Icetera

The audio is up now and it sounds like it was continued to the April 17 session by developer request.

I really love seeing these alleys fill in. It seems so against the American urban norm.

I just looked back at one my many population estimate spreadsheets, this one being from 2018, and it has Richmond surpassing Norfolk in 2024 (246k vs 245k). This was assuming Norfolk was seeing a minor population increase. Despite both cities seemingly being under-counted in 2020, it looks like this prediction was at least still very close.

Ok, Scott... I was thinking that as well but I imagine they are being wrapped with more substantive decorative columns as the front decking is installed.

Douglas Jemal.

I imagine a lot of what you saw were some of the blocks currently being sat on for years by a big name D.C. developer. There has been some movement as of late, so hopefully these will see new life sooner rather than later.

Close. Looking East along E. 5th St. from Hull St.

Watching now while working, but my initial thought looking at the board is that I now understand why they are called "fat cats."

Not going to blame one or the other or get into politics, but switching parties every 4-8 years and subsequently changing opposing policies back-and-forth would certainly have that effect.

Ugh, tell me about it. Walking through that stretch several times per week is depressing.

It may not be related but they are dredging the canal just down hill from this shot.

Yup, certainly nailed it there. Dense cities will have smaller apartments while suburbs and counties designated as cities will have larger, due to more land availability. I would be curious as to where Henrico fits in and how much the combined Richmond/Henrico would skew this data.

I like some of the ideas and general goal but I strongly disagree on tearing down the old Firestone building simply for the sake of changing the Broad St. frontage to a single retailer. The smaller shops need that visibility and easy pedestrian access much more while Kroger is a destination retailer and will be fine set back a block. Theoretical Proposal Phase 1 - Rebuild Kroger fuel center (pumps could relocate but not underground tanks) integrated into a parking deck bounded by Lombardy, Marshall, Bowe, and the Marshall/Clay alley. Residential can be added to the upper levels, perhaps in a 'C' format creating half of a Texas Donut. Phase 2 - Rebuild Kroger on the remaining half of the parking lot. Loading and stock will be on the first floor (much like Publix Carytown). Add small retail spaces to Lombardy and/or Bowe St frontage. Kroger's main floor will be on floor two. The parking garage will then be extended over Kroger for X number of levels followed by the remainder of the Texas Donut with amenities filled in the now courtyard (pool, etc). Phase 3 - Extend W. Clay St. to N. Lombardy. Redevelop old Kroger lot into mixed use. Relocate the shops facing Kroger now to the new shop spaces and redevelop the property into mixed use. Phase 4 - Extend W. Marshall St to N. Lombardy. Relocate the shops at the corner of Broad and Bowe to the new mixed use building. Redevelop that corner into mixed use. Wishlist Relocate Lowe's Pro Services entrance to Lobardy side. Extend W. Marshall between Lowe's frontage and parking to N. Allen Ave. Redevelop Lowe's parking into structured parking and mixed use.

The Lombardy Kroger is 55k so that is probably about the right size as a Manchester one may not be quite as busy (though sure it serves Manchester now). I imagine a Kroger or Publix would also become competition with Farm Fresh for Shockoe residents. A Kroger Marketplace would be nice in the central city as we really lack general goods suppliers but I am not aware of any urban footprints. May be better to hope for a target (old Sears building please, Sauer!). Personally, I would likely switch to the new store if built rather than driving to Lombardy, though Lombardy always has the better fuel prices in the area for my monthly fill up (thanks walkability and Pulse). I used to be that guy that drove past Lombardy to Carytown Kroger (gotten crowded, no fuel, too much sprawl as stated earlier) or Laburnum Ave. Kroger (dated, lacks selection and Williamsburg Road traffic is obnoxious), but have since discovered that the popular culture of hate on Lombardy is mostly unfounded.

I doubt building a new one nearby would change that reputation as the reputation has more to do with being primarily full of VCU kids rather than an issue with the store itself. While being a little pricier (less support plus higher rent I am sure), Farm Fresh is also not all that bad and I think its bad rap comes from classism much like Lombardy Kroger.

VCU Health's Main Hospital building get my vote:

This is going on the leveled hotel property adjacent to the Super 8. https://henrico.us/pdfs/planning/2023/mar23/rez/rez2023-00003.pdf

Apparently we were co-workers! HDL was certainly an experience back then. Funny thing is, I only gained interest in employment at HDL thanks to following the development news here (or may have been RCW then). Ah, just realized who you are and likely who sent you.

Uneducated thought, but perhaps they adjust it over time due to the angle of the sun changing?

Based on articles late last year, I think they were hoping to break ground on Phase 1 (the two buildings along Orleans) around Spring/Summer this year. Not being able to find bid requests for Phase 1 seems to be a good sign.

I believe Block 6 is expected once 8 wraps up, which appears to be close. The site is currently used for worker parking but not much for staging anymore. Fulton Yard is still very quiet though I saw some random leasing advertisement along Broad way down near the Ella (same developer/management company?). Later phases may be aiming for June 2024 ground breaking: https://www.constructionjournal.com/projects/details/9ea9354e342e4cd29150abb9c51e788d.html

Ya, looks like my retort went unappreciated (typo did not help)

Burger exists solely for our amusement.

Lot's of remnants of Fulton's infrastructure can still be found hidden away in the trees and parks if one strays from the paths, which is both interesting to find and sad to think amount what was lost. Walking through the now sterilized suburb is so depressing. While I doubt The Fan/Museum District ever saw plans to the extent of Fulton, I have no doubts that some large urbanization efforts were likely in play. Areas such as Devil's Triangle (not the greatest place in the day) clearly lost some chunks of their historic fabric to automobile oriented low-density developments as well as stretches along Main/Cary. How much of Broad was more like The Fan at one time?

Maintenance facilities may be a big hinderance here but perhaps a deal could be made with CSX via ACCA yard (Fulton location is best but no existing facility).