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Yeah, there are a few urban Target stores but it's hard to find good pics of them. There's also another one in Miami.

Speaking of Wal-Mart, what would you guys think about an inner-city, urban-concept Wal-Mart in Richmond? Similar to the ones proposed for DC. I know we all like to lament the negative effects on big-box stores on the urban landscape and local mom-and-pop establishments but consider: Many residents in Richmond's most urban neighborhoods don't have ready access to affordable, fresh, and healthy food. I'm particularly talking about many of the low-income residents in Church Hill, Northern Jackson Ward and much of the East End. Besides the small convenience stores and corner markets, there aren't really any mom-and-pop grocery stores in the area that would be affected. Typically speaking, lower income residents are very price-sensitive and aren't necessarily shopping at the farmer's markets or the more expensive grocery options (Farm Fresh, Ellwood Thompson, etc). Most of the urban-concept Wal-Mart stores focus primarily on groceries and produce so aren't competing with the locals in other product areas. Here are the proposals for 2 of the Wal-Marts in DC: Both adopt a mixed-use typology with lower-level retail, integrated parking and a residential component. If you notice in the first rendering, while the Wal-Mart store occupies most of the first floor (and possible a 2nd floor; I don't remember all of the details), it commands a relatively small area of street-frontage. The rest of the street front is reserved for smaller (presumable local) retailers; these store fronts wrap around the Wal-Mart retail space to reduce the "BIg Box" impact typical of Wal-Mart centers. Do you think something like that would work in Richmond? Would it be at all desirable?

It's certainly an interesting proposal. Architecturally I like it and I appreciate that they have created a centralized bus terminal, provided street-level commercial space and incorporated the current parking garage. However, I'm not sure I like it in that exact location. The bus traffic would overwhelm the narrow streets in that relatively quiet stretch of Grace and would probably be more appropriate for Broad Street. Perhaps they could double the height of the proposed structure and place it on the surface lot on Broad Street between 4th and 5th street with an additional 3-4 stories of office space above the parking component for a total of 6-7 stories. Maybe administrative offices for GRTC or another local agency. For the lot on Grace St across from the Carpenter Theatre, I always imagined a mixed-use, primarily residential development as being most appropriate. That section of Grace (being near to Miller + Rhoads, Hotel John Marshall, Berry Burke, etc) seems to be really taking off with relatively upscale urban living and the additional residents could really push Grace to be the nice, walkable urban live/work/shop area that it's destined to be (especially with those beautiful retail store-fronts dying to be redone). I think something like this would be nice for the lot across from the Carpenter Theatre: This is a development in Toronto. Something like that would be an appropriate scale for the area of Grace and reflect some of the classical elements of the other architecture in the area. Or perhaps something more contemporary like: Or this: (Both are also from Toronto)

I could see that in Toronto but not Richmond. But it would definitely be cool. We can only dream, right?

This Slavery Museum proposal was posted in another thread (entitled "Designed for Richmond" ) almost two years ago. Here's a news piece about it from RichmondMagazine. I'm not sure why that one flew so far under the radar. Personally I think it would have been superior to a Fredericksburg location, especially considering the prominent role Richmond played in the trafficking and trading of enslaved Africans. Maybe now that the Fredericksburg proposal is all but dead, this idea will be revisited. It would really be great if Richmond could get it's new Institute for Contemporary Art, First Freedom Center and a National Slavery Musuem within several years (2014-2017ish) range.

Not anything particularly new, but Archdaily (one of my favorite architecture sites) has posted an updated article about VCU's Institute for Contemporary Art. http://www.archdaily.com/241847/update-institute-for-contemporary-art-steven-holl-architects/

While I personally think these huge interchanges (like the 95/195 pictured above) are interesting to look at, I've always thought it a bit sad and unfortunate that such a monstosity was allowed to carve through the city. The fact that I-95 physically isolates so many of the northern neighborhoods from downtown is tragic. As I've stated many times, I think it would be really cool if one day the Downtown Expressway (and perhaps 95 as it passes behind Carver and Jackson Ward was capped and covered.

This may have been posted already but I found this on archdaily.com The unveiling of the design of the new VCU Institute for Contemporary Art will take place next week (April 26). Unforunately it will take place in NYC so most of us won't be able to attend most likely. Nonetheless, I can't wait to see the design.

Possibly a new restaurant for Monroe Ward? Someone posted an ad on Craigslist job section looking for an architect to help convert a property at 113 S. Foushee St into a new restaurant. The listing is here: http://richmond.craigslist.org/egr/2964856625.html Perhaps if any of you know any architects who would like to take on an extra project you could forward the classified ad to them. For reference, here is the property in question: http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=113+south+foushee+street&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89b1113fa126c8a1:0x5453a831d8d92197,113+S+Foushee+St,+Richmond,+VA+23219&gl=us&ei=uy6QT9nsEYH30gHEweivBQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA

I wish I were able to sneak a pic but I was driving so I was unable to but the Richmond Glass Shop's facade (@ Broad and Laurel) is starting to look really nice with the repainting they are doing. You can just barely see the painted cornice peeking out behind the scaffolding but its enough to know that its going to look great.

There is a sign up in the window of one of the retail bays at 101 W. Broad St announcing that "Frank's Custom Clothier" is coming soon. This is directly across Adams Street from Bistro 27.

What are those large white squares (appear to be warehouses) near the center of the picture? Just to the northwest of the large green/park area.

Not exactly sure what is going on but for the last few days I've seen crews at the glass-and-aluminium-clad International style building at 224 E. Broad St. This is the building at the corner of 3rd and Broad St directly across from the Central National Bank tower. There's a large dumpster out back and it appears there is a bit of demolition going on. A link to information on the building: http://www.therehere.org/224ebroad

This game is very winnable. Whether or not they play a full game or if they'll mentally sit out the last half is the question. I have faith. #Ramnation.

Go RAMS!!!

Yeah, the new SoM will look great when finished. Too bad it couldn't be twice as tall. Or at least 3 or 4 more stories to let it stand out within the medical cluster.

Agreed. Grace and Carrie are both great choices. Perhaps if you ever have a son I might suggest Franklin or Marshall!

There's also an accompanying video: Is it me, or does it appear that they flew incredibly close to some of the buildings downtown. Particularly from around the 1:30 mark.

On the link provided above: 1. Click "Projects" 2. Click "Harper Flats" (3rd pic top row). 3. Go to third pic (click little '3' under pic). I know that isn't as 'sexy' as a new Target but I'm convinced a renovation like that would completely tranform that block. That building is such a nice building but the top floors are vacant and the bottom floor retail is embarrasing (looks really run-down in person with a cheap hand painted facade and signage on Clay Market" in obnoxious yellow and green).

Wow. That new dorm looks amazing (especially when compared to VCU's other dorms).

Peter Chang's Richmond Spot Now Open http://www2.richmond.com/entertainment/2012/jan/03/6/peter-changs-richmond-move-ar-1584363/

It's nice to see that building redeveloped. It always surprised me that it wasn't converted. The building just east of it contains some relatively high-priced apartments. The shorter building to the west of it (visible in the picture shown in the linked Richmond Biz Sense article) has been undergoing renovations (very slowly) for the last few months, though I'm not exactly sure what's planned for it.

More Froyo! Has this already been mentioned? http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2012/02/03/the-pipeline-commercial-real-estate-roundup-for-2-3-12/

Frankly, I'm surprised that there isn't a J. Crew, Apple and/or C&B in Stony Point.

This is great news. What's also impressive is that of the top 15 teams that made it to the semifinals, 3 of them were from VCU's Brandcenter.