I miss RVA

BITE YOUR TONGUE!!! Sorry - MAJOR disagree with you. We need EVERY highrise we can get our hands on. Step out of the classic Richmond box for a few minutes and think bigger picture. Personally, I don't "mind" the design. My favorite? Far from it. Could it be designed better? Ohhhh yes. HOWEVER ... we NEED these buildings right now. Don't get hung up on the color of the leaves when we don't even have the tree growing yet. Buildings like these bring density and more overall population -- all of which moves Richmond higher in people numbers. That growth is badly needed. Mind you, I agree with you that it's not the greatest design in the world - BUT I WANT IT BUILT!!! We can worry about what things look like later on -- remember THE axiom of architecture -- "form FOLLOWS function" -- not the other way around. The bloody recession better NOT kill this project!! These projects don't grow on trees for Richmond. For New York, for Chicago, yes. Low-hanging fruit at worst. But for Richmond? BUILD IT!!!! YOU will hate it for years to come - I personally will celebrate what it can contribute overall to the city. I honestly don't really care so much what it looks like. Not my favorite design by any measure - BUT WE NEED IT. We're not in a position right now to be picky about projects. Repeat after me boys and girls - "RICHMOND ... NEEDS ... EVERY ... SINGLE ... HIGHRISE ... SHE ... CAN ... GET ... HER ... HANDS ... ON!!!" That was easy, yeah? I'm always in favor of more height -- but barring that, BUILD IT!! Not the prettiest design in the world -- but from a big-picture standpoint, it accomplishes a HECK of a lot more than what's there right now.

This is VERY interesting! There are some parcels not all that far from City Hall on which a 19-story building could be constructed. Heck - let's round it up to 20.

This is good analysis!

This certainly has a lot of potential. I just pray, however, that CCP is able to do that full-block redevelopment at 9th, 10th, Leigh and Clay and we see that 20-story building begin rising sooner rather than later. ALSO - not to "shut out" anyone, but all things considered, I honestly don't want the Douglas group involved with any of this. Track record isn't good and I have a feeling they will think small. I'm less worried about whether or not they were to do anything with the Coliseum - it's more I don't want them getting their hands on additional property that could wind up with major development only to have some kind of insipid "historic rehab" BS happen -- or a "compatible" building put up. (Give me a 25-story, 600-room Hyatt Regency!!!) Maybe someone will not only revive -- but improve upon (as in come in BIGGER) the old "City Center" plan for Grace, 6th and 7th. Imaging having a major complex there highlighted by one (or more) towers. And 4th & Broad is SCREAMING for a highrise residential tower -- 20 stories (or more!) please! Let's do what the other big cities do - build UP!!! Say it with me boys and girls - "VER-TI-CAL" ... once again, "VER-TI-CAL" ... what's that mean, kids? "TALLLLLLL!!!!" I don't understand adding the Theater Row building - it's relatively new. But aside from that -- chunking out the parcels isn't a bad idea. The biggest concern is actually getting developers in who will not think small or think cheap. These are diamonds in the rough locations. Bigger is most definitely better here. That CCP proposal absolutely ROCKS!!! Very exciting proposal to turn a wasteland block into something vibrant, useful and DENSE! Excellent urban design -- something you'd see proposed in much larger cities. I hope the same will be said for the other properties. City Center and 4th and Broad need to be VERTICAL. Time for Richmond to step out of the "Tinker Town" mindset and step up into the big leagues. This is a perfect way to start -- or, God-forbid, stall -- that process.

AMEN, brother! I can't remember EVER seeing 5 cranes up over downtown simultaneously. Even during the boom years of the '80s when the James Center was being built. Pandemic aside, Richmond has been on quite a tear and if it keeps going, it will be an unprecedented time. Much as I kvetch about what COULD have been, I am quite happy to see this kind of progress and growth happening.

