The Tri-Cities Area

[calwinston]

The newest renovated lofts in Petersburg came online this week. The 'Lofts on Market' has incorporated green technology by putting solar panels on the roof to heat water. This is just one of the many loft apartment projects coming on the market in Petersburg, since the number of lofts to renovate in Richmond are becoming more scarcier.

http://progress-inde...online-1.742040

Edited April 29, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

This is a pretty dismal article about the town of Ettrick. Honestly this area of the county should have been redeveloped years ago and has been negelcted by county officials for decades. Seems like the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors is more worried about the more populated upscale northern part of the county!

Also Virginia State University officials should have been pushing for this years ago! Come on people!

http://progress-inde...meback-1.768437

Edited May 7, 2010 by calwinston

[burt]

Proposed 1,000-room hotel leaps final barrier.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/FLEEGAT10_20100510-131001/343470/

The 7-story Fort Lee facility, which may be ready in 2012, is "the largest operated by the Army's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command which provides lodging and vacation destinations around the globe for service members and their families."

The story is from a late edition of today's RTD.

[burt]

Here is another story with rendering from today's RTD about the proposed hotel at Ft. Lee.

I think the newspaper has an old caption under the rendering. It was originally announced as a 15-story building but was later revised to 7-stories.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/FLEE11_20100510-222806/343587/

[burt]

If finally approved Fort Lee's 1,000-room hotel on base will be reduced from 15 stories to seven thereby assuring the Tri-Cities area of Petersburg, Hopewell and Colonial Heights that it will not get its first skyscraper.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...-054801/312122/

This Associated Press Story story's by-line is today (May 11th 2010) but was published in the RTD on December 17th, 2009.

[calwinston]

This is a great article from the recent Virginia Buisness magazine about the productivity and population increase of the Tri-Cities Area! Jobs, Jobs, and more Jobs (primarily Fort Lee supplying most of them)

In addition to land for vendors, the Crosspointe complex will house a pair of research centers established in partnership with Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia: the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing and the Commonwealth Center for Aerospace Propulsion Systems. Chapline says such “centers of excellence” should help promote Virginia as a center of innovative research and development. She likens its potential impact to that of Research Triangle Park in Raleigh, N.C. “Having this in place will definitely attract capital investment and hopefully create jobs,” she says.

The only quirk I have is about the research park! Why not have any of the local universities anchor it also?! (ie Virginia State University -VCU)

http://www.virginiab...the-wow-factor/

Edited June 9, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

The city of Petersburg has stopped signing off checks to the contracting firm W.M. Schlosser for completing the Petersburg Transit Center. Workers have not been on the site lately and repeated calls to there office go unanswered!

Schlosser said he didn't know why the project was running behind and refrred further questions to the job foreman. The job foreman did not return calls by Monday afternoon.

Canada said that the city has tried to contact the contractor to find out when work might be completed but have yet to receive any response.

He added that until there is work progressing on the site or answers are provided to the city he will not be signing off any checks unless the city attorney informs him that he must.

My guess is the company is in trouble or took the cities money and ran! The Petersburg city attorneys office needs to do an investigation immediately! In the meantime they should look for a contractor to complete the work!

http://progress-index.com/news/city-stops-writing-checks-to-contractor-for-delayed-petersburg-station-1.835272

http://progress-index.com/news/city-stops-writing-checks-to-contractor-for-delayed-petersburg-station-1.835272

[burt]

The city of Petersburg has stopped signing off checks to the contracting firm W.M. Schlosser for completing the Petersburg Transit Center. Workers have not been on the site lately and repeated calls to there office go unanswered!

My guess is the company is in trouble or took the cities money and ran! The Petersburg city attorneys office needs to do an investigation immediately! In the meantime they should look for a contractor to complete the work!

http://progress-inde...tation-1.835272

http://progress-inde...tation-1.835272

I wish The Progress-Index had provided photos of the actual building as well as the traffic cones and walkways. I'd like to see what the facility looks like.it

[calwinston]

I wish The Progress-Index had provided photos of the actual building as well as the traffic cones and walkways. I'd like to see what the facility looks like.it

Here are some more pics Burt that I could find of the transit center! The city of Petersburg website(looks like it was put together 20 years ago) offers very little information about the transit center. Looks like busses have been rolling through since March 2010 while construction is still going on!

http://progress-inde...center-1.679442

I also thought I should put this quote from a press release put out by Congressman Randy J Forbes office back in 2005.

Service to regional retail and employment centers and inter-city bus service to Richmond will provide affordable transportation opportunities for an area that, according to the 2000 Census, had the highest percentage (21%) of residents without personal vehicular transportation.

