The Fan / Museum District

[whw53]

Another city council action last week gave the go-ahead for a 5 unit attached row-home development in the Museum District, adjacent to the Cleveland village retail area. The subdivision and yard dimensions did not meet requirements for R6 zoning, so required a SUP.  

Design looks solid, hard to say no to squeezing in more row homes.  - I never really been through that area or at least not in some time...now that I'm street-viewing the site and surroundings I'm wondering if this was a missed opportunity to expand the Cleveland village commercial area up toward Kensington. Last picture is looking north from Cleveland village to Kensington, project site is grassy lawn on the right. Shrug - not sure what the appetite for that would be but it could've helped put this tiny retail corridor on the map..

Another new thread - I know...but I think having the neighborhood level threads really helps keep the conversations to a narrative. I think the Richmond Development thread can parallel some of these and pick up on the bigger projects\discussions or development projects that have implications for multiple neighborhoods. I think this is a good middle-ground between project specific threads which was the old norm (and is still cool to track larger projects (ex. Foundry Park)) but that go defunct when project is completed and the overall development thread which it feels awkward to post a 5 unit project in.  Thoughts? 

Anyway -  back to to Museum District - I think we will continue to see more infill especially along the edges of this neighborhood as Scott's Addition grows and owners re-assess the value of parking lots and other empty spaces. I know of another project along w grace I remember seeing also went through City Council recently to obtain a SUP. I'll try to to find and post here as well. 

[Icetera]

7 minutes ago, whw53 said:

I never really been through that area or at least not in some time...now that I'm street-viewing the site and surroundings I'm wondering if this was a missed opportunity to expand the Cleveland village commercial area up toward Kensington. Last picture is looking north from Cleveland village to Kensington, project site is grassy lawn on the right. Shrug - not sure what the appetite for that would be but it could've helped put this tiny retail corridor on the map..

I used to frequent the laundromat there and Cleveland Market is nice to have located there for residents.  Honestly, I think that is all that is really needed on Cleveland as there is a decent commercial corridor starting just two blocks over in Devil's Triangle.  I think keeping the Devil's Triangle area concentrated rather than spreading out would be better for businesses.  Given the disconnect from other row homes due to Lee Lofts encompassing most of the block, I think a small apartment building would have been better here but the rowhomes certainly work as well.

[I miss RVA]

Nice looking development. Seems to fit in very nicely. Icetera - indeed, an apartment building would be great there - but still nice to see rowhouses fill those vacant lots. I went to Benedictine - admittedly almost 40 years ago now - and given its proximity, I do recall Cleveland Street fondly. Nice to see action picking up there.

[Icetera]

2 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

Nice looking development. Seems to fit in very nicely. Icetera - indeed, an apartment building would be great there - but still nice to see rowhouses fill those vacant lots. I went to Benedictine - admittedly almost 40 years ago now - and given its proximity, I do recall Cleveland Street fondly. Nice to see action picking up there.

I certainly miss being within a 2 drunken block walk from their Oktoberfest.

[whw53]

Small 2 unit project introduced to council last night that will go to Planning Commission for review. Not big in scale itself but big in implication since I think this project met most of the zoning conditions already - the only thing triggering the SUP was to waive the parking requirement I believe. 

What is really cool about this project - proposed for 3411 Kensington - is that this will face the alley and is not a re-development of the piece facing the street. I've seen garages turned to units before but these are fine looking  to face a back alley and may have something to do with the Museum District's special Design Overlay District which is only one of its kind in the city. If this becomes a trend then i think the large lot sizes + the special Museum District design overlay could lead to whole new urban looking streets coming forth from the alleys. Take a look at google maps - a lot of similar lots to this one.

Edit - I've shaded in red where the duplex unit is to be on the Google maps snip...

 

Edited October 13, 2020 by whw53

[I miss RVA]

that's awesome! Hope this becomes a trend in already established Richmond neighborhoods wherever possible. I believe there are cities that do that - such that the alley almost becomes a "de facto" small street. i keep thinking Philadelphia. London I believe has sections of town like that. Imagine how density of some Richmond neighborhoods could increase with the addition of alley-facing housing.

[whw53]

More Museum District infill to track...these are two adjoining projects along Cutshaw Ave. 

Project 'A' -3305 - 3311 Cutshaw. City Council approved a rezoning for the parcel here in July that upzoned the plot from R-48 to R-63 density, the argument being this was a better transitional density between TOD-1 and less dense zoning south. This was to facilitate infill on the back piece of the land along the alley, which will be familiar theme in Museum District. Preliminary designs shown below - this will add 4 units in 2 separate buildings - 1 for each parcel. 

Project 'B' - 3315-3317 Cutshaw. A POD was received by the city this week to add a 2 dwelling unit building to each at each address here - real similar to proposal above. A little confused since this is a single large parcel that contains the U shaped apartment block - not sure about placement either- I guess these would have to go on the front green area...

 

 

 

Edited October 16, 2020 by whw53

[I miss RVA]

Fantastic! Wow - it's exciting to think that we may start seeing a rising tide of alley-facing residential buildings start springing up in the Museum District. That will definitely boost density, even if only incrementally - though depending on how many available parcels exist - and how many developers buy and build out - when added together, it could be quite impressive in the long run.