I've thought the same thing. It's a really bummer - I wanted some height along Hull Street and for height to start sprouting up in "inland" Manchester. Mind you, I'm happy as can be with every tower that rises along the riverfront (hoping we hear news soon about groundbreaking for those twin residential towers slated to go up down by Legends, closer to Semmes and the Manchester Bridge) -- but I also would love to see height sprinkled deeper into Manchester. It's cool because it's starting to take on more of that Brooklyn, Baltimore, Boston feel there (interesting alliteration there!) with the beefing up of density and the real, "true" urban feel. Getting some "inland" height over there would add to it all the more.

Great picture, George. The GA building will definitely be notable given that the crown will rise up at least a floor or two beyond the max floor total (15 stories, correct?). ALSO - the Children's Hospital expansion will fill up that space next to City Hall quite prominently - and add five floors to what you see of the outpatient building - and that will give you a good idea as to how much that building will stick out above the skyline there. Now if that 20-story building (the recent proposal left over from NH) goes up, that end of the skyline will REALLY beef up nicely (combined with these three buildings going up now).

I may have missed something along the way -- but I'm guessing any plans related to this proposal (from 3 years ago) to build a 12-story residential building at 6th and Hull long since fell off the rails? I was hoping there would be a high-rise building farther up into Manchester - so that the verticality wouldn't be limited to just the riverfront. https://dogtowndish.com/2017/05/13/portrva-phase-2-plans-to-go-vertical-on-hull-street/

Will anyone record and post this somewhere online? (preferably YouTube - NOT Facebook)

VERY cool article! Wow - the "Brooklyn of the Southeast!" I'm sure a lot of folk may not agree with me on this, but I LOVE IT!!! Best description I've EVER heard about Richmond. "The Brooklyn of the Southeast" -- YES!!! Take THAT Atlanta (and Charlotte)!

Yep - same here. Watch this thing get pushed back well past the election. Heaven-forbid a new project start on a parcel of what was the NH project before one of the NIMBY-members (think Grey, for example) can get in there to totally monkey-wrench this thing. Just what Richmond needs -- the Density-Nazis -- God-forbid -- getting into power -- "no high-rises for you!!" (with apologies to Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld)

Looks like they're up to the 13th floor -- 5 more to go (it's slated for 18 stories) -- don't count the parking deck levels on the east side as floors (second picture is the view from NE of the building). The first picture will give you the more accurate floor count. Regarding the planned 20-story building (and the adjacent new buildings) - has anyone seen a time-table for that project?

Thanks! I was off by a few feet as to the location of my dad's office window in the architect's rendering. My dad's office was closer to the door.

HOLY MOLY!!! Where did you find this? Is there a news story attached to it? My father managed the printing company that was located in these connected buildings - 3410-12 W. Leigh. The large window in this artist's rendition (right side of the picture near the cyclist) is where my father's actual office was -- the existing window was/is smaller and a little closer to the doorway. The architect is putting in a solid doorway - it used to be all glass. WOW... This is EXACTLY where my father's office used to be. I used to look out both the window and the doorway at the (now long-gone) asphalt plant when I was a kid during the summers I'd go there to hang out. (My family's pre-cursor to "bring your munchkin to work day" -- only mine lasted for three months every year!) This brings back SOOOOOOOOO many cool memories! My mom would work there during the summer months -- and I LOVED hanging out there because I could spend more time with my dad. Plus, when I got old enough, I'd walk around to Curles Neck Dairy to get lunch at the Dairy Bar -- their milkshakes were EPIC!! My dad worked at the printing company there from 1946 until the late 1980s, when he finally retired. He managed the company for about 20 years. I don't think this address was the original location of the company when my dad joined after he came home from World War II. My guess is that the company bought these buildings some time in the 1950s. O... M... Goodness... If only you knew how much of my childhood (the stretch from the late 1960s through the mid 1970s) was spent in these buildings! LOL!! This is amazing!! I had the time of my life in those days. I'm in my late 50s and I occasionally dream about those days hanging out (and helping out -- I used to fold boxes and box tops!) way back when. My first wife worked for my dad here in the 1980s.

That would have been great! Closest such intersection to downtown, I think, is on the VCU campus at Monroe Park, where the Cathedral is.

Definitely! I can totally see it - a 12-story Flatiron-style residential building. Would be a nice addition to that part of town. Here's hoping!

