Manchester Development

[wrldcoupe4]

Affordable housing doesn’t need to look like a prison. 

[Brent114]

This doesn’t look like a prison.  
It looks like the building across the street at Bainbridge and Commerce and the building on the right when you cross the Lee Bridge into Manchester.  
 

There will be trees and street lights (not pictured) that will soften and ground it. 

 

Edited September 19, 2023 by Brent114

[I miss RVA]

Let's also hope that the architectural "ugly duckling" rule applies - what may be an ugly duckling on paper (or on a computer screen) turns out maybe not to be a beautiful swan in brick and mortar - but at least fairly nice looking. We see this kind of thing happen quite frequently - so - perhaps once it's built, it'll look quite a bit better than the renderings show.

[I miss RVA]

Can't remember the last we've had on this, but the city planning commission recommended approval for Oak Grove Partners proposed $45 million redevelopment of the site of the long-shuttered Oak Grove Elementary School at 2200 Ingram Avenue in Oak Grove. The measure goes before Richmond City Council for the approval vote on September 25th. The proposal is for up to 250 multi-family units and 15 single-family attached or multi-family units (not sure about the language - I'm guessing they're leaving the rowhouse portion open-ended.) Some new renderings as well (below).

From WRIC-TV8 News:

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/neighborhood-groups-divided-on-45m-project-to-replace-oak-grove-elementary-school/

City's website to follow all that has been filed so far:

https://richmondva.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6339705&GUID=97DAD29E-32BB-49CB-B0D4-E53143784567&Options=&Search=

RENDERINGS:

Edited September 21, 2023 by I miss RVA

[Brent114]

This one is starting to have quite the presence.  The multicolored finishes make it appear larger than it did when it was just papered  in Tyvec. 
 

 

[eandslee]

28 minutes ago, Brent114 said:

This one is starting to have quite the presence.  The multicolored finishes make it appear larger than it did when it was just papered  in Tyvec. 
 

 

These photos are GREAT!  Thanks for posting. What is the name of this development again?  I can’t keep them all straight in my head. 

[I miss RVA]

22 hours ago, Brent114 said:

This one is starting to have quite the presence.  The multicolored finishes make it appear larger than it did when it was just papered  in Tyvec. 
 

 

Fantastic photos, my friend!! Hmmm... methinks you're in line now for yet another piece of RVA/UP silver hardware for this week. Well done!

This building has tremendous street presence. That third picture with South Falls I in the distance - man - this ain't our grandparents' Richmond anymore. 

Edited October 13, 2023 by I miss RVA

[whw53]

This project has had like 4 names - I think they settled on (in an ode to war of 1812 naval captains for which Manchester gets its street names)  ....'The Navigator'. 

 

https://www.hourigan.group/project/the-navigator/

[I miss RVA]

8 minutes ago, whw53 said:

This project has had like 4 names - I think they settled on (in an ode to war of 1812 naval captains for which Manchester gets its street names)  ....'The Navigator'. 

 

https://www.hourigan.group/project/the-navigator/

Man, their construction photo gallery is pretty robust, even though it's rather dated. 

Now - if only we can get them (Hourigan) moving forward on the Silos project! 

[blopp1234]

Seems that Legend Brewing is looking to rezone their property to B-4. 
 

This move while preemptive, sets the tone for this parcel to become something taller and more productive than the current 1 story brewery. 
 

Should be interesting to see how this plays out and how long Legend plans to continue operating in their current building before redevelopment eventually happens.

 

https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/10/30/legend-brewing-files-to-rezone-its-manchester-property-but-says-a-move-isnt-imminent/

Edited October 30, 2023 by blopp1234

[BigBobbyG]

I still think they missed a major opportunity not trying to work with Avery Hall on that adjacent project. They are already known for their view, imagine how much better that view would be if they opened a brewpub on the 18th floor. But that's what you get for sticking your head in the sand and trying to keep things in the past I suppose.

[I miss RVA]

3 hours ago, blopp1234 said:

Seems that Legend Brewing is looking to redone their property to B-7. 
 

This move while preemptive, sets the tone for this parcel to become something taller and more productive than the current 1 story brewery. 
 

Should be interesting to see how this plays out and how long Legend plans to continue operating in their current building before redevelopment eventually happens.

 

https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/10/30/legend-brewing-files-to-rezone-its-manchester-property-but-says-a-move-isnt-imminent/

One slight correction: Legends is looking to rezone from B-7 to B-4.

From @RVABizSenseMike's reporting:

The brewery is seeking to rezone its property to B-4 Central Business District, which allows for a mix of uses and does not have a height restriction. Legend’s land is currently zoned B-7, which caps building height at five stories. 

Holy... moly... B-4!! THIS is a real shocker, given the source. And @blopp1234, to your point - you are spot on! We very well COULD see something of significant size go there if that block gets upzoned to B-4. Holy moly.

Let's see how much pushback comes from Manchester Alliance et al who are going to kvetch about the usual stuff they kvetch about when protesting any new development - particularly anything of any significant size.

