The Fan / Museum District

[ancientcarpenter]

3 minutes ago, Shakman said:

There are numerous homes nearby therefore I don't expect anything over three floor.  

I'd love to get something tall but at least 5 stories with retail at bottom would be appropriate there. That area is organically trying its best but they could really use a boost from 70-100 units going up there... would really help shape that spot as it is this weird "gray" dead but not dead area between the Carytown, fan, byrd park, and VCU. 

You essentially have to build a destination business to survive there. Places like Nate's Bagels or Goatacado are perfect examples - people will go out of their way to go visit the spot. There's a "mama's subs" (or something like it) next door to Goatacado that I believe is going to close down soon just like it's predecessor that was there (another "best philly cheese in the city!" random shop) - I'm not sure why someone would open a shop like that in that area, businesses that require foot traffic and "ease of access" / convenience like those don't survive in that "gray" area....who knows, maybe cheap rent but they don't last long imho.

Edited January 24, 2022 by ancientcarpenter

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, ancientcarpenter said:

I'd love to get something tall but at least 5 stories with retail at bottom would be appropriate there. That area is organically trying its best but they could really use a boost from 70-100 units going up there... would really help shape that spot as it is this weird "gray" dead but not dead area between the Carytown, fan, byrd park, and VCU. 

You essentially have to build a destination business to survive there. Places like Nate's Bagels or Goatacado are perfect examples - people will go out of their way to go visit the spot. There's a "mama's subs" (or something like it) next door to Goatacado that I believe is going to close down soon just like it's predecessor that was there (another "best philly cheese in the city!" random shop) - I'm not sure why someone would open a shop like that in that area, businesses that require foot traffic and "ease of access" / convenience like those don't survive in that "gray" area....who knows, maybe cheap rent but they don't last long imho.

Agreed. Good call on this one.

[Shakman]

I pray to at least get 5-stories on this lot.

Edited January 25, 2022 by Shakman

[I miss RVA]

2 hours ago, Shakman said:

I pray to at least get 5-stories on this lot.

That would be fantastic if we did get that - but I wouldn't hold my breath, all things considered. Not in NIMBmond, Virginia. 

[I miss RVA]

Here's one that slipped through the cracks:  Just east of the above-mentioned Eck property locations, a pair of 3-story duplexes will rise at 1505-1507 W. Cary - really nice little infill project. So glad to see that, paraphrasing Queen - when it comes to the rather prolific number of vacant lots around the old urban footprint of the city, "another one bites the dust." 

From Richmond BizSense:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2022/02/16/two-three-story-duplexes-planned-for-recently-sold-eck-property-in-the-fan/

 

[whw53]

Our friend at Walter Parks - Nahum Goodenow left us a nice note and some new renderings. 

 

2/17/22: Welcome visitors from the urbanplanet.org forum. Thank you for your interest in our work, for your dedication to Richmond development, and especially for your pro-density advocacy. When reading your comments I often find myself sharing your visions for the future of our city. As you’re well aware, Richmond is in the midst of a significant urban boom. Our work draws upon similar examples of rapid urban expansion and densification that I had the good fortune to experience first hand earlier in my career in Kansas City’s Power and Light District, the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and the Pearl District in Portland. Your dialog has made me aware of additional vibrant civic examples we can look to, such as Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati and Fulton Market District in Chicago.

Because you’ve been so adept at deducing future building locations from our images (lookin’ at you whw53), projects will now be posted only after being made public through a city Plan of Development submission. Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or contact me directly at [email protected] regarding our work.

 

About 3\4 down the page is an illustration for a 6 story building that appears to be the lot pending an SUP across from the Science Museum between Bank of America and Lalo's Casino. This would be the most handsome building on Broad west of Belvidere if built accordingly. My fear is that this is a high-end option for a client that will  inevitably go with something on the cheaper side as happened with the YMCA 6 story to be on Grace. Finger's crossed. 

 

 

[I miss RVA]

46 minutes ago, whw53 said:

Our friend at Walter Parks - Nahum Goodenow left us a nice note and some new renderings. 

 

2/17/22: Welcome visitors from the urbanplanet.org forum. Thank you for your interest in our work, for your dedication to Richmond development, and especially for your pro-density advocacy. When reading your comments I often find myself sharing your visions for the future of our city. As you’re well aware, Richmond is in the midst of a significant urban boom. Our work draws upon similar examples of rapid urban expansion and densification that I had the good fortune to experience first hand earlier in my career in Kansas City’s Power and Light District, the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and the Pearl District in Portland. Your dialog has made me aware of additional vibrant civic examples we can look to, such as Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati and Fulton Market District in Chicago.

Because you’ve been so adept at deducing future building locations from our images (lookin’ at you whw53), projects will now be posted only after being made public through a city Plan of Development submission. Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or contact me directly at [email protected] regarding our work.

 

About 3\4 down the page is an illustration for a 6 story building that appears to be the lot pending an SUP across from the Science Museum between Bank of America and Lalo's Casino. This would be the most handsome building on Broad west of Belvidere if built accordingly. My fear is that this is a high-end option for a client that will  inevitably go with something on the cheaper side as happened with the YMCA 6 story to be on Grace. Finger's crossed. 

