VCU Developments

[RiverYuppy]

A few pictures of the old Franklin Street Gym demolition underway.

 

[Brent114]

I’m having a hard time counting floors but I think there’s just one more floor to go. 
 

 

[I miss RVA]

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?

[eandslee]

2 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

Regarding the planned 20-story building (and the adjacent new buildings) - has anyone seen a time-table for that project?

This is exactly my question as well.  City Council must approve it (not sure if the Planning Commission needs a say as well), but I’ve heard nothing that they’re even talking about it. 

[wrldcoupe4]

Well, it was an unsolicited offer for City owned property. If they decide to engage, the City will issue an RFP for the sale of the property for other bidders.  Then the City would have to select a buyer and negotiate a purchase agreement, go before Council, etc. So my guess on timeline is... never?

Edited May 14, 2020 by wrldcoupe4

[eandslee]

3 hours ago, wrldcoupe4 said:

Well, it was an unsolicited offer for City owned property. If they decide to engage, the City will issue an RFP for the sale of the property for other bidders.  Then the City would have to select a buyer and negotiate a purchase agreement, go before Council, etc. So my guess on timeline is... never?

I laughed and then the next second cried because you are probably right...unfortunately. 

[Shakman]

Don't forget, part of the process will be to hire a third party consultant to study this matter.   

...which will result in the consultant's findings being completely ignored by the City.

[I miss RVA]

18 hours ago, eandslee said:

I laughed and then the next second cried because you are probably right...unfortunately. 

Yep - same here.

3 hours ago, Shakman said:

Don't forget, part of the process will be to hire a third party consultant to study this matter.   

...which will result in the consultant's findings being completely ignored by the City.

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)

[wrldcoupe4]

Saw this on LinkedIn today

 

[Shakman]

While looking at the VCU Outpatient webcam, I noticed a temporary facade extending up the south elevation of the tower along East Leigh Street.  This is in addition to the temporary facade previously discussed.

Steel is also starting to rise from the top of the existing Children's Hospital.

Edited June 23, 2020 by Shakman

[eandslee]

I noticed the same things today!  Excellent! It’s great to see these projects coming together. 

[rjp212]

There is construction fencing around the townhomes behind the Cary St gym.  Anyone know what is going on there?  I didn't see anything doing a google search, or on the RVA development map.

[Richmonder23]

Some pictures from the ground level of the VCU Outpatient building and the Children's hospital.

 

 

[wrldcoupe4]

Lots of density going up!

[I miss RVA]

Boy oh boy, it's looking good! Now imagine if that entire city block re-develop on the west side of 10th St. comes to pass - and a 20-story tower sits on Leigh stretching from 9th to 10th... oh my goodness... plus all the (albeit shorter) densely packed-in development over the rest of that block. Holy moly, this section of downtown in changing quickly. I vividly remember where there was this little rinky-dink Trailways Bus station that used to sit on Broad Street on the current site of the (now-expanding!!!) Children's Hospital. Just phenomenal to see Richmond starting to really grow up.

What I think impresses me the most about all of this: all of these kinds of projects -- this stuff downtown, plus all the residential buildings in Scott's Addition and over in Manchester and a completely new urban neighorhood in Fulton ... plus countless other fairly sizable projects all across the city in various neighborhoods... are all rising AT THE SAME TIME. In my lifetime, it's something honestly that is unprecedented for Richmond. I know this roll has been going on for a few years... but it is fantastic to see project after project after project go up, more be proposed and get built as the earlier ones wrap up. This is the kind of stuff common to other cities. Charlotte... Atlanta... here in Chicago... But Richmond? Not for as far back as I can remember. To have downtown continuing to go vertical, to have Scott's Addition and Manchester both booming simultaneously, to have Rocketts/Fulton Bottom exploding into an entirely new urban neighborhood (and I'm old enough to vaguely remember what Fulton looked like before EVERYTHING got razed to the ground in the spirit of "urban renewal" 50-plus years ago ... it was a down-at-the-heel slum, plain and simple) ... to have VCU's main campus area explode the way it has (and continues to do), to have the wonderfully progressive Richmond 300 Plan in house - something the city has never had to such a level... WOW!!

It almost feels like Richmond is being re-built en masse with SO many projects happening at the same time in so many different parts of the city... and so many more on the way. It's a holistic re-build that other major cities have all gone through for great lengths of time. Maybe now - finally - it's Richmond's turn! It's super exciting! We MUST keep this momentum rolling.

If we can keep this kind of growth apace (and maybe even increase the pace!!!) - can you imagine Richmond in only 10 years? Or 20? Or 30? Holy WOW!

Edited July 30, 2020 by I miss RVA

[Hike]

Losing one today.  

[I miss RVA]

It's just as exciting when the cranes start being disassembled - just knowing a new highrise is almost complete is as enjoyable as watching them being built. You have to figure that the completion of one project is simply the herald for the beginning of another. Here's hoping the next great downtown highrise project gets underway soon. Perhaps the block across 10th street?? (here's hoping!!) That's the next logical place. Or the apartment tower in Monroe Ward -- and the Monroe Ward site wouldn't require any pre-existing building demolation. Literally put up the construction fence and begin digging.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

The most consequential ones (in terms of proposed and currently anticipated) imo would be the Monroe Ward site, followed by the General Services Building site next to this one where VCU/Doorways/McDonald House is proposing 2 mid-rises+ 1 high-rise. Those would be the most impactful on the skyline I would think.

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, RVA-Is-The-Best said:

The most consequential ones (in terms of proposed and currently anticipated) imo would be the Monroe Ward site, followed by the General Services Building site next to this one where VCU/Doorways/McDonald House is proposing 2 mid-rises+ 1 high-rise. Those would be the most impactful on the skyline I would think.

For downtown, absolutely. I'll admit - I'm greedy. I want all of 'em going up at the same time (including the one in Scott's Addition and the two in Manchester). 

[Hike]

side x side

 

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, Hike said:

side x side

 

Very beefy building! It does the northern part of the downtown skyline proud!

[Brent114]

It certainly makes the previously “big” buildings north of Broad  look pretty small. 

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, Brent114 said:

It certainly makes the previously “big” buildings north of Broad  look pretty small. 

Fantastic shot! Imagine if that 20-story tower is built (across 10th St. along Leigh - in this pic it would be to the right of the Outpatient Hospital building.

[Hike]

VCU Outpatient Hospital from Hourigan's Facebook page, their view of the take down.

[I miss RVA]

Spectacular photo!! What's most impressive about it is actually what's going on in the background. Gives us a very good overall look at the progress on the Children's Hospital and General Assembly building construction. When both buildings reach their full height, this section of downtown will definitely have quite a bit more muscle. Imagine if the 20-story tower (and the rest of the high-density development) were to rise soon on the block immediately west of the Outpatient Hospital. And what is the 4-story rectangular brown-brick building along 10th street (lower right-hand corner of the photo) just north of the Children's Hospital construction? Obviously a VCU-owned structure (I would imagine) - wondering if perhaps it might one day be torn down and replaced with something 15-18 stories tall (perhaps another in the ever-expanding series of hospital buildings)?

Doesn't the VCU master plan actually call for building another relatively large (15+ stories) building EAST of the new Outpatient hospitial? I recall seeing something about the School of Dentistry needing a new building - and another large-scale building to rise at some point on the eastern edge of the medical campus.