Friends - if this is approved, this is really huge. Is this tantamount to Legends finally "seeing the light" and "getting onboard the train"? Wondering if (even though they say they're not going anywhere) if they've received some rather lucrative offers to buy the property from developers who want to build something even taller than Avery Hall's towers?

Edited October 30, 2023 by I miss RVA

[eandslee]

33 minutes ago, I miss RVA said:

One slight correction: Legends is looking to rezone from B-7 to B-4.

From @RVABizSenseMike's reporting:

The brewery is seeking to rezone its property to B-4 Central Business District, which allows for a mix of uses and does not have a height restriction. Legend’s land is currently zoned B-7, which caps building height at five stories. 

Holy... moly... B-4!! THIS is a real shocker, given the source. And @blopp1234, to your point - you are spot on! We very well COULD see something of significant size go there if that block gets upzoned to B-4. Holy moly.

Let's see how much pushback comes from Manchester Alliance et al who are going to kvetch about the usual stuff they kvetch about when protesting any new development - particularly anything of any significant size.

Friends - if this is approved, this is really huge. Is this tantamount to Legends finally "seeing the light" and "getting onboard the train"? Wondering if (even though they say they're not going anywhere) if they've received some rather lucrative offers to buy the property from developers who want to build something even taller than Avery Hall's towers?

You’d have to build taller than Avery Hall’s towers on Legend’s land or else you won’t get any view of the skyline!  

[I miss RVA]

3 minutes ago, eandslee said:

You’d have to build taller than Avery Hall’s towers on Legend’s land or else you won’t get any view of the skyline!  

'Zactly!!! Really makes me wonder what kinds of offers Legends has been fielding recently.

[whw53]

this guy's a joke. epicenter of opposition to adjacent development projects for years and now decides all of sudden to focus on his own tract and to go big. still won't touch a legends  beer over his gate keeping posture to development.  need to go back and find some of his quotes, man what a piece of work. 

Edited October 30, 2023 by whw53

[I miss RVA]

18 minutes ago, whw53 said:

this guy's a joke. epicenter of opposition to adjacent development projects for years and now decides all of sudden to focus on his own tract and to go big. still won't touch a legends  beer over his gate keeping posture to development.  need to go back and find some of his quotes, man what a piece of work. 

Money talks, my man. Guarantee you some deep-pocketed, likely out-of-state developers have approached him and have been waving around a mint full of Benjamins, particularly if they (the developers) could buy the property already pre-zoned to B-4 to clear any hurdles for something of significant size that could potentially get built there.

[ancientcarpenter]

On 10/30/2023 at 1:49 PM, I miss RVA said:

Money talks, my man. Guarantee you some deep-pocketed, likely out-of-state developers have approached him and have been waving around a mint full of Benjamins, particularly if they (the developers) could buy the property already pre-zoned to B-4 to clear any hurdles for something of significant size that could potentially get built there.

This is interesting. I have a *conspiracy* theory on this:

We all know the Legends owner was not arguing in good faith against Avery development... but it looks like *conspiracy hat* that maybe we was doing everything in his power to make sure Avery gave him/Legends brewing the "classic view everyone knows and loves for our small business!" under the disguise of good ole' fashion brewery so that he can size up a better deal for his land to a prospect developer and say "look, I know there is a giant Avery development right in front but most of the view of the city is still available due to my strong negotiating position with Avery." 

We all know Avery development went out of their way to appease Legends... even sacrificing their design so that Legends can still have a view to accommodate the owner. 

I'm sure the owner's best wish was to have Avery never built but looks like he may have been saving his view for a sale of the land to a bidder, not for Legends ole' good time classic skyline view of the city. 

Ironic that the guy who argued against height in manchester is now petitioning to go from b7 to unlimited height b4. I hope the city just quotes him in their rejection response: "We would love to permit this petition but you said this type of height would ruin the historic and culture of Manchester. We're going to have to side with old Legends, not new Legends, point of view. Rejected!"

Edited November 2, 2023 by ancientcarpenter

[upzoningisgood]

It’s easier to sell a parcel starting with  good zoning, especially in this environment. If planning and council are pro-development right now, and by national standards they are (even if Council could always stand to be moreso), then you might as well take advantage while you can. 

[I miss RVA]

5 hours ago, ancientcarpenter said:

This is interesting. I have a *conspiracy* theory on this:

We all know the Legends owner was not arguing in good faith against Avery development... but it looks like *conspiracy hat* that maybe we was doing everything in his power to make sure Avery gave him/Legends brewing the "classic view everyone knows and loves for our small business!" under the disguise of good ole' fashion brewery so that he can size up a better deal for his land to a prospect developer and say "look, I know there is a giant Avery development right in front but most of the view of the city is still available due to my strong negotiating position with Avery." 

We all know Avery development went out of their way to appease Legends... even sacrificing their design so that Legends can still have a view to accommodate the owner. 

I'm sure the owner's best wish was to have Avery never built but looks like he may have been saving his view for a sale of the land to a bidder, not for Legends ole' good time classic skyline view of the city. 

