City Center / Virginia BioTech Park

[Flood Zone]

 

@Brent114

Hard to tell, but the progression of the word "that" in the fourth and fifth paragraphs seems to suggest 100k more square feet than the 20-story concept. But, again, hard for me to tell -- the coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

Edited March 24, 2023 by Flood Zone

[123fakestreet]

9 minutes ago, Brent114 said:

BizSense says that this new project has 100k more square feet.  Is that more than the first proposal (the 20 story building) or more than the second, scaled down version? 

Yeah, article is not very clear, it says "larger more expensive" but the plan here has changed around a few times. The initial plan was 20 stories, then it was scaled back to like 7, then it was scrapped. So larger more expensive than what? Also while the new plan may be more sqft it's on a much larger footprint, so doubtful it goes back up to 20 stories.

Edited March 24, 2023 by 123fakestreet

[eandslee]

19 minutes ago, Brent114 said:

BizSense says that this new project has 100k more square feet.  Is that more than the first proposal (the 20 story building) or more than the second, scaled down version? 

Not exactly sure which one they are referring to with regard to square feet, but my hunch is that they are referring to the taller 20-story tower and not the scaled-down version.  Additionally, at a cost of over $400M it’s not much lower in cost than the CoStar research HQ they are building downtown. This could be a huge project. The article did mention that VCU is looking to build a “signature” facility on that block. Now, the question is, how much of the block will the footprint of this facility take up?  That will determine the height of this thing. I’d still like to see them add the Ronald McDonald housing and the other temp housing facility (the name escapes me now) on that block too, just as they planned to do with the previous plan (the need is still there). If they do that, then the footprint of this new dental school will be the same as the previous tower planned for that site. With more square footage as part of this new dental school than the old planned 20-story tower, there could be some good height on this thing…guessing between 23-25 stories?

Edited March 24, 2023 by eandslee

[ancientcarpenter]

3 minutes ago, eandslee said:

23-25 stories

huge if true

 

Could we find out today after the vote? I assume after the vote they would have a public rendering for everyone?

Edited March 24, 2023 by ancientcarpenter

[eandslee]

1 minute ago, ancientcarpenter said:

huge if true

 

Could we find out today after the vote? I assume after the vote they would have a public rendering for everyone?

Sounded to me like they still have to design this thing. The school wasn’t originally supposed to go there, so a new design given the new lot it will sit on is probably in order. We may not see a new rendering for months…maybe a year. 

[Flood Zone]

Here's hoping the sketch of the new design does not include a swarm of UFOs in the top right corner.

[eandslee]

21 minutes ago, Brent114 said:

BizSense says that this new project has 100k more square feet.  Is that more than the first proposal (the 20 story building) or more than the second, scaled down version? 

Oh wait, it’s pretty clear here from the article which one they were referring to when providing the total square footage:

“That 2021 agreement had called for a 20-story tower and three-building complex totaling 240,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 of which was to be used by VCU Health to support its nearby Children’s Hospital Pavilion and Adult Outpatient Pavilion.”

So they were referring to the taller, 20-story design!

[Flood Zone]

10 minutes ago, eandslee said:

Oh wait, it’s pretty clear here from the article which one they were referring to when providing the total square footage:

“That 2021 agreement had called for a 20-story tower and three-building complex totaling 240,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 of which was to be used by VCU Health to support its nearby Children’s Hospital Pavilion and Adult Outpatient Pavilion.”

So they were referring to the taller, 20-story design!

Exactly. That's what I was referring to rather inartfully upthread: 

VCU has said the new 314,000-square-foot facility is envisioned for the 3-acre site at 500 N. 10th St., which until recently had been planned for a private development with VCU Health signed on as a master tenant.

That project, valued at $325 million, effectively died last month, when the City of Richmond took back the property after finding the private developer, Capital City Partners, in default of the terms of the development agreement.

That 2021 agreement had called for a 20-story tower and three-building complex totaling 240,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 of which was to be used by VCU Health to support its nearby Children’s Hospital Pavilion and Adult Outpatient Pavilion.

[eandslee]

Thought this paragraph was interesting and full of potential nuggets:

“The same statement described the Public Safety Building property as “designed to be a signature development for VCU and Richmond” and said its “desired centerpiece” is a new facility for the School of Dentistry and potentially a new research building to replace the aging Sanger Hall, a 486,000-square-foot building at 1101 E. Marshall St., a block away. Sanger Hall is not mentioned in the latest memo about the Dentistry Center project.”

Though a Sanger Hall replacement on that block is not mentioned in the memo on the Dentistry Center project, it’s still possible they could put it in that block too…it’s just not part of the dentistry school.  At 486,000 square feet…ooo momma, this could be a very nice, dense (and tall) block indeed. At least the possibility is there….  Just saying. 

[I miss RVA]

45 minutes ago, ancientcarpenter said:

huge if true

 

Could we find out today after the vote? I assume after the vote they would have a public rendering for everyone?

@RVABizSenseMike-- any chance there might be an update today in RBS after the vote? It would be really good to know the results (and any further details) without having to wait 'til Monday to find out. How possible would that be?

[ancientcarpenter]

11 minutes ago, eandslee said:

Thought this paragraph was interesting and full of potential nuggets:

“The same statement described the Public Safety Building property as “designed to be a signature development for VCU and Richmond” and said its “desired centerpiece” is a new facility for the School of Dentistry and potentially a new research building to replace the aging Sanger Hall, a 486,000-square-foot building at 1101 E. Marshall St., a block away. Sanger Hall is not mentioned in the latest memo about the Dentistry Center project.”

