Manchester Development

[wrldcoupe4]

21 minutes ago, I miss RVA said:

Is there any kind of standardization in a situation where you have two or more developers all building out their own city blocks within immediate proximity of each other? So technically, the quality, style,design, etc., of sidewalk and the style and make of street lighting could theoretically change block-to-block if you had developers building adjacent blocks?

 

I hope the city sets standards but it doesn’t always seem like it’s the case. It’s low hanging fruit, of which there are many at city hall. 

[I miss RVA]

24 minutes ago, Jordon said:

Agreed, IMO anything built near Commerce rd should push for taller heaights.

Fully agreed! 

[skinsfan]

Maybe it’s seven floors above sea level. Ha

[whw53]

Venture Richmond used to put out a downtown development guide every year. Been a few years since they've done so but i see that have a new one up covering 2019-2022. We know just about everything in there more or less. What is big news to me is that this document is saying South Falls site is set for 2 more towers - the 14 story South Falls II we've been tracking (this is the first rendering of that i've seen ) but also a 12 story South Falls III. Also new renderings of Tidewater, Rocketts Block 8, The Box. 1114 Hull should break ground this year according to this as well - plz and thank you.

https://venturerichmond.com/about-us/reports/2022-downtown-richmond-development-guide/

 

Edited January 2, 2022 by whw53

[upzoningisgood]

Great find

[eandslee]

49 minutes ago, whw53 said:

Venture Richmond used to put out a downtown development guide every year. Been a few years since they've done so but i see that have a new one up covering 2019-2022. We know just about everything in there more or less. What is big news to me is that this document is saying South Falls site is set for 2 more towers - the 14 story South Falls II we've been tracking (this is the first rendering of that i've seen ) but also a 12 story South Falls III. Also new renderings of Tidewater, Rocketts Block 8, The Box. 1114 Hull should break ground this year according to this as well - plz and thank you.

https://venturerichmond.com/about-us/reports/2022-downtown-richmond-development-guide/

 

An awesome find!  Thanks for posting.  I used to love to watch the Downtown Development Forum they used to do and post on YouTube.  I always wondered why they stopped doing it.  This document is the next best thing, I guess.  Thanks again!

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, whw53 said:

Venture Richmond used to put out a downtown development guide every year. Been a few years since they've done so but i see that have a new one up covering 2019-2022. We know just about everything in there more or less. What is big news to me is that this document is saying South Falls site is set for 2 more towers - the 14 story South Falls II we've been tracking (this is the first rendering of that i've seen ) but also a 12 story South Falls III. Also new renderings of Tidewater, Rocketts Block 8, The Box. 1114 Hull should break ground this year according to this as well - plz and thank you.

https://venturerichmond.com/about-us/reports/2022-downtown-richmond-development-guide/

 

Could this be what one of our most senior (not referencing age) in-the-know gurus has been alluding to for quite some time about being quite happy with forthcoming Manchester developments?  Inquiring minds want to know! 

Now if all of this is, in fact, true - in the works and on the verge of coming to pass, then this is epic! What a blindside surprise (of the best kind!!) to learn of a THIRD South Falls tower -- AND -- if you'll notice, it's being described as a CONDOMINIUM tower -- which would definitely break new ground for central Richmond.

I'm blown away that BOTH SF II and SF III are (according to the Venture Richmond publication) are listed as breaking ground this year (2022). 

ALSO listed to break ground this year:

Block D -- and NOTICE that it's STILL being listed as a 20-story mixed-use tower. 

Bakery Lofts -- I'm hoping that one will indeed get underway this year!

RIVER'S EDGE II -- I wonder if this Venture Richmond publication was put together too late to account for the fact that the property is up for sale? They're listing this project as breaking ground this year. I'm thinking this isn't happening unless they know something about the property sale that we don't.

INTERESTING ABSENCES: The Admiral in Jackson Ward -- interesting that it didn't make the roster.  Pinecrest: site work already underway there - so it's quite curious that this tower didn't make the roster. Also - nothing about Scott's Addition (I realize SA isn't downtown -- but with all the development going on there, I'm surprised there wasn't some kind of mention).

Edited January 3, 2022 by I miss RVA

[upzoningisgood]

I didn't know there was going to be an Overlook II in Manchester. Did they announce that and I missed it?

[I miss RVA]

Something to keep in mind:  If ALL of these projects (South Falls 2, South Falls 3, Bakery Lofts, Block D) -- AS WELL AS -- the Admiral (2nd & E. Marshall) and the Pinecrest (321 W. Grace) get underway in 2022 -- AND -- CoStar's huge downtown riverfront headquarters building -- we will see a LOT - and I do mean a LOT of cranes (boom, baby-boom, crawler or otherwise) rising & towering over the city in the next 18-24 months!