A fair point and I'm glad you enjoy it there. I also have no desire to live it Atlanta but for entirely different reasons, none of which has to do with not liking how "big" a city Atlanta is. Two of those reasons are: 1.) HORRIBLE weather - heat and humidity worse than Richmond, and 6-plus months of summer ain't my cup of tea. 2.) Envy. I could not stomach living in either Atlanta or Charlotte knowing Richmond has never gone anywhere but could have. As for the "quality of life" argument or "Atlanta's too big" - at least for me ... puuuuuuhleease... I've lived in Chicago for two decades. No comparison between the two (CHI and ATL) from a size perspective. At all. And I love it here. The only urban upgrade for me would be either New York or London, and that would take winning more than a few lotteries (well, and for COVID to go bye-bye, which ain't happening anytime soon). The flipside would be to find a secluded, scenic, quiet parcel in the mountains of northwestern Wyoming - I would gladly go there as well because I love the Rockies and at high enough elevation, 8-plus months of winter. (yes, there are locations in the Tetons region where it snows occasionally in June, July and August. Sign me up!

So very true, eadslee -- and it continued slipping from our hands over the decades to the point that, now, I believe it is long-ago too late. Which absolutely STINKS, IMNSHO. What a complete, unfettered shame. When I think of what Richmond COULD have been (and had SOOOO many opportunities to get herself there) compared with where she is now -- I feel sick. Totally heartbroken.

Why isn't this Richmond? My whole life, THIS is what I have wanted for Richmond. https://wdanielanderson.wordpress.com/2017/03/31/atlanta-now-big-city/

Dal, you actually made me literally LOL!! Well said!! Yeah, I think you're right. It's like beating a dead horse, unfortunately. I'll admit I just can't help it. It's not about being "right" or "standing correct" on a point -- its about the desire to see Richmond actually live up to her potential. Honestly, I feel I can't give up the fight -- because it's about increasingly feeling like I'll never live to see the day the Richmond FINALLY shakes the small-town mindset off and goes after -- and becomes -- the big city she can be. I get so riled up about it because I was there 50-plus years ago when all the talk about Richmond being the "next Atlanta" was floating around and it was SOOOO exciting to think of Richmond making it to the big time as a city. I've seen this same abominable movie over and over and over. I keep thinking - new generation, new mindset. And am sorely disappointed and let down every time. This mindset has been nothing short of an albatross around Richmond's neck, a millstone that has held her down. It's what turned away Piedmont and RIC as a major hub. It's part of what kept any number of potentially fantastic projects from ever getting past the "announced in the news" phase. Downtown could have been much much different with greater push toward progressive thinking, aggressive marketing and a loosening of shackles from those who pooh poohed density and vertical development. As you said, the amazing redirect that has happened in Scott's Addition and Manchester is nothing short of phenomenal. It's part of what has given me hope that Richmond is really taking off -- or about to. But as long as this constrictive -- and not constructive -- mindset holds sway over our fair city, she'll stay right where she has been mired for the past 50 years. Growth in fits and starts. We celebrate the small victories -- and get bypassed for the big ones that go elsewhere, to cities that weren't afraid of -- but embraced -- change.

My father managed a business in Scott's Addition for more than 40 years -- when I was a kid I used to look out of the window of his office (when I'd go hang out there in the summertime) at the old asphalt plant that was torn down to make way for the 8-story condo buildings that were completed between Roseneath and the I-195 offramp. That area had less than a snowball's chance of attracting ANY kind of residential development until just recently. Fully agreed -- if it can happen in Manchester, it can happen in the northeast corner of Downtown.