 

 

Wow - another nice note from Nahum! And a GORGEOUS building. This is what's currently set to rise at Davis & W. Broad? Like you said - provided the developer doesn't decide to go on the cheap (PLEASE, Universe - can we have some lower construction costs going forward????) - This is a really nice design. VERY urban and and outstanding kind of building for that stretch of the south side of W. Broad. 

[eandslee]

49 minutes ago, whw53 said:

Our friend at Walter Parks - Nahum Goodenow left us a nice note and some new renderings. 

 

2/17/22: Welcome visitors from the urbanplanet.org forum. Thank you for your interest in our work, for your dedication to Richmond development, and especially for your pro-density advocacy. When reading your comments I often find myself sharing your visions for the future of our city. As you’re well aware, Richmond is in the midst of a significant urban boom. Our work draws upon similar examples of rapid urban expansion and densification that I had the good fortune to experience first hand earlier in my career in Kansas City’s Power and Light District, the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and the Pearl District in Portland. Your dialog has made me aware of additional vibrant civic examples we can look to, such as Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati and Fulton Market District in Chicago.

Because you’ve been so adept at deducing future building locations from our images (lookin’ at you whw53), projects will now be posted only after being made public through a city Plan of Development submission. Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or contact me directly at [email protected] regarding our work.

 

I took this note a totally different way - What an interesting email.  Seemed nice at first and then he turned 180 and basically said (paraphrasing), "since you're so good at finding work on our site and posting it to UP, we're no longer going to post our work until it's public."   Maybe they're just mad because most people think their work is absolutely terrible.  In essence, they're making Richmond look cheap with their designs.  Thanks WP!

...and then you find the design of a building on Broad we haven't seen before!  Way to go WP!  Ha ha Just funny!

[123fakestreet]

35 minutes ago, eandslee said:

I took this note a totally different way - What an interesting email.  Seemed nice at first and then he turned 180 and basically said (paraphrasing), "since you're so good at finding work on our site and posting it to UP, we're no longer going to post our work until it's public."   Maybe they're just mad because most people think their work is absolutely terrible.  In essence, they're making Richmond look cheap with their designs.  Thanks WP!

...and then you find the design of a building on Broad we haven't seen before!  Way to go WP!  Ha ha Just funny!

lol, yeah that was my read.

[I miss RVA]

4 hours ago, eandslee said:

I took this note a totally different way - What an interesting email.  Seemed nice at first and then he turned 180 and basically said (paraphrasing), "since you're so good at finding work on our site and posting it to UP, we're no longer going to post our work until it's public."   Maybe they're just mad because most people think their work is absolutely terrible.  In essence, they're making Richmond look cheap with their designs.  Thanks WP!

...and then you find the design of a building on Broad we haven't seen before!  Way to go WP!  Ha ha Just funny!

Hmmm... maybe my comments suggesting some of the fine folks there may have dropped acid before setting pen to paper ruffled a few feather... 

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

On 2/23/2022 at 7:11 PM, eandslee said:

I took this note a totally different way - What an interesting email.  Seemed nice at first and then he turned 180 and basically said (paraphrasing), "since you're so good at finding work on our site and posting it to UP, we're no longer going to post our work until it's public."   Maybe they're just mad because most people think their work is absolutely terrible.  In essence, they're making Richmond look cheap with their designs.  Thanks WP!

...and then you find the design of a building on Broad we haven't seen before!  Way to go WP!  Ha ha Just funny!

Funny enough I actually kind of like the design of this building. Which is why it being a WP product surprises me

edit: I should emphasize I do actually really like Nahum's work and the renderings I see on his site excite me a lot, and I generally used to think at the beginning of the development boom (around 2010-2012) that WP had some of the more forward thinking design ideas in new developments.

Edited February 25, 2022 by RVA-Is-The-Best

[Icetera]

5 hours ago, RVA-Is-The-Best said:

Funny enough I actually kind of like the design of this building. Which is why it being a WP product surprises me

Honestly, I do not think their end-products are typically that bad, though a lot of their renders are a different story.  2525 Main, the Summit, the Hydro and the a lot of Nahum's upcoming work look decent (really anxious about to the Admiral and Locks).  Once filled out, South Falls I think will be fine.  The Locks Tower would look great if it were not for the let down leading to it.  Most of the architects of other large multi-family projects are doing similar work just with better initial images.

[whw53]

@Icetera I agree - some of you all are being a bit hard.  At least every project Nahum has been involved with per the portfolio site I've come around to - some enthusiastically even if the initial renderings were lacking. South Falls is elegant , and buildings like Penny\Summit I find myself defending more than criticizing.. I wish Admiral had some brick in it like the W Broad  rendering above but its all good. I'll say this -  similar sized buildings in this boxy stick frame category  in NoVa, Hampton Roads are bland and layed out as as complexes - at least here WP does a good job of fitting them appropriately into the neighborhood grid. 

