Richmond Developments

[tparkerzut]

13 hours ago, Brent114 said:

Meh. Certainly way better than what is there but there’s nothing great about the current built environment of Carytown (feels really small town to me).

 This is a missed opportunity to take it to the next level.   I hate that there is no residential and there is still a drive cut out on Cary Street which is unacceptable.  

It also does absolutely nothing for Elwood which is a travesty. 

It’s really hard to pull off an authentic “Main Street” aesthetic in 2018.  It will look more like Stoney Point than Georgetown. 

While I agree that it's hard to pull off the "Main Street" aesthetic I think one of the reasons is because it is most often tried in suburban areas like Stony Point or the "Town Center" projects happening all of the country. It will always seem inauthentic in those areas. I think a continuation of the Carytown aesthetic is just fine for this block. Do you really want a super urban/downtown feeling project in Carytown? It would stick out like a sore thumb. All in all I think this is quite appropriate and a vast improvement over what is there.

[Icetera]

15 hours ago, Brent114 said:

Meh. Certainly way better than what is there but there’s nothing great about the current built environment of Carytown (feels really small town to me).

 This is a missed opportunity to take it to the next level.   I hate that there is no residential and there is still a drive cut out on Cary Street which is unacceptable.  

It also does absolutely nothing for Elwood which is a travesty. 

It’s really hard to pull off an authentic “Main Street” aesthetic in 2018.  It will look more like Stoney Point than Georgetown. 

Given the length and flow of Cary and Ellwood Streets on that block, I believe the drive cuts are very appropriate.  Trying to force all of the flow into the shorter lengths of Thompson and Nansemond would be a traffic mess.  Though added residential would be nice, the small town feel is also a big part of the draw to Carytown.

[Brent114]

I’m still convinced that this will look like White Oak Village. 

This will be one gigantic rectangle with fake facades.  The only thing sepersting the stores will be a caulked expansion joint in the brick veneer. 

It’s also too dependent on specialty shops..  It adds a glut of retail space (while doing nothing to expand the customer base) at a time when retail space is becoming obsolete. 

Things that  are first tend to stick out.  There are lots of sites left to redevelop along Cary.  This could be  Richmond’s Opportunity to think bigger, better.  Instead it will usher in 20 more years of inertia. 

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

^100% agree on you with that part. Residential would have been fantastic (and add shoppers to the area), because as it stands, I don't know how much retail can be sustained and whether it can be guaranteed all those new spaces will be filled. Those are a lot of new spaces in those buildings. 

 

On the other hand, I am overjoyed that they are bringing the buildings up to the street, it makes it infinitely better on a pedestrian scale rather than having that large parking lot and the big grocery building set back so far as it is currently. I have no doubt NIMBYs would have protested over residential so I'm willing to let that go. The major thing is that they brought the buildings up to the street. That is major and will activate that western stretch of Carytown.

 

Seeing as this just looks like a publicity flyer I'm kind of hesitant to add this to the development map.

 

edit: nvm. I'm adding it. RTD has an article about it with an estimated completion of late 2020.

http://www.richmond.com/business/local/proposed-carytown-exchange-to-bring-a-fresh-look-with-a/article_dbc31093-5b49-53d1-9f4c-7018fea40890.html

Here's also a website

https://carytownexchange.com

Edited May 8, 2018 by RVA-Is-The-Best

[Icetera]

The project is only adding an additional 20% of retail space compared to the current center, with a much better layout and obviously updated.  Given that, it may do well.  Now, if only they could replace the shopping center and parking lot across Thompson with a hotel (with visibility from I-195) as a western anchor.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

I'm updating a bunch of places on the development map. Lots of small  purple projects here and there have gone green, few blues to purples as well.

[georgeglass]

10 minutes ago, Icetera said:

The project is only adding an additional 20% of retail space compared to the current center, with a much better layout and obviously updated.  Given that, it may do well.  Now, if only they could replace the shopping center and parking lot across Thompson with a hotel (with visibility from I-195) as a western anchor.

It has always surprised me that are no hotels close to Carytown or Museum District. By close, I mean walking distance. For that matter, add in Scott's Addition. Wouldn't it make sense too, with all the breweries. These are some of the most desirable areas of town, and there are no hotels...not counting Airbnb and BandB's. (I don't count the Clarion or the other one by The Diamond, because they look like dumps). One would think an Aloft or some type of boutique hotel, at the very least, would be desirable. 