Ironic that the guy who argued against height in manchester is now petitioning to go from b7 to unlimited height b4. I hope the city just quotes him in their rejection response: "We would love to permit this petition but you said this type of height would ruin the historic and culture of Manchester. We're going to have to side with old Legends, not new Legends, point of view. Rejected!"

Love it! 

In all seriousness, making THAT kind of a jump - B-7 to B-4 - says to me he's already entertaining offers and wants to get this property ready to roll for a developer who's going to drop some SERIOUS coin to snag it. Manchester is still red hot - and I can SO see a big-time developer from (pick your city) coming in, dropping a kings ransom on the parcel to build something pretty darn big. The parcel is big enough that setbacks would be easy to be baked into any building design - which means it could reach plenty of height. 

Allllllll is very interesting... 

Oh - and to @upzoningisgood-- while the city has obviously been pushing TOD-1 zoning all over the place (often at the request of property owners or developers), they've zoned a handful of surprise locations - ironically - in Manchester as B-4. Probably the most notable would be Hourigan's parcel at the Silos - I believe they secured the rezoning at least a year ago. I remember it passing without any issue.

That said - getting this parcel upzoned to B-4 isn't something unprecedented for Manchester and, as you said, the city by-and-large, from the planning department to City Council does seem to embrace that GO!! GO!!! GO!! GO!! pro-development mindset. THANK GOD!

My hunch is it'll pass with no problem.

[Flood Zone]

19 hours ago, ancientcarpenter said:

We all know the Legends owner was not arguing in good faith against Avery development... but it looks like *conspiracy hat* that maybe we was doing everything in his power to make sure Avery gave him/Legends brewing the "classic view everyone knows and loves for our small business!" under the disguise of good ole' fashion brewery so that he can size up a better deal for his land to a prospect developer and say "look, I know there is a giant Avery development right in front but most of the view of the city is still available due to my strong negotiating position with Avery." 

I love this post. Absolutely adore it. It's genius in the truest spirit of this UP forum.

Basically, the Legend guy is Emperor Palpatine. Love it!

[I miss RVA]

38 minutes ago, Flood Zone said:

I love this post. Absolutely adore it. It's genius in the truest spirit of this UP forum.

Basically, the Legend guy is Emperor Palpatine. Love it!

Well said, all the way around!

[I miss RVA]

@RVABizSenseMikehas reporting in today's RBS about plans by Roanoke-based furniture-maker Txtur to bring a unique combo of furniture showroom and restaurant/bar to the old Seaboard train depot at 6th and Hull. Txtur is leasing the old depot and will open the showroom along with the Stock Cafe & Bar, which will serve Nordic and Scandinavian-inspired food with a tasty emphasis on fish, bringing a unique restaurant concept to the booming Hull Street corridor of Manchester. Restaurant patrons will be seated on the furniture being displayed for sale - so customers can enjoy unique dinner fare as well as get a cool sales pitch about the sofa or table ensemble on/at which they are enjoying their meal.

It's a great location and a cool reuse of the historic depot, particularly given that both the Box and the brand new apartment building at 512 Hull are directly across E. 6th Street,  and the Commodore is just down the block across the street at 7th and Hull. Other new apartment buildings are finishing up construction farther west of the Hull Street corridor and at the northern end (the Caravati-area development on E. 2nd Street) - plus more to come along Hull Street as well as along the Manchester riverfront. Hopefully that means the restaurant will have plenty of patrons.

Glad to see these kinds of businesses being attracted to red-hot Manchester.

From today's Richmond BizSense:

https://richmondbizsense.com/2024/01/02/roanokes-txtur-bringing-furniture-showroom-restaurant-combo-to-seaboard-train-depot-in-manchester/

 

Edited January 2 by I miss RVA

[Brent114]

When I read about this this morning I was skeptical.  
 

The reader reviews are all very positive though.   People really like the brand and apparently the company has been growing like a weed.  There may be a customer base already established.  La Diff welcomes the company too.    
 

The building now has two small office rooms and pretty small windows along Hull Street.  It has recently been renovated so I don’t expect that space to be opened up and given the “historic” nature of the building, I don’t see big display windows in the future.  I’m not sure that there will be much presence on Hull, which is unfortunate.  

[Brent114]

Not sure if construction will follow any time soon but the orange Box site is being demo’d this week (the old building has been knocked down already, pile of rubble).  It’s at 7th and Decatur streets.  The same developer that built the Box released some renderings of the building slated for this site last year.  It basically looks like the Box but in orange instead of white. 

[I miss RVA]

36 minutes ago, Brent114 said:

Not sure if construction will follow any time soon but the orange Box site is being demo’d this week (the old building has been knocked down already, pile of rubble).  It’s at 7th and Decatur streets.  The same developer that built the Box released some renderings of the building slated for this site last year.  It basically looks like the Box but in orange instead of white. 

If memory serves, Tom Papa is one of the developers involve in the Box projects.

I'd love to see him start to push South Falls II forward. Wonder if we'll see him launch that project in 2024? 

Edited January 16 by I miss RVA