Though a Sanger Hall replacement on that block is not mentioned in the memo on the Dentistry Center project, it’s still possible they could put it in that block too…it’s just not part of the dentistry school.  At 486,000 square feet…ooo momma, this could be a very nice, dense (and tall) block indeed. At least the possibility is there….  Just saying. 

Sanger Hall by itself is something like 14-15 stories without the HVAC crowning at top. 

My big thing here is "VCU and Richmond" - they're not just talking about something that will be unique and centerpiece to VCU and its identity, they're also talking about including RVA's identity as a city in this development. 

This really is big news...RBS should have marked it as breaking news. One could make a strong argument that this is bigger than CoStar tower news in our little development bubble here imho.

 

Note: They said the board votes unanimously. So sounds like everything gets squared away before the board even comes close to voting. The fact that this is up for a vote to a board that operates like this speaks to me we're getting a unanimous "yes" - I can't wait for the rendering of this, UFOs and all

Edited March 24, 2023 by ancientcarpenter

[flaneur]

this is awesome! i feel they will go for some strong architecture that really adds to the skyline (so prominent given the elevation) and really shows up strong for people approaching the city from the north. and i think it can reknit, reconnect some of the awful urban fabric in those blocks. i hope. 

[wrldcoupe4]

For context, 314k is a little smaller the size of the McGuireWoods building, excluding the parking part, or CoStar's existing building.

[I miss RVA]

1 minute ago, ancientcarpenter said:

Sanger Hall by itself is something like 14-15 stories without the HVAC crowning at top. 

My big thing here is "VCU and Richmond" - they're not just talking about something that will be unique and centerpiece to VCU and its identity, they're also talking about including RVA's identity as a city in this development. 

This really is big news...RBS should have marked it as breaking news. One could make a strong argument that this is bigger than CoStar tower news in our little development bubble here imho.

1.) Yep - Sanger Hall has quite a bit of size to it. I think it's 14 occupied floors - plus the HVAC. I'll be curious to see how VCU proposes replacing it. So -- do I read the tea leaves correctly in that VCU is actually legitimately looking at building TWO new, large-scale buildings on the downtown campus (extended - to include the Block D property)?

2.) "VCU AND Richmond" - that statement wasn't lost on me either, @ancientcarpenter-- and VCU doesn't play around with their capital projects. Mind you, I don't necessarily ever see them building the tallest building in the city, but at the same time, when it comes to the medical campus, the school doesn't nickel-and-dime their physical plant by any stretch. We really could be looking at something quite significant on the horizon for downtown Richmond.

3.) Agreed! This should be breaking news.

[RVABizSenseMike]

35 minutes ago, I miss RVA said:

@RVABizSenseMike-- any chance there might be an update today in RBS after the vote? It would be really good to know the results (and any further details) without having to wait 'til Monday to find out. How possible would that be?

I'm not certain what the timing will be however I know we're planning to cover today's meeting. Sorry, I can't provide more detail than that because I frankly don't know. 

[I miss RVA]

37 minutes ago, RVABizSenseMike said:

I'm not certain what the timing will be however I know we're planning to cover today's meeting. Sorry, I can't provide more detail than that because I frankly don't know. 

No worries. Thanks for the quick bounce-back, Mike! VERY much appreciated! 

[Hike]

I love how some comments from the Bizsense article center on removing more land from the city or adding to another “state run” health care. Sorry, but good health care is essential and good for all, plus, teaching new health care professionals is critical and level 1 trauma. I couldn’t imagine RVA without VCU, it wouldn’t be the same and would be almost nothing without it. You think RVA is behind now with its potential, imagine no VCU, now that would be a city in need of life support.

[I miss RVA]

7 minutes ago, Hike said:

I love how some comments from the Bizsense article center on removing more land from the city or adding to another “state run” health care. Sorry, but good health care is essential and good for all, plus, teaching new health care professionals is critical and level 1 trauma. I couldn’t imagine RVA without VCU, it wouldn’t be the same and would be almost nothing without it. You think RVA is behind now with its potential, imagine no VCU, now that would be a city in need of life support.

 !!! AMEN to every word of what you just said. Spot on. 

 

[wrldcoupe4]

It was a dumb comment on a couple levels, but primarily because this project is academic space for the dental school. 

[Hike]

4 minutes ago, I miss RVA said:

 !!! AMEN to every word of what you just said. Spot on. 

Cheers man, enjoying my Friday brew! It was a good news day with this development, it’s been awhile and we needed this to keep a pulse. 

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, Hike said:

Cheers man, enjoying my Friday brew! It was a good news day with this development, it’s been awhile and we needed this to keep a pulse. 

  L'chaim, my friend!!

[whw53]

Have we seen these yet? Nice one sheeters summarizing the visions and partners from the 4 respondents to the phase 1 of the city center RFO. Plenty of eye candy! 

https://www.rva.gov/citycenter

[I miss RVA]

4 hours ago, whw53 said:

Have we seen these yet? Nice one sheeters summarizing the visions and partners from the 4 respondents to the phase 1 of the city center RFO. Plenty of eye candy! 

https://www.rva.gov/citycenter

These are FANTASTIC!! They all offer some good stuff. Gateway and RCDP seem to place quite a bit of robust height in their developments - and you KNOW I'm going to lean toward those two (even understanding that these are merely conceptual - but still).  Capstone would be #3 for me - and Lincoln fourth.

[eandslee]

Uh, the hotel design and height of City Center Gateway Partners is AMAZING!

 

[eandslee]

Here are the different plans proposed for City Center:

 

Edited May 30, 2023 by eandslee