupied the majority of the ground floor there.  Other than the theater, it is the building with some of the largest square footage on the Brookland Park Corridor. I hope it gets put to good use for something.

Also a new hair salon opened at the corner of BPB and Garland. Their Instagram unfortunately doesn't show off the outside, but it shows off the cool chic inside which is highly visible because of the large windows.  

 

Additionally, another lot on Lombardy near Chamberlayne went up for sale.

Gorgeous old building - and at least from the photos it looks like it's probably in pretty good shape. Hope it can be renovated and turned into some good space - living space upstairs and retail or business downstairs.

[rjp212]

The city installing then removing the bump-outs along Brookland Parkway has been a complete debacle.   

[123fakestreet]

10 hours ago, rjp212 said:

The city installing then removing the bump-outs along Brookland Parkway has been a complete debacle.   

Is it true the ones they removed were in front of hydrants, and you couldn't park there anyway?

[RiverYuppy]

Here is the Richmond BizSense article on it.

On 10/4/2021 at 8:27 PM, 123fakestreet said:

Is it true the ones they removed were in front of hydrants, and you couldn't park there anyway?

Yeah, two of the bump outs removed were in front of fire hydrants. 

Most people in the neighborhood including the businesses in front of one of them didn't even know they were going to be removed.

[whw53]

New apartment development planned along BPB near 6 points. SUP filed today would 'authorize the construction of a mixed use multi family structure'  at 1203 Brookland Park. 

https://energov.richmondgov.com/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService/richmondvaprod#/plan/a2cf8279-7db9-4284-9891-fc6cdd82bb58

Developer and landowner is Enterprise Community Development - affordable housing developer out of Maryland.

https://www.enterprisecommunity.org/capabilities/development-property-management-resident-services

 

This site is directly across the street from an intended 4 story housing development from another Maryland based housing provider - Community Preservation and Development Corp., that will incorporate the facade from a church building on the site. Has there been any movement on this one?

[I miss RVA]

Speaking of BPB near/at 6 points - from today's RBS - an article about future development of the old BoA building & property at 1307 E Brookland Park Blvd - a door down from Second Ave.

https://richmondbizsense.com/2021/10/11/two-groups-vie-for-old-bofa-branch-on-brookland-park-blvd/

[I miss RVA]

Wow - who knew something as small as a parklet could cause such a big ruckus! From Richmond BizSense:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2021/10/15/neighboring-businesses-at-odds-over-parked-brookland-park-parklet/

[123fakestreet]

On 10/15/2021 at 1:34 PM, I miss RVA said:

Wow - who knew something as small as a parklet could cause such a big ruckus! From Richmond BizSense:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2021/10/15/neighboring-businesses-at-odds-over-parked-brookland-park-parklet/

Lambert has got to go.  There was a process in place for things like this with citizen input and they got implemented. She circumvented all that to have it UN-done.  This area is improving and we get something nice and she undoes it, drags us backward. Absolutely unbelievable, incredibly incompetent, possibly corrupt. Just representative of everything wrong with this city.    I didn't have too much of an opinion on Lambert before this, but I may knock on doors for whoever runs against her in 3 years.

[ancientcarpenter]

On 10/16/2021 at 9:20 PM, 123fakestreet said:

Lambert has got to go.  There was a process in place for things like this with citizen input and they got implemented. She circumvented all that to have it UN-done.  This area is improving and we get something nice and she undoes it, drags us backward. Absolutely unbelievable, incredibly incompetent, possibly corrupt. Just representative of everything wrong with this city.    I didn't have too much of an opinion on Lambert before this, but I may knock on doors for whoever runs against her in 3 years.

I haven't looked into it too much, what was her justification? 

This is pretty easy to trace back to who ordered it and what the process looks like. There should be tickets, emails, paper trails, etc. I've heard this cost the city something like $150,000+? This is just silly. Everyone complains about red tape but this is exactly why we have it...you can't just destroy existing infrastructure like this. 

[123fakestreet]

On 8/26/2021 at 8:29 AM, 123fakestreet said:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2021/08/26/vuu-plans-hotel-in-carver-as-it-rolls-out-hospitality-management-programs/

 

Hotel that was planned for corner of Brook and Lombardy is now going across the street from Maggie Walker, VUU still plans to develop site on the corner of Brook and Lombardy using the original design.  Storefronts at street level with classrooms above instead of hotel rooms, sounds like relocating classrooms in the building they will redevelop to build the hotel. 

No timeline on start or completion of the project, but 1 of 2 ways to look at it: they know the targeted completion date for the hotel as 24-25 so maybe the classrooms that have to replace it need to be done before then so they have somewhere to go.  More likely is they don't know because they have no plans at all, which means the hotel is the priority and the Lombardy building won't be done until well after that, likely putting it into at least 2026 if not later, which would really suck.

So yesterday a huge banner went up over the front of the old hotel on the VUU owned parcel at the corner of Brook and Lombardy proclaiming "Future Site of VUU North Gateway." Sounds promising, but a google search of that name and a look over the VUU website return nothing.

[Brent114]

You can probably find something on it around this site from maybe 2 years ago? 
 

If I recall it kinda looks like the Reynold’s Community College building on 25th street in Church Hill. 

It is awesome to see movement on this.  It is a good-looking building that will really help to anchor VUU to the neighborhood.