[eandslee]

12 minutes ago, georgeglass said:

It has always surprised me that are no hotels close to Carytown or Museum District. By close, I mean walking distance. For that matter, add in Scott's Addition. Wouldn't it make sense too, with all the breweries. These are some of the most desirable areas of town, and there are no hotels...not counting Airbnb and BandB's. (I don't count the Clarion or the other one by The Diamond, because they look like dumps). One would think an Aloft or some type of boutique hotel, at the very least, would be desirable. 

You make a VERY good point here.  I never thought of this before, but your argument makes sense!  Would love to see some hotels go up in those areas!

[Icetera]

16 minutes ago, georgeglass said:

It has always surprised me that are no hotels close to Carytown or Museum District. By close, I mean walking distance. For that matter, add in Scott's Addition. Wouldn't it make sense too, with all the breweries. These are some of the most desirable areas of town, and there are no hotels...not counting Airbnb and BandB's. (I don't count the Clarion or the other one by The Diamond, because they look like dumps). One would think an Aloft or some type of boutique hotel, at the very least, would be desirable. 

I imagine Carytown / Museum District has bee due to zoning limitations.  Scott's Addition has had a couple lower budget hotels close in recent years so it may still be too early for the more boutique hotels pop up, especially with them barely just now entering downtown.  I could certainly imagine them in a few years, though (possibly Boulevard development?).  Aloft has yet to enter the city so perhaps they would be earlier adopters.

Edited May 8, 2018 by Icetera

[Brent114]

I don’t hate this development and again, I think it is certainly better than what is there now.

 

  It’s just a huge missed opportunity to do something special.  This is the single biggest development site in the most sought after area of town.   We are running out of places to add significant amounts of people. This could have injected a lot of energy into the area.

 In the end it will be just nice.  Desolate on Sundays and after 10pm.   It looks like folks that design strip malls planned it.  There’s absolutely nothing interesting here.  It’s just a place to drive to get groceries. That’s what it was before so it isn’t like it is going backwards it just isn’t the future I had hoped for. 

I wanted the 1-2 story scale at the sidewalk with additional 2-3 floors of residential set back above it.  I wanted a public square , a place for musicians to gather, for people to sell flowers, for weirdos with megaphones to share political slogans...  Then I wanted the 7-11 lot a few blocks east redeveloped ibto a 5-6 story apartment or hotel (with 7-11 on the first floor).

[Brent114]

I’m pretty excited by this project.  The design is decidedly “city” and it has more presence on the block than I was expecting. It’s goibg to be a pretty handsome addition to a great block. 

 

 

[eandslee]

3 hours ago, Brent114 said:

I don’t hate this development and again, I think it is certainly better than what is there now.

 

  It’s just a huge missed opportunity to do something special.  This is the single biggest development site in the most sought after area of town.   We are running out of places to add significant amounts of people. This could have injected a lot of energy into the area.

 In the end it will be just nice.  Desolate on Sundays and after 10pm.   It looks like folks that design strip malls planned it.  There’s absolutely nothing interesting here.  It’s just a place to drive to get groceries. That’s what it was before so it isn’t like it is going backwards it just isn’t the future I had hoped for. 

I wanted the 1-2 story scale at the sidewalk with additional 2-3 floors of residential set back above it.  I wanted a public square , a place for musicians to gather, for people to sell flowers, for weirdos with megaphones to share political slogans...  Then I wanted the 7-11 lot a few blocks east redeveloped ibto a 5-6 story apartment or hotel (with 7-11 on the first floor).

While I do like the plans as they are, I totally see your point and I have to agree that you are right...100% right!  Maybe someone, or a group of people, will bring these points up during the public input sessions.  Perhaps the developer will make some changes!

[wrldcoupe4]

Look at the developer’s portfolio. It’s almost exclusive all retail, particularly in markets the size of Richmond. I agree more mixed use density would’ve been great, but it won’t happen. 

[drayrichmond]

I like the development overall, agreed that residential is a missed opportunity, but it could have been a lot worse. Plus a nice retail development like this in the city may encourage more people to live in the city.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Plus as some of the people on BizSense have been noting, it would be a good opportunity to bring in some national retailers to prevent shoppers from having to go out into Henrico and spending their money.