This came as a big surprise to me!

Also I was looking at the PAT transit map and notice their is no local service into Colonial heights and Hopewell?!

http://www.petersbur...sit/routes2010/

Wendell Architects Renderings

Under Construction

http://www.wd-ae.com...PETERSBURG.aspx

Edited June 9, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

The Franklin Development Group seems to be the bulk of the development going down in Old Towne Petersburg!

Petersburg Development

http://www.franklindevelopmentgroup.net/main/#/2

Gallery of Past Developments

http://www.franklindevelopmentgroup.net/main/#/6/0

[burt]

The Franklin Development Group seems to be the bulk of the development going down in Old Towne Petersburg!

Petersburg Development

http://www.franklind...up.net/main/#/2

Gallery of Past Developments

http://www.franklind....net/main/#/6/0

Cal, both this and the entry above about Petersburg are great finds.

The Petersburg Station is more impressive than I had imagined.

Franklin Development Group has big plans for conversion of former warehouses in Petersburg and probably elsewhere.

In the Gallery of its web site(s) four and possibly five of the buildings pictured are in Richmond. I'm absolutely sure about photos #5, #7 and #20. And I'm pretty sure that picture #1 is the Sisson Building on North 18th Street in North Shockoe Bottom.

Thanks for sharing.

[calwinston]

This is a little late but since mainly our focus has been on Richmond we tend to forget what is going on down in the tri-cities which is a huge part of the metropolitan area.

The Butterworths building in Downtown Hopewell is finishing construction as we speak. The Grand opening will be held June 17, 2010!

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a development agreement between the city and developer Butterworth's Lofts LLC, a Richmond-based group that plans to restore the former Larkin Hotel at 245 E. Broadway St., most recently used by Butterworth's Furniture, and an adjacent warehouse and lot, built in 1916.The plan is to convert the building into 32 residential units and about 4,200 square feet of retail space. There will be 19 one-bedroom units and 13 two-bedroom units that will rent at $800 to $1,100 monthly.Amenities will include a landscaped and gated courtyard and a 2,500-square-foot second-floor terrace to be used by a prospective restaurant and a common area for tenants.The property is within walking distance of the new Hopewell branch of the Appomattox Regional Library System, the Beacon Theater, the city's government buildings, and several restaurants and shops.

John M. Altman Jr., assistant city manager for development, said the project is significant because it puts a vacant historical structure back in use. "It also puts people in downtown," he said. "Those individuals will eat at the restaurants and create a need for additional services. The residential component will help drive the retail and commercial component."

Construction started in March 2009!

http://www.butterworthlofts.com/

http://www.comarchs....utterworth.html

http://www2.timesdis...-221005/206907/

http://www.scribd.co...467/Butterworth

Grand Opening Celebration June 17, 2010

http://business.hpgc...s/butterworth-s

Here is also a list of all the developments going on that were proposed before January 1st, 2010.

http://progress-inde...r-2010-1.518904

Edited June 10, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

Some more good news out of Hopewell! Hopewell Lofts just opened this week to great fanfare! This is great in addition to Butterworth Lofts which will be opening next week. Thanks to Fort Lee many developers are sprouting out of the woodwork to get their piece of the pie! :shades:

http://www.hopewelln...icle_2709.shtml

http://hopewelllofts.com/

http://www2.timesdis...-204403/304338/

http://www.therichmo...Tri-Cities.html

Edited June 11, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

After many court battles and zoning issues being a past memory Osage Bio Energy $300 million dollar plant converting barley to ethanol is set to open up this July In Hopewell. This is the first plant of its kind on the east coast! The plant is creating 55-60 permanent jobs!

Richmond Times-Dispatch

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/OSAG10_20100509-205602/343342/

NBC-12

http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=11860771

http://www.osagebioenergy.com/

[calwinston]

I looked high and low for a rendering of the new Rolls-Royce Plant under construction in Prince George County! I finally found it! Sorry if its a little small!

http://www.amtonline...10395&pageNum=2

Edited June 15, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

A new Petersburg Main Library is expected to start construction this fall and be completed within one year at a cost 25% less than expected!

