540_804

Oh. That's kinda "meh."

Can anyone tell me what's going on at the corner of Cowardin Ave and McDonough St? I pass the lot at night occasionally and see construction equipment but I can't tell if it's an active construction site or perhaps just a staging area for one of the other projects in the area.

Great picture from today's RTD: I can't believe Richmond ever got rid of it's streetcars!

I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet: VCU destroyed the Hokies Saturday night at the Coliseum. http://www.roanoke.com/sports/article_9295acda-6aa1-11e3-897c-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=story

A condo unit at Rockett's Landing is currently on the market for $2.35 million. Interestingly, it sold last year for $985k. It was renovated prior to last years sale (as far as I understand) and there's no indication that the current owner put much money into any major renovations. It looks like it's just a $1.4 million flip to me. If the owner gets anywhere close to asking price it would have been one heck of an investment. If sold it'd be one of (if not the) most expensive condo units ever sold in Richmond. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4820-Old-Main-St-UNIT-609-Richmond-VA-23231/82203587_zpid/

$500,000 seems like basic demo work to me. I'd guess depending on how much asbestos is in the interior, it could be more.

FINALLY!

The issue with Kanawha Plaza is that it's practically unusable (and isolated) in it's current form. There is really no reason to ever go there except if you were homeless looking for a public place to sleep.

I do like the proposed/visionary building that was created in the above-linked Kanawha Plaza, but I'm not sold on it in that location. I do however, think that the downtown expressway should eventually be capped (though I think that is a pie-in-the-sky dream for now). It should at least be capped from 2nd to 9th Streets. But I'd also like to see it capped between Laurel St and Sheppard St/Boulevard. It's almost exactly 2.5 miles from Sheppard to 9th. Imagine a 2.5 mile long "Green Belt" or linear "Central Park" cutting through Richmond's core!

Here you go (just in case you weren't able to access it yet):

"Study used in the Richmond context"? You mean when we pay a team of outside consultants $250k to determine if an idea should be studied further?

I wish we could get a few more cranes to dot the skyline. Also, the pit for the construction at MCV is massive. Probably one of the deepest i've ever seen in Richmond.

Source: RTD The best part of the article is the selection in red. Apparently the RTD has no doubt that VCU will make it to the second round. VCU will play Michigan or Long Beach State in the second round.

Permits have been filed for the new Wal-Mart at Reynolds Crossing. It looks like construction should start soon. DATE: 12-Jun PROJECT: Wal-Mart, 6920 Forest Avenue OWNER: Reynolds Holdings, LLC CONTRACTOR/BLDR: MLB Construction Services ESTIMATED COST: $6,305,895 DESCRIPTION: New commercial building

This isn't directly related to VCU but I thought it was pretty funny/interesting: If you've ever been to the new student apartments on Chamberlayne Ave (The Collegiate) you may have noticed a newer little convenience store called "VCU Market." This store is, of course, not in any way affiliated with the school, though it shares the name and has signage in the VCU school colors, yellow and black. I always thought that was pretty interesting; I would assume that would constitute some form of copyright infringement. Well apparently, someone else thought the same. I assume VCU (and it's legal team) may have sent a strongly worded letter to the owner because I noticed today that much of the exterior signage has been...uh...altered. The store is now simply known as "CU Market". All of the Vs on the exterior signage had been removed.

Too late. My hopes are up now...

Any information on the development at 20th and Grace Streets? I'm sure it's been mentioned before but I can't quite place it. It looks to be topped out.

Hopefully if I get free time today, I will run by the new building nearing completion next to the James Cabell Branch Library to get some pictures. It is a really nice looking structure -- probably one of the better (higher-quality) looking buildings VCU has constructed on the Monroe Park campus in quite a while. I believe one of the structures/wings of the new construction has a green/living roof which may be accessible by students judging by the railings that go around the top of the roof structure. It has a very nice urban look to it. Also, the new housing along the north side of Grace Street is coming along nicely. I imagine it will be done by move-in this fall. It looks like they're finishing up the exterior and working on the interior. (As a side note: it looks like the little night club next door [can't think of the name as it has changed a few times since I was a student] is getting a renovation too). Renovation is ongoing at Johnson Hall (SW corner of Franklin & Laurel). And lastly: the construction site for the new children's hospital on the MCV campus is quite impressive. I haven't seen a construction pit that deep in a very long time in Richmond (in fact, I don't know that I have ever seen one that deep in my 7 years in Richmond).