Guys - it's like Christmas came early with CoStar ... and the gifts keep coming (and we're still within the 12 Days of Christmas!!) with TWO new South Falls towers! WHO KNEW there was a South Falls 3 in the works?

Edited January 3, 2022 by I miss RVA

[eandslee]

35 minutes ago, I miss RVA said:

Something to keep in mind:  If ALL of these projects (South Falls 2, South Falls 3, Bakery Lofts, Block D) -- AS WELL AS -- the Admiral (2nd & E. Marshall) and the Pinecrest (321 W. Grace) get underway in 2022 -- AND -- CoStar's huge downtown riverfront headquarters building -- we will see a LOT - and I do mean a LOT of cranes (boom, baby-boom, crawler or otherwise) rising & towering over the city in the next 18-24 months!

Guys - it's like Christmas came early with CoStar ... and the gifts keep coming (and we're still within the 12 Days of Christmas!!) with TWO new South Falls towers! WHO KNEW there was a South Falls 3 in the works?

Don't forget the silo development in Manchester as well!  That one should be a good one needing a crane since the property is zoned for up to 20 stories.  We shall see the details of this one, hopefully, very soon.

Oh, and the office towers that will house the Monroe Tower workers.  I think one of the buildings will be 13 stories.

Edited January 3, 2022 by eandslee

[I miss RVA]

2 hours ago, eandslee said:

Don't forget the silo development in Manchester as well!  That one should be a good one needing a crane since the property is zoned for up to 20 stories.  We shall see the details of this one, hopefully, very soon.

Oh, and the office towers that will house the Monroe Tower workers.  I think one of the buildings will be 13 stories.

When is the new state office building (7th & Main) slated to be constructed? Was that funded yet by the state or was that a budget item for the new session of the General Assembly? I don't recall if the state said it would actually get started in 2022 or 2023.

The Silos development should be interesting - but so far there's been nothing firm (no "actual" renderings like those for the two new South Falls towers -- only the VERY speculative prelim we saw last year). Hopefully that'll be a 20-story building - but is there any indication we'll actually see ground broken within the year? From the prospective standpoint, we should also include the suggested (can we call it proposed yet?) development for 200 Commerce Road - that one could be upwards of 16 stories and could actually have a pretty big footprint (enough to at least spark DISCUSSION of a (much needed, long-desired) grocery store.

Wow - even just considering the Silos, then THREE South Falls towers - just that stretch of the Manchester riverfront (near the 14th Street Bridge) alone will be VERY robust!

Edited January 3, 2022 by I miss RVA

[ancientcarpenter]

10 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

When is the new state office building (7th & Main) slated to be constructed? Was that funded yet by the state or was that a budget item for the new session of the General Assembly? I don't recall if the state said it would actually get started in 2022 or 2023.

The Silos development should be interesting - but so far there's been nothing firm (no "actual" renderings like those for the two new South Falls towers -- only the VERY speculative prelim we saw last year). Hopefully that'll be a 20-story building - but is there any indication we'll actually see ground broken within the year? From the prospective standpoint, we should also include the suggested (can we call it proposed yet?) development for 200 Commerce Road - that one could be upwards of 16 stories and could actually have a pretty big footprint (enough to at least spark DISCUSSION of a (much needed, long-desired) grocery store.

Wow - even just considering the Silos, then THREE South Falls towers - just that stretch of the Manchester riverfront (near the 14th Street Bridge) alone will be VERY robust!

 

I have to admit, I've been rather confused by the South Falls Towers dev (hopefully someone is updating the RVA Dev Map? I haven't checked it in a bit) but if it comes to fruition it will be very interesting to drive into RVA (south to north) on the highway and see the "city" and the apartments across the water. It will feel and look very cool. 

[DowntownCoruscant]

10 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

When is the new state office building (7th & Main) slated to be constructed? Was that funded yet by the state or was that a budget item for the new session of the General Assembly? I don't recall if the state said it would actually get started in 2022 or 2023.

My understanding- and I could very well be wrong- is that this piece hasn’t been appropriated yet.

[eandslee]

The South Falls plans become a bit more clear in this morning’s RBS.  Perhaps our discussions here prompted Mike Platania’s article.  Thanks for listening and digging for more clarity Mike (if you’re reading):

https://richmondbizsense.com/2022/01/05/developers-plan-next-phases-of-riverfront-residential-towers-in-manchester/

South Falls II breaking ground Spring of this year!

Edited January 5, 2022 by eandslee

[wrldcoupe4]

Tom Papa being super candid about South Falls III.

[DowntownCoruscant]

Loud and clear, Papa. I went to my share of condo board meetings before my wife and I sold. I have NO desire to go to another.