[Brent114]

I think the moderator needs to move this to the Richmond's suburban Development thread lol. 

[eandslee]

On 5/2/2018 at 12:42 PM, Brent114 said:

Buckle up! Momentum is building

 Could this be the beginning of that 15 floor apartment building floated 1-2 years ago?

At the least a renovation of these three buildings is about to happen. 

Looks like the Carpenter Center (or whatever it’s called these days)    Is getting a sign on the Broad Street side.  These bucket trucks are making out something with marking tape...

 

 

Here's the new rendering for this project (Gather City Center) on Broad St. (next to the Convention Center) and will be double the space they currently have on Main St.  I think it looks pretty good (better than what's there).  The RTD article was very good - I suggest clicking it and giving it a read:

Plans are for this to open by the beginning of 2019.  Also UrbanCore (their general contractor) will expand and take up the space that Gather will vacate on Main St.  Seems to be a perfect shift of properties!  This part was also encouraging regarding The Pulse.:

"GRTC Transit Co's Pulse bus rapid transit line will be a benefit when it opens next month. One of the 14 stations along the 7.6-mile bus line - from Willow Lawn to Rocketts Landing - will be within a block of  the project.

Some current Gather tenants are concerned about the lack of parking along East Broad Street. Dodson said his company is in talks with some nearby parking lot owners to arrange possible parking.

But he believes a significant number of tenants will walk or bike or take Pulse to work."

 

Edited May 11, 2018 by eandslee

[Brent114]

I like the design.  

Sad about the lack of high density housing but this will look like a new build (and build out will happen fast!) and is a great commitment from a tenant that won’t be relying on retail or food  sales.   The renovation across the street is chugging alongtoo.  Soon the block will  at least have a dozen or so new dwellers. 

[eandslee]

On 3/19/2018 at 6:20 PM, eandslee said:

Could this land somewhere in the Richmond Metro area?  Your thoughts?

http://wric.com/2018/03/19/pamunkey-tribe-considering-700-million-casino-in-virginia/

 

More light was shed today in another RTD article focusing on plans the Pamunkey Indians have to place a casino in the Richmond area.  I found the following quote in the article very interesting.  I don't know where this land is exactly, but dang!  Check it out:

"The tribe has already secured more than 600 acres in New Kent County, but Gray says that land is one option of many.  Another would be a more urban casino in the city of Richmond, which the tribe considers part of its homelands.

'I don’t see why not.  Given the population base, the intersection of [Interstates] 95 and 64.... It's a great nexus,' Gray said. 'What’s been happening over the last 10 years or so is exciting for Richmond.  And if we can add to that and just continue to help Richmond grow, that would be a great opportunity.  But that's just one option right now that's out there.'"

[cbl1]

Here is the info on the land they purchased

http://wtvr.com/2018/04/23/pamunkey-tribe-buys-over-600-new-kent-acres-aggressively-pursuing-va-casino-plan-1/

oops - I see your adding the part about the City of Richmond casino.   Yea that is new!

 

 

 

Edited May 11, 2018 by cbl1

[jbjust]

If you've ever been to downtown Detroit, you can see how a Casino actually sucks the life out of a downtown rather than adding to it.  

[eandslee]

29 minutes ago, jbjust said:

If you've ever been to downtown Detroit, you can see how a Casino actually sucks the life out of a downtown rather than adding to it.  

I don't think that was the casino that did that...it was the political leadership.

[Brent114]

I think globalization (and the rise of China, Vietnam and India) had a lot to do with it. 

I  wouldn’t  be too excited about  a casino downtown either.  They have all of the energy and street life of an unbooked convention center.  It would be a squat building on an entire block with underground parking.  You’d never even see the customers (and they’d never see Richmond). 

[blopp1234]

12 story hotel proposed for Shockoe Bottom near Main Street station!

https://richmondbizsense.com/2018/05/14/salomonsky-eyeing-wyndham-hotel-shockoe-bottom/

[eandslee]

1 hour ago, blopp1234 said:

12 story hotel proposed for Shockoe Bottom near Main Street station!

https://richmondbizsense.com/2018/05/14/salomonsky-eyeing-wyndham-hotel-shockoe-bottom/

Sounds like they are floating several ideas for this location.  A 12-story hotel is one of them.  Should have a final decision in about a month and hope to see a rendering by then too!