So I was thinking about the Flying Squirrels, The Diamond and the prospects of a Shockoe Bottom stadium today (primarily in response to this story: http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2013/04/12/weimans-owners-are-ready-to-play-ball/). And I do believe I may have just had a change-of-heart. For reference, I was always a pretty strong proponent of a downtown baseball stadium (or even a stadium in Manchester). But now, I'm more inclined to support a replacement of the current Diamond. My reasoning: Simply put, Shockoe Bottom doesn't need a downtown stadium. We talk about the downtown stadium as being a catalyst for development in the area (which I believe is true), but in reality, Shockoe Bottom (and the whole of downtown) is doing pretty darn good on it's own. The restaurants are there. The residents are there (and more are coming everyday!). There are bars. There are businesses. Shockoe Bottom will be alright with or without the stadium. The Boulevard (north of Broad) and Scott's Addition, on the other hand, could really benefit from becoming the permanent home of the Flying Squirrels -- and I believe it already has to some degree. Though there are certainly many factors at play, I think the presence of the Flying Squirrels has really spurred some of the much-needed development in the area. There are already hundreds of new residents who have arrived in that neighborhood over the last few years and there are hundreds of new housing units in the pipeline (I'd guess at least 500 have been announced...probably more). There are new bars and restaurants opening in the area and I'm inclined to believe it had something to do with baseball. That area is really picking up momentum and is primed to become one of Richmond's next "hip", prosperous, redeveloped neighborhoods. The last think that area needs is a punch-to-the-gut of a departing baseball team. [Note: I think that area will be fine either way, but I think if baseball left the area, it could really slow down the development). I'm OK with using "civic pride" assets to spur development, but I think we should focus it in the areas that actually need it and where we have the most potential -- especially in places like the Boulevard and Scott's Addition that are so close to seeing that change.

Does anybody know whats going on with the lot (currently parking I believe) beside the Branch House (Virginia Center for Architecture) on Monument Ave? It has a large sign about pending zone change hearing (I think). I imagine that's probably an extremely valuable plot of land with it being slightly larger than a half of a block's worth of street frontage along a very prime section of Monument among some of the largest, most valuable homes on the street.

I drove by last night. Dare I say its one of the best-looking storage facilities I've seen? I know that's not saying very much, but I think it may be the case. I noticed the fencing up around Grace and Shafer as well. Glad to see the development starting but I guess I'll have to scout a new commute route.

I'm sure Burt would have loved this story, as he did in 2011. VCU’s Peppas get some love on Today Show http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/college/vcu/vcu-s-peppas-get-some-love-on-today-show/article_162cac84-8d7f-11e2-86b2-001a4bcf6878.html Here are better pics of the bus: And of course, this beautiful dunk shot:

Wow. This is unreal. I don't know what to say. He will certainly be missed.

Back in November when Icetera posted this information about the owner of the building/land at 4300 W. Broad Street, I did a Google search of the addresses and among the tenants listed for the addresses was an owner/operator of mini storage facilities. I feared that we might get stuck with a hideous storage facility right on West Broad Street. It looks like my worst fears for this property have been confirmed. The large 3 story building at 4300 W. Broad Street will be a Mini Price Storage. That's such a dissapointing use for the nearly 3 acre plot of land right on Broad Street.

Current plans for the MCV campus include the addition of more housing for medical and professional students. It would be interesting to explore the idea of converting West Hospital into housing for some of those students. If my math is correct, there are just over 4300 students who attend classes at MCV, most of whom currently live off campus. I'm sure some of them would prefer to live on campus. The shape and layout of the building lends itself easily to some kind of residential use. I could even see parts of the building (several lower floors) being used for MCV student study space, administrative offices, and even relocation of the medical library. (The cross shape of the building provides lots of external exposures which are great for student study rooms/break-out spaces and offices.)