[I miss RVA]

Well... ya can't blame me for hoping they stay the course and built it!  I start getting worried now when the site of proposed and designed towers start  going up for sale so that "someone else can build it". This is becoming a bit of an uncomfortable trend in Manchester (witness Port RVA II @ 512 Hull Street and River's Edge II -- which is QUITE near to the South Falls III site -- just a little ways farther west along the Manchester riverfront). I don't like it at all. Let's just build the damn towers and move on, shall we?

My feeling on this parallels the therapist in the really funny Progressive homeowners insurance commercial -- when he take a group of young homeowners ("who have become their parents") to an NFL game and one asks (as they're walking toward the stadium) "are we still thinking of heading out around the third quarter?" -- the therapist responds -- "let's not talk about leaving before we're actually at the game."

 

 

Edited January 5, 2022 by I miss RVA

[wrldcoupe4]

A few project photo updates in Manchester:

Tidewater

The Commodore

The Current - this one looks really good in person. 

Hydro and the soon to be replace silo. 

The Box

[I miss RVA]

Thanks so much for taking and posting these, Coupe. It's AMAZING to see this!! Ahhh... ye ole city, she's a-changin' right before our very eyes!

And it's a thing of beauty to watch!

Here's hoping all that new development will get us some REAL utility poles and nice lighting fixtures (not to mention better sidewalks) in that part of Manchester and rid us of the schlocky looking, cheap (I know - inexpensive), wooden telephone poles. UGH... Time to ACT like a real city by LOOKING like a real city, dammit!! 

Edited January 17, 2022 by I miss RVA

[whw53]

Renderings for the revised and downsized Five50 project to be at 512 Hull. Plans have been conditionally approved.

 

[I miss RVA]

I can't say I'm happy about this -- because frankly, I'm not, all things considered. But it is nice looking, I will say that.

Tbh, I have the same level of disappointment about this project as I had when the gorgeous 21-story Locks at 321 fell through and was replaced by the boxy-looking 12-story apartment building -- or when the Centennial Towers plans on E. Main Street downtown vaporized and now on the site sits are five-story apartment building that I believe bears the "Centennial" name (I might be wrong about the naming)...

Nothing against this building at 512 Hull - it's really nice looking and tbh, if it were developed on a different block, I'd be celebrating. But we lost a 12-story building that certainly won't come back in my lifetime. I honestly am profoundly disappointed, even though - yes - I would rather have this nice looking apartment building than a vacant lot.

It also occurred to me -- this building's footprint appears to have shrunk to less than half the size of the footprint of its earlier iteration -- and it's keeping SURFACE PARKING. Jesus... this wasn't just lopping off the tower portion and knocking it down to five stories. By how many units did this building shrink? I'm they pared this building back by, what, maybe 70% from the original? 

What happened???

Edited February 7, 2022 by I miss RVA

[Icetera]

12 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

when the Centennial Towers plans on e. Main Street downtown vaporized and now on the site sits are five-story apartment building that I believe bears the "Centennial" name (I might be wrong about the naming)...

You are correct, Centennial Terrace.  If I recall the name was a reference to the renovated building on the corner that was part of the project, but I forgot where it came from specifically.  It is also 6 floors, so one closer to the 30-some original plan!

Ah, the old building was named "The Centennial."  Having been built in 1906 I cannot think of any significant event in 1806 for it to earn the name.

[DowntownCoruscant]

I drove through Manchester this morning with my wife because both of us had an hour to kill. All the construction is impressive. There are three blocks on 7th (I believe) that are straight up construction. The area is really taking shape - at least a new shape.

Incidentally, here’s a recommendation for Cafe Zata, located just off Bainbridge (where my wife’s dad grew up way back in the 1920s). We had breakfast there. Husband-and-wife run operation. Nice, friendly service.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Interesting news break from BizSense this morning:

Chipotle is opening in City View Marketplace.

https://richmondbizsense.com/2022/02/08/manchester-is-getting-a-chipotle/

That might seem like passive enough news, but I see it as a game changer, these types of chains establishing a presence in the market generally indicates shifting attitudes in retail investment towards a growing market, it's like when Newtowne West/Alison got a Whole Foods. Or when Carytown got a West Elm. While chain stores themselves aren't necessarily a good thing, that shift it represents definitely is. Shows that there's pent up demand for retail. And gradually, those first few chains are the initial domino in a long row to destination retail (can only dream downtown gets an Apple Store or something ... maybe in this lifetime).

 

And if nothing else, we are at least that much closer to getting a grocery store. One Chipotle, West Elm, whatever, at a time.

Edited February 8, 2022 by RVA-Is-The-Best

[Shakman]

I say let them all come so we can have more choices; especially healthy choices.  Let the consumers dictate who stays and who goes.

Edited February 8, 2022 by Shakman