Jesus Christ, do I have to spell it out for you??? V-E-R-T-I-C-A-L Seriously, 200-300 people?? Yet again, the classic example of how/why Richmond can't think its way out of a paper bag when it comes to forward thinking. This has been firmly on display for the last 50-plus years. Downtown needs 20,000, 30,000 or more living right in the core. That's not an out-of-the-backside number -- scholars of urban planning (among them, professors I had at VCU -- I was a semester's worth of credits shy of a 2nd B.A. (Urban Planning) when I graduated in 1985) ... long were in agreement more than 35 years ago that downtown needed at least 20K residents to be viable. Put high-rise residential development along Broad, in "Navy Hill" - in Monroe Ward, City Center. Mix it all in. What you call a "residential wasteland" is only such simply because THERE IS NOTHING THERE .... YET! Downtown can -- and should -- be a tapestry, weaving and mixing in various components. Jackson Ward is long established -- certain elements of the CBD are established. The government center is established. But what of City Center? Broad? Monroe Ward? and yes "Navy Hill" -- not as a project or development but as -- you guessed it, a neighborhood? WHERE is it etched in stone by Divine inscription that a "neighborhood" MUST look something like the Fan or the Museum District or Jackson Ward or Church Hill? That's just more typical old-school Richmond poppycock! THINK ... OUT... SIDE ... THE ... BOX... Make it like (a mini) Manhattan - and yes, I would live there. In a New York minute! And please spare us the "hyperbole" BS. I'd like to hope EVERYONE is glad that someone is actually getting off their backside to put shovel to dirt and to try to make this city into something. Exactly!! Shouldn't private developers be mandated at gunpoint to pony up "X" amount of cash for the schools before the Planning Commission will even LOOK at a proposed development?

I disagree wholeheartedly. High-rise housing is a MUST for downtown in any/all parts. Particularly in the denser northeastern cities, housing is integrated into the urban fabric of the city center. Why would housing be a "horrible idea" in that part of town? Let's be real: the likelihood that there will ever again be an "entertainment center" for sports, concerts, etc., there is going the way of a snowball in the metaphorical Seventh Level. A big medical center is great there! Bigger the better! But why stop there? This is Richmond's problem -- either it's afraid to, doesn't want to, or has no freaking clue how to think outside the box!! What's outside the box? Dense, high-rise residential development included in an overall development plan for that corner of downtown would be one such example. The NH proposal included plans for high-rise development at SE corner of 4th and Broad (old G.C. Murphy site) and on the site of the shelved "City Center" proposal (which, BTW, was primarily residential). Residential buildings on BOTH plots would be IDEAL for downtown. If there is one thing that downtown is lacking, it's tall residential buildings right smack in the middle of downtown. Right there on Broad Street... Grace... Marshall... Richmond's problem with residential development isn't that there's too much residential space crowding out other potential development -- it's that there's little to NO residential development immediately downtown. What -- a handful of renovated buildings here and there? Jackson Ward? A line of high rises along West Franklin? One or two buildings close to the Riverfront ... and wipe our hands, call it a day? That's it?? Jesus... SMH

Agreed - perhaps a developer could schmooze CoStar into developing their own tower, whether near the Coliseum or closer in. I would like to see separate buildings, though, regarding a major hotel and a CoStar headquarters building -- in truth, the idea of a 23-25 story, 550-600 room Hyatt REGENCY is, IMNSHO, one of those "Holy Grail" items Richmond needs to aggressively go after. I love that spot right there at the Coliseum/Convention Center site. Who knows - perhaps the best outcome of the actual NH plan was not that the city actually build anything -- but that in pulling some heavy hitters together who aren't going to be swayed by the preservationist, anti-density nut-jobs, but rather who will look more holistically at developing a huge corner of downtown, is that the seeds were (FINALLY!!) planted. I don't know that projects like this were going to get done "organically" without some nudge -- and NH's proposal provided a more cohesive, big-picture approach. In which case, if the private sector can now see what the possibilities are, maybe -- just maybe -- we can start transforming that part of downtown into a viable urban neighborhood. "A stunningly quick reversal by the very same people who said the business community wouldn’t play ball in Richmond and nothing could happen there without the arena..." So? "Was the public safety building still being occupied by City staff? If so, the next domino will be a new building somewhere, hopefully that consolidates with social services as well, opening up the adjacent block for redevelopment." And you're saying you'd actually approve...

And she'll yell about the density. She'll say the building it "too tall" and should be scaled back to 4 or 5 stories.