[I miss RVA]

2 hours ago, Icetera said:

 The Locks Tower would look great if it were not for the let down leading to it.  

Ahh - the one at 12th and Byrd? Yeah - well said. I think there is some kind of emotional resentment among at least a few of us (myself definitely included there!) connected to this 12-story shoebox -- given that a gorgeous, sleek, glass & steel 21-story tower was originally slated to rise there. I have the same feeling of resentment for the five-story box that sits where the Centennial Towers were supposed to rise. And now I guess I'll have that same sentiment toward 512 Hull - OMG - I'd just as soon that little shoebox not get built at all and someone else come in and build the 12-story building. (Yes, I know the developer tried to sell the land as a ready build and found no buyers... kinda mysterious how that all unfolded...)

[whw53]

According to SUP submitted this week - 38 units are proposed for the former St. Gertrude high school building in the Museum District.

https://energov.richmondgov.com/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService/richmondvaprod#/plan/edbba74f-1632-4a4c-afae-a1bf876958bd

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, whw53 said:

According to SUP submitted this week - 38 units are proposed for the former St. Gertrude high school building in the Museum District.

https://energov.richmondgov.com/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService/richmondvaprod#/plan/edbba74f-1632-4a4c-afae-a1bf876958bd

VERY cool!  That's a beautiful old building, too. Whatever became of the Benedictine HS building? Is it being used for offices, etc., by the Benedictine order or perhaps St. Benedict's parish? It's quite a large building, all-in-all.

[wrldcoupe4]

It became a different Catholic school.

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, wrldcoupe4 said:

It became a different Catholic school.

Oh okay! Nice! A diocesan school, yes? (Meaning, not a specific order of monks like the Benedictines).  Now the church and the priory there is still the hub of St. Benedict's parish, yes?

[wrldcoupe4]

This is the school there now. 
https://www.cristoreyrichmond.org

[I miss RVA]

37 minutes ago, wrldcoupe4 said:

This is the school there now. 
https://www.cristoreyrichmond.org

Thanks, Coupe!  Wow - looks like they have a pretty robust school setup there. I'm really glad the old BHS building and campus are being used again as a school. May they have great success. 

[I miss RVA]

On 3/9/2022 at 12:15 PM, whw53 said:

According to SUP submitted this week - 38 units are proposed for the former St. Gertrude high school building in the Museum District.

https://energov.richmondgov.com/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService/richmondvaprod#/plan/edbba74f-1632-4a4c-afae-a1bf876958bd

Here's coverage about the renovation of the SGH property in today's Richmond BizSense:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2022/03/11/saint-gertrudes-museum-district-campus-under-contract-to-developer/

Edited March 11, 2022 by I miss RVA

[whw53]

redevelopment on the 900 block grace moving forward - Planning Commission recommended approval of SUP for 4 tory 21 unit building.

 

lol Fan District Association did not officially oppose but were insulted that no one came and asked for their high brow surely expert opinion. Reiterated that they are the representative association all the way to Belvidere.

Great! i'll give them that - in similar logic they can stop commenting on anything north of Broad and beyond - thanks!

 

https://richmond.com/news/richmond-planning-commission-endorses-permit-for-21-unit-development-on-west-grace-street-despite-initial/article_6b899c19-7117-51b5-85e1-fb0483f499c4.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

[Jordon]

On 4/4/2022 at 7:50 PM, whw53 said:

redevelopment on the 900 block grace moving forward - Planning Commission recommended approval of SUP for 4 tory 21 unit building.

 

lol Fan District Association did not officially oppose but were insulted that no one came and asked for their high brow surely expert opinion. Reiterated that they are the representative association all the way to Belvidere.

Great! i'll give them that - in similar logic they can stop commenting on anything north of Broad and beyond - thanks!

 

https://richmond.com/news/richmond-planning-commission-endorses-permit-for-21-unit-development-on-west-grace-street-despite-initial/article_6b899c19-7117-51b5-85e1-fb0483f499c4.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

 

[I miss RVA]

I LOVE how RVA -- much like so many bigger cities -- is becoming a real haven for "ecclectic" residential development in the central city.

 

[I miss RVA]

Some density coming to a small pocket at Cleveland and Kensington in the Museum District! Great article in the RBS. Nice use of an undeveloped part of a city block. The infill will be great there.

Fun fact: Back in the early '90s, I lived (for a few years) in one of the apartment buildings across Kensington Avenue from what was the Lee school - closer to the Cleveland Street end of the block. Nice to see my old stompin' grounds from younger-adulthood. 

Another interesting fact (this one from the story) - this is the same developer who was going to build a block of apartments on Porter Street in Manchester -- he's changing it up to duplexes. Nice looking project - we're only losing 13 units from the original proposal - and it's really good that he's introducing home ownership into the mix, given that there is almost nothing BUT rental properties in the booming part of Manchester. Good to see this happening.

https://richmondbizsense.com/2022/04/21/developer-robin-miller-plans-townhomes-in-manchester-museum-district/

 

NOTE: the last rendering (below) is of the duplexes proposed for Manchester.

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2022 by I miss RVA