[whw53]

Could we update the thread title to Fan\Museum District? I found something lurking in the permit site on main but didn't necessarily want to create another thread if you all think it would be appropriate to lump Fan & Museum together perhaps? These neighborhoods run together and the infill project discussion is similar...any how...ok, so check this out - 

A pair of Special Use Permits was applied for last week for the Stone Wall Jackson Professional Building (i miss you Baja Bean )  and a lot across the street owned by the same land lord.  From the comments it is hard to interpret exactly what the program is spatially but it looks like the owner is requesting to forgo the parking requirements of that UB zoning district  in order to allow for parcel subdivision and new construction. Take a look at the SUP comments I've attached below - hopefully we get more insight on this. I'm guessing the off site lot was used as parking to meet the UB zoning condition for the SJ building and the owner is trying to decouple that arrangement in order to build on one of the lots - or maybe both lots? 

[whw53]

A SUP applied for last week would authorize a multi family development at 3700 Monument Ave. 

This tract is already zoned R-73 multi-family development so will be interesting to see what the SUP if for. Most likely something pertaining to lot width , yard\open space reqs, or parking reqs but I guess there is a chance the applicant could be proposing something that is denser or taller than what is allowed in R-73.

 

[rjp212]

On 11/24/2020 at 10:17 AM, whw53 said:

Could we update the thread title to Fan\Museum District? I found something lurking in the permit site on main but didn't necessarily want to create another thread if you all think it would be appropriate to lump Fan & Museum together perhaps? These neighborhoods run together and the infill project discussion is similar...any how...ok, so check this out - 

A pair of Special Use Permits was applied for last week for the Stone Wall Jackson Professional Building (i miss you Baja Bean )  and a lot across the street owned by the same land lord.  From the comments it is hard to interpret exactly what the program is spatially but it looks like the owner is requesting to forgo the parking requirements of that UB zoning district  in order to allow for parcel subdivision and new construction. Take a look at the SUP comments I've attached below - hopefully we get more insight on this. I'm guessing the off site lot was used as parking to meet the UB zoning condition for the SJ building and the owner is trying to decouple that arrangement in order to build on one of the lots - or maybe both lots? 

More info from Bizsense.  Two 3-story mixed use buildings in the parking lots.  Stonewall Jackson building to be renovated to change from office to residential.  

 

https://richmondbizsense.com/2020/12/08/former-councilman-plans-to-fill-in-the-fan-with-two-3-story-mixed-use-buildings/

[whw53]

Yesss! This is what I was hooping for - both lots being built on. More new retail space will be good for the Uptown corridor along Main. LOL there is literally someone complaining about 3 story buildings on the Reddit discussion.

 

[Brent114]

I like it (would like 5 floors better)  but I’m sad about my favorite mural in Richmond getting covered up  

[I miss RVA]

4 hours ago, whw53 said:

Yesss! This is what I was hooping for - both lots being built on. More new retail space will be good for the Uptown corridor along Main. LOL there is literally someone complaining about 3 story buildings on the Reddit discussion.

 

And they're kvetching about having to walk more than a block to their cars. SMH... 

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

6 hours ago, whw53 said:

Yesss! This is what I was hooping for - both lots being built on. More new retail space will be good for the Uptown corridor along Main. LOL there is literally someone complaining about 3 story buildings on the Reddit discussion.

 

What a surprise. The BANANAs (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody) strike again!

[rjp212]

I was actually looking forward to this project, but the Residence Inn planned for Thompson/Floyd is now dead.   A LLC tied to Woodfin has purchased the lot.  Doesn't sound too promising...

https://richmondbizsense.com/2020/12/15/carytown-site-that-had-been-planned-for-a-residence-inn-has-new-owner/

Edited December 15, 2020 by rjp212

[eandslee]

22 minutes ago, rjp212 said:

I was actually looking forward to this project, but the Residence Inn planned for Thompson/Floyd is now dead.   An LLC tied to Woodfin has purchased the lot.  Doesn't sound too promising...

https://richmondbizsense.com/2020/12/15/carytown-site-that-had-been-planned-for-a-residence-inn-has-new-owner/

Yeah, this is really a bad news story.  It's hard to believe no one wants to build a hotel right now due to COVID, but this thing won' t last forever.  You'd think hotels would be prepping now for when things normalize.  The best investments are when you run toward the fire when the fire is raging, that way when the fire dies out you are already pre-positioned and ready to go!

[wrldcoupe4]

Yeah, this couple with the lack of additional tenants for the Publix project... 

[Shakman]

I was looking forward towards this development.  Here's hoping something even better will come.

[marinog711]

Is it true that Carytown exchange is now abandoning plans to build along cary st?

 

[whw53]

50 minutes ago, marinog711 said:

Is it true that Carytown exchange is now abandoning plans to build along cary st?

 

Their merchandising plan online still shows retail along Cary St. I imagine they will build it but are not in a rush to do so. The storefronts along Ellwood are wrapping up and look really nice. Tenants will come. 

[Brent114]

2 hours ago, marinog711 said:

Is it true that Carytown exchange is now abandoning plans to build along cary st?

 

I think I saw construction continuing on the western portion at the Cary street entrance (Publix  entrance towards the Union First Market Bank.  There is electric and plumbing sticking up out of the ground.  The eastern side of the entrance looks like it has been back filled and graded.  I except it will have sod soon. 

[rjp212]

I believe their last statement said it was still planned, but on hold during the pandemic. Something will get built there eventually.

[whw53]

I think we got our answer this morning. Chase Bank to fill slot on to be built Cary St side.

https://richmondbizsense.com/2020/12/17/chase-bank-following-publix-into-new-carytown-exchange-development/




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[marinog711]

I bet they saw my question on the board and said we better release something so the people on urban planet forum don’t lose faith