River House Apartments Progress

[urbanfan]

Proper soundproofing will help mitigate a lot of that.

[Dulcinea]

What speed limit?

Nice pictures, vdogg.

[Telmnstr]

Thanks for the pics, vdogg. Personally, I think these projects will do much for this area. It needs a breath of fresh air. Maybe even the Riverview will get sold and reopened.

[Padman]

All the new housing units should give that section of Granby Street a big lift (if occupied). There could be some smart commercial property deals to be made.

[rusthebuss]

It could definitely be a good spot for more restaurants, bars, clubs and become very walkable.

[Telmnstr]

It could definitely be a good spot for more restaurants, bars, clubs and become very walkable.

[rusthebuss]

I pinged a few friends with my new found excitement for the Riverview. Evidentially it is condemmed (considered unsafe) and for sale @ around $800K. And Levin owns it, and only wants it to go to someone who will return it to a theater (which is cool).

[Sky06]

Well thats cool to hear! It would be cool as a local band spot to showcase their skills. I think Riverview has so much potential.

[burt]

The Riverview was the first (and only) Cinerama theatre in Virginia way back when. It played long runs of special films on its gigantic screen.

[Telmnstr]

Well thats cool to hear! It would be cool as a local band spot to showcase their skills. I think Riverview has so much potential.

[vdogg]

Hotel comes down today

The Lafayette Motor Hotel will see the wrecking ball Monday afternoon to pave the way for over 200 luxury condos.

The building, which sits at the north side of the Granby Street Bridge on Llewellyn Avenue has been a constant eyesore for drivers and residents in the Riverview neighborhood. The hotel, built in 1964, has been the source of neighborhood concerns and complaints for almost a decade.

[vdogg]

Granby's ugly duckling turned to dust

Minutes before workers used two backhoes to begin tearing down the Lafayette Motor Hotel, Mayor Paul Fraim cracked a joke. Laughter rang from the crowd of about 150, who gathered Monday to see the 43-year-old building come crashing down.

"Many of you from Colonial Place and Riverview must be feeling a little nostalgic about now," Fraim said with a smile.

[vdogg]

For Tel

Across Granby Street from the apartments, a new condominium project is nearly complete. New restaurants have opened, and Levin has purchased the old Riverview Theater and plans to renovate it. "It needs to be saved as a theater," he said.

[spiker3]

For Tel

Looks like you were right.

[Telmnstr]

Oh wow! Ithink I found the Road Warrior article or something, which is where I got the information that it was for sale. Actually, I take that back, there was a site that had theaters all across America, and tehre was an entry for the Riverview. It had a message board, and on the board thwere was some discussion .Someone kept talking about buying it and turning it into a record store... which I dunno, we have Relative Theory and they do a good job.

What I had in mind was more of a live music/entertainment venue with a technical edge to it.

A movie theater wouldn't be bad. I'm surprised no one has gone the route of a digital cinema, and perhaps get permission to run reality shows and stuff on the big screen. Survivor type fans and American Idol heads and the like. Run @ 1080p, it would like fine.

Oh yea, Levin ownes the pink hotel property... as well as a ton of other property in the city.

[spiker3]

Oh yea, Levin ownes the pink hotel property... as well as a ton of other property in the city.

[norfolkian]

The Riverview was the first (and only) Cinerama theatre in Virginia way back when. It played long runs of special films on its gigantic screen.

[rusthebuss]

Welcome to the forum norfolkian! Hope to see more of your input!

[burt]

I would have sworn it was the Riverview, but I stand corrected, Norfolkian. I was correct, though, about Norfolk having the only Cinerama set-up in Virginia.

[vdogg]

Anyone been down this way lately? Construction is supposed to start this summer but I don't get out that way much so I don't know what if anything is going on.

[lil-bear]

There is a bulldozer or two and some mounds of dirt. Looks like they might be filling it in or it's just left over debris from the motel they tore down.

[metalman]

I drove by there today actually at about noon. I don't think I've been down there since before the Tanner's Landing construction. They look great! The River House lot on the other hand is as flat as a pancake. Though I saw some cranes over by the boat slip.

[vdogg]

I drove by there today actually at about noon. I don't think I've been down there since before the Tanner's Landing construction. They look great! The River House lot on the other hand is as flat as a pancake. Though I saw some cranes over by the boat slip.

[rusthebuss]

In your assesment, are the cranes connected to the project or not?

[metalman]

I think they are working on the boat slip or maybe the retaining walls, etc. The cranes were positioned on the opposite side of the slip from the River House lot. There is an apartment building there.