Short Pump Developments

[Cadeho]

There's no drama. I just don't agree with that statement wholely. I had addressed that too, that yes they can co-exist but they are on very unequal footing. Downtown does not meet the needs of thousands of city residents. I dare anyone to say it does. It is a city/county thing and will be until the General Assembly wakes up. We don't have the same opportunities in the city, but I guess people like for the city to continue to lack. After all, it's all Richmond's fault.

[NYCJSW]

"It is a city/county thing and will be until the General Assembly wakes up."

I guess this is an attempt to say that the woes of Richmond are because of the rules involving cities and counties in Virginia? Well, I would say that a lot urban areas in other states are having problems and in these states cities are parts of counties. I think when the entire area is winning (as is happening now) the city of Richmond benefits. Now I think Richmond could have benefited a lot more if it would stop tripping over its own two feet. Cadeho, you have to realize that Richmond benefits a lot from having Short Pump in the area. Places like Short Pump make the metro area a better place to live. As do good suburban neighborhoods.

[Cadeho]

I agree with you. The whole picture benefits Richmond, however, without a comparable retail core and population, separately Richmond suffers. Richmond is locked and not allowed to grow because no locality can annex another with over 200,000 people. We have no room to grow... although I guess that'll make Joey happy that eventually we'll have to start building up than out. Other cities do have their bad and depressed areas even though they are a part of counties, but those counties do have to handle those problems. With our metro, the counties leave it all up to Richmond for the bulk of it. So yes, our current set up does hurt us. We simply can't compete because no one is willing to bring retail downtown. Of course I know you have no faith in the city at all given your previous comments, but what do you propose?

[NYCJSW]

I don't have much time but quickly - I would not worry about retail. If you get enough people living downtown, retail will follow. The school system is another big problem for people living in the city. I know a lot of people who moved out of the city as their kids reached school age. That is a big issue that the city has not really addressed. The stadium going downtown is a no brainer to me. You need to get foot traffic in the canal area and a stadium is the perfect way to do it. It is not that I don't have faith in the city. I just don't think there is a lot of evidence that the city can pull things off "much smarter" than the counties. Regardless I think the momentum generated by the entire metro area will be enough to pull up Richmond. It will happen sooner if Richmond has its act together. 2 cents

[wrldcoupe4]

Cam, in looking at the shifting dynamics of the stadium/boulevard redevelopment proposals, it appears that the North Boulevard area is looking riper for retail. Regency Centers is a major retail developer.... by teaming up with Highwoods, it appears they are looking to do a large scale office/retail concept. Hopefully it will be a new urbanist approach.

[Cadeho]

Cam, in looking at the shifting dynamics of the stadium/boulevard redevelopment proposals, it appears that the North Boulevard area is looking riper for retail. Regency Centers is a major retail developer.... by teaming up with Highwoods, it appears they are looking to do a large scale office/retail concept. Hopefully it will be a new urbanist approach.

Yes I hope they do it like a new urbanist village than a sea of asphalt, but the Boulevard is not downtown. However, I do favor a retail shopping center there visible from 95 like Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania have done. I also hope they can do a stadium the right way in Shockoe... no shady deals. I hope both would help spread new businesses into downtown.

Now to shock people, I am in favor of Tree Hill and would love to buy one of the houses there if I can afford it.

[burt]

Actually, I did some digging...here's another update:

TCW map: (key below)

Residential over retail at TCW: (72 luxury apartments)

Click the top black bar of the images to enlarge them...sorry guys, there was no way I could put the key with the map and still make it readable.

I Just want to look on the cheery side and enjoy Tommy's renderings again of Town Center West. If I can find a way to bring over the West Broad Village photos I'll do that, too!

[burt]

Haha, no problem! Here you go guys:

I agree coupe, though it's no Rocketts, it's a nice break in the wave of strip malls we've been getting out here.

[Cadeho]

The thread has not been renamed yet... so technically TCW is off topic... Burt I know you say you like downtown, but I'm sorry to say it doesn't show. Short Pump is for those who have given up on downtown.

We had our outing today, lazer tag at Skate Nation and lunch at Longhorn. I'll give up my boycott of Short Pump. There's no use for me to go against the grain because what I believe and want does not matter here. And I guess I should give up on downtown too. Everyone else including those in my family are right. All this time I was a fool defending Richmond.

~Viva Short Pump!~

[TBurban]

Trees are finally coming down at the Corner at Short Pump. Ill see if I cant snap a pic or two over the weekend.

[Cadeho]

YAY!!! More! It's going to be very dreary except for Sunday. Wasn't there a plan where the old Three Chopt near Gayton would be preserved?

[KingDog]

In case anyone's interested, Trader Joe's is now open.

[burt]

In case anyone's interested, Trader Joe's is now open.

Thanks, KingDog. Have you been in the store?

Lou Llovio of The Times Dispatch wrote that the 12