Progress-Index

http://progess-inde...pected-1.850942

To make a donation

http://petersburglib...foundation.org/

Spectacular Virtual Tour Video

http://petersburglib...tour/index.html

The Petersburg Public Library System has been headquartered at the 13,000- square-foot William R. McKenney Branch at 137 S. Sycamore Street since 1924, when Clara J. McKenney donated it for use as a city library in memory of her late husband, William R. McKenney. The library system has two other branches: the Rodof Sholom Branch at 1865 S. Sycamore Street and the A. P. Hill Branch at 1237 Halifax Street.In order to meet the needs of the city’s growing, diverse population and the challenges that come with increased program demands and new technologies, the Foundation has determined that a new, larger library facility must be secured. The new facility first and foremost will provide: much needed additional parking; increased security; larger spaces for collections, seating, computers, children’s programs, and public meeting rooms; community resources; and more efficient heating, cooling and lighting. Additionally, it was determined that with a new library facility, an enhanced partnership will be fostered with the Petersburg Public System, as well as civilian and military personnel at Fort Lee.

A new library facility will provide valuable resources and services needed for the citizens of Petersburg including educational support initiatives for accreditation of schools, literacy programs to ensure that all children meet mandated guidelines for reading proficiency and community support programs that foster growth and continual exposure to information within the global society.

The Foundation decided to take action now because of a fortuitous meeting of opportunity and need. Thanks to the generosity of former city councilman and Vice Mayor of Petersburg Larry Tucker, the Foundation was able to purchase property owned by Tucker at the corner of West Washington and Market streets worth $1.4 million for only $400,000. The approximately three-acre site is the former location of Petersburg Motors, owned by Tucker. It is currently serving as a temporary location for Crossroad Motors until they move to another location next year.

In order for the Foundation to take advantage of the gift, Petersburg City Council unanimously voted on September 19, 2006 to give the Foundation the necessary $400,000 to make the purchase.

The new library will now be 56,000 square feet. An estimated 37,000 square feet will be public space, including an auditorium large enough to seat several hundred people for city and community gatherings, as well as more than 100 parking spaces. Another 7,400 square feet will be dedicated to staff areas, and approximately 4,600 square feet will be dedicated to mechanical equipment. The remaining space will be set aside for future expansion and use. The present library facility on S. Sycamore Street is being considered for continued use in support of the new library, possibly as a location for specified collections.

http://petersburglib...n.org/about-us/

Edited June 17, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

'Butterworth Lofts in Hopewell are ready to rent'

The building, located on Broadway near the Maude Nelson Langhorne Library, originally opened as a hotel in 1915 before being bought by the Butterworth family to serve as a furniture store. Its latest transformation marks another step in the continued revitalization of downtown Hopewell. Abandoned for years, the city-owned building was chosen to be rehabbed into a series of 24 apartments, with development handled by Sensei Development and Monument Construction. It is the second apartment complex to open this month, preceded by the Hopewell Lofts, located in the old James E. Mallonee school building, which experienced similar reconstruction.

http://progress-inde...o-rent-1.852677

http://www.butterworthlofts.com/

The Tri-Cities is seeing a population boom not seen since the 1920's.

Edited June 18, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

After many court battles and zoning issues being a past memory Osage Bio Energy $300 million dollar plant converting barley to ethanol is set to open up this July In Hopewell. This is the first plant of its kind on the east coast! The plant is creating 55-60 permanent jobs!

Richmond Times-Dispatch

http://www2.timesdis...-205602/343342/

NBC-12

http://www.nbc12.com....asp?S=11860771

http://www.osagebioenergy.com/

Virginia see its largest barley crop since 1994

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/B-OSAG19_20100618-220602/352064/

[calwinston]

"VSU gets biggest grant ever, new name for business school"

Following the award of the largest financial gift to Virginia State University in the school's 128-year history, the Ettrick institution's business school will bear the name of a graduate who went on to become one of the world's leading African American entrepreneurs.The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation on Tuesday presented VSU's Board of Visitors with the first installment of a $1.5 million grant that will endow scholarships, student and faculty travel, and an academic achievement prize.

In recognition of the grant, VSU will rename its business school the Reginald F. Lewis School of Business.

Lewis was a 1965 VSU graduate. He attended the university on an athletic scholarship and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School. As a successful investor and entrepreneur, he became the first African American to build a billion-dollar company and was listed by Forbes magazine as one of the nation's 400 wealthiest people.

Lewis died suddenly in 1993 at the age of 50. He had started his charitable foundation in 1987, around the same time he engineered his biggest deal, a $985 million leveraged buyout of the international division of Beatrice Foods.

Beverly A. Cooper, vice president of the foundation, said Lewis had left behind a list of things he wanted to the foundation to do, and providing help to Virginia State was among those goals. "It has taken a while to get to this point, but it's better late than never," she said Tuesday.

Cooper noted that Lewis had made support of education a priority for the foundation from the beginning, and in particular that "he wanted to make sure we celebrated his life at the schools he attended" because they had made his success possible.

