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Hmm. I just dont see any kind of hotel working right there. It's not really the nicest (or safest) corner in Jackson Ward. There are a few residential projects on that block (and even a few relatively high-end condos a block or two north) that suggest that residential could work there, though. Before any work is done on this plot, I'd really like to see the stretch of 2nd street between Broad and Marshall revitalized. So many of those store fronts are delapidated and boarded up. I'm not sure who owns them but there should be some penalty for keeping them in their current state. Even if they sat empty, a bit of facade improvements would go a long way. To be fair, many of the store fronts on that stretch of 2nd are occupied, but the 3 or 4 that are vacant (and boarded up) are enough to make the block look abandoned when viewed from Broad.

It's bad enough that he defaced the properties. What makes it worse is that he obviously isn't too intelligent (he was caught on camera) and he clearly lacks any kind of talent.

Yep. Fingers crossed for 2020! Haha.

Funny how building a new ballpark or coliseum by 2015 is seen as almost an impossibility (which is probably a fair assessment) yet The Diamond went from ground breaking to opening in about 6 months between seasons. Amazing how things have changed. Assuming we started today, we'd be looking at 2 years in the very least to get a new ballpark or stadium up and running. That doesn't include the time to do more studies, finalize building plans, secure financing, demolition and site preparation, etc.

I wish "Mix It" all the success in the world (especially considering it will be co-owned by a young VCU student!) but the Froyo market is really getting crowded and I don't necessarily think a cereal bar is enough to differentiate it from the others. Adding cereal to the menu is so easily immitated that any sort of competitive advantage it would bring would be short-lived. Just curious: Are there any froyo places in the Shockoe and Downtown areas?

Not 100% sure but I think DRC = Design (or Development) Review Committee.

I was walking past the CNB on Broad Street about 10 minutes ago and there were about 5 suit-and-tie guys standing at the entrance looking at it and gesturing towards a few other properties along that block. I believe they may have been with Douglas Development. Who knows for what, though.

I thought this picture was kinda cool: http://fineartamerica.com/showframe.php?id=2623864 This is the back of the 3 buildings on the 200 block of East Grace street that were formerly abandoned, fire-gutted, and boarded up. In the picture you can see that they have been restored and now there's a nice landscaped courtyard. The Seaboard Loans sign is also cool. Because of its position, most people have probably never seen it. BTW, this is what that area looked liked as recently as a year or so ago: http://g.co/maps/3krpz

The VCU-area VerryBerry is actually closed. Has been gone for a few months now despite the signage that still hangs on the building.

WOW! I had NO idea the FNB/BB&T was going to be converted. It's easily one of my favorite buildings in Richmond. The architectural details are amazing.

The fact that VCU has sold out the last few games while students were off campus for winter break speaks to just how strong the 'local' fan base is. Very exciting times for VCU these last few years have been (not just sports!).

The carriage house is still there! I believe it's used by the university for some kind of administrative offices.

That's coming along quite nicely. I can't wait 'til the new dorm is built opposite of it. It will give that street a nice, dense urban feeling. Hopefully there will be some retail frontage along the street. I imagine that would be a fun little section of Grace to host various block parties or events by the various student organizations. Next, I hope they eventually get around to replacing the other (original) West Grace Student housing (@ 701 W. Grace St). I don't know the full history of the building but apparently it was a medical facility in it's former life; I was a resident in this building and it was quite apparent that they made very little attempt to hide its previous use. The dorm rooms (patient rooms) still had what appeared to be the original hospital-style lighting (example) above the beds and the nurses stations on each floor were even left intact. The worst part was that in one of my rooms (I lived in 3 different rooms in 3 different years) the shower of the unit above would leak into the space between walls and leak into my dorm and out into the hall. Not to mention its an ugly building (haha).

I don't think so. After all, the Central National Bank building and City Hall are fairly tall compared to other buildings on Broad. And the government office building planned for the area around 8th and Broad (or was it 9th and Broad) was a fairly tall building, if I remember correctly.

Wow, that's really exciting news of what they have planned for the space!

I'll try to get pictures this up-coming week but just want to say that the properties at 205-207 E, Broad St are looking much better these days. An amazing transformation. Interestingly, the store fronts for the two properties appear to have been combined into one large space. Also of note is that it doesn't appear to be your tradition white-box speculatively-built retail space; it almost looks like has been built with a specific tenant in mind. Of course I have no proof; this is simply an observation. It does, however, seem strange that the two spaces would have been combined into such a large space without a possible tenant in mind.

I used to dabble in sketch-up but haven't really touched it in a while. My main problem is that my laptop was so old (5 years is ancient in computer years) that it became frustrating trying to manipulate 3D models without serious lagging and hang-ups. I have a new much more powerful computer coming this week and I'd love to help model some.

The rational side of me knows that the Commonwealth could certainly use the extra sales tax dollars, and collecting them would help level the playing field between Amazon and local./regional retailers. The rest of me (the part of me that shops at Amazon at least twice a week) is glad to hear this news.

That is awesome news! I wonder how many "professional" jobs they'll bring. I'd definitely love to work for Amazon. On another note: I can't imagine how fast the shipping will be for me. I have Amazon Prime that offers free 2 day shipping on a lot of products and I regularly get them the next business day when they are shipped from PA or KY. If they are shipped from the distribution centers in the region, I could probably count on next day service pretty regularly.

VCU School of Business, Christ University host Governor in real-time international event Full press release: http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/VCU_School_of_Business_Christ_University_host_Governor_in_realtime

VCU School of Business Part-Time MBA is Nationally Ranked Full press release can be found here: http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/VCU_School_of_Business_PartTime_MBA_is_Nationally_Ranked

The medical school tower has officially topped out!

Honestly I haven't been on that side of campus in quite a while. I'll try to visit sometime this week and report back!

A few quick updates: The garage at the corner of Laurel and Grace is completed. The ground-floor retail portion (including IHOP, Raising Cane's, and another eatery) is fully operational. The new dorm on the south side of West Grace St at Shafer has topped out. It appears they are now beginning the cladding of the exterior in brick/masonry. The building that stood at the corner of Gilmer and Broad Street has been completely demolished and the plot is cleared. VCU plans to extend the "Broad and Belvidere" into that space.

If you were downtown near the hotels and convention center on Saturday you probably saw the men and women in uniform; they were in town for the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball. Also present: singer/actor Justin Timberlake. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20545076,00.html?hpt=hp_t3