"I am just so happy that Reginald is going to be remembered here at this campus" and that students at VSU will be inspired by his example, Cooper said.

Lewis' mother, Carolyn Fugett, also hoped his example would be an inspiration for students to carry his principles forward in the business world. One of his guiding principles, she noted, was that "when you do for others, you get in return in so many ways."

The foundation wanted to make sure the grant was presented while current VSU President Eddie N. Moore Jr. is still in office. He is retiring effective today but said he has agreed to lead the effort to raise $1.5 million in matching funds needed to make all the improvements the university is seeking for the business school. In fact, Moore said, he has volunteered "to raise that money and even more - my goal is $5 million."

Moore, a member of the board of directors of Richmond-based tobacco firm Universal Corp., said the company had authorized him to make a bequest of up to $650,000 to VSU, and he will redirect $150,000 of that money to the Lewis endowment.

In addition, Moore said he is committing $150,000 from his estate to a grant challenging members of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, to which Lewis belonged, to match that amount.

The university also will be seeking federal funds to help meet the $1.5 million match amount.

The funds will be placed in an endowment, earnings on which will pay for student scholarships; student travel for academic pursuits; faculty travel and sabbatical support; and a prize to be awarded to a student at graduation who has achieved the highest level of academic performance from sophomore through senior year.

The business school is currently undergoing a major renovation and upgrade. The university recently announced that it has revamped its business curriculum to focus on technological participation and digital content, making it the first HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) in the country to move to a mainly digital delivery of core curriculum.

Moore, a member of the board of directors of Richmond-based tobacco firm Universal Corp., said the company had authorized him to make a bequest of up to $650,000 to VSU, and he will redirect $150,000 of that money to the Lewis endowment.

In addition, Moore said he is committing $150,000 from his estate to a grant challenging members of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, to which Lewis belonged, to match that amount.

The university also will be seeking federal funds to help meet the $1.5 million match amount.

The funds will be placed in an endowment, earnings on which will pay for student scholarships; student travel for academic pursuits; faculty travel and sabbatical support; and a prize to be awarded to a student at graduation who has achieved the highest level of academic performance from sophomore through senior year.

The business school is currently undergoing a major renovation and upgrade. The university recently announced that it has revamped its business curriculum to focus on technological participation and digital content, making it the first HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) in the country to move to a mainly digital delivery of core curriculum.

http://progress-index.com/videopopup.jsp?playerid=21821735001&bctid=105734296001&name=VSU Accepts $1.5 Million Grant

http://progress-inde...school-1.870198

Edited June 30, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

When does raising the speed limit from 65 to 70 mph require a press conference on the highway??Only in Virginia!

http://progress-index.com/news/speed-limit-on-interstate-295-raised-to-70-mph-1.874379

[calwinston]

The Franklin Development Group is starting the second phase of the Brown&Williamson Cigarette Factory conversion to loft apartments, retail, and office space. A Honeywell Research Lab and PACE program senior center will lease the second phase commercial space.

http://progress-inde...actory-1.881506

http://www.allbusine...14596265-1.html

http://www.franklindevelopmentgroup.net/main/#/2

Edited July 8, 2010 by calwinston

[calwinston]

More jobs coming to the Tri-Cities!

Praxair Inc is building a plant in Hopwell to capture and purify carbon dioxide from the new Osage Bio-Energy Plant for freezing food, making carbonation and extracting natural gas from the ground.

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/praxair-to-create-gases-operation-in-hopewell/252956/

http://progress-index.com/news/new-15-million-plant-to-be-built-in-hopewell-1.888391

[Shakman]

More jobs coming to the Tri-Cities!

Praxair Inc is building a plant in Hopwell to capture and purify carbon dioxide from the new Osage Bio-Energy Plant for freezing food, making carbonation and extracting natural gas from the ground.

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/praxair-to-create-gases-operation-in-hopewell/252956/

http://progress-index.com/news/new-15-million-plant-to-be-built-in-hopewell-1.888391

All those plants make for a wonder skyline for Hopewell. Literally.

[calwinston]

More development news out of the tri-cities! This time its Colonial Heights city council which approved a special use permit for the redevelopment of a apartment complex into mixed use.

http://progress-index.com/news/council-votes-on-new-development-1.889406

[burt]

A serious fire, still smoldering at this moment, has heavily damaged the Brown & Williamson factory at Wythe and Perry Streets in downtown Petersburg. The building has been undergoing conversion to residential uses.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2010/jul/17/old-brown-and-williamson-tobacco-factory-burns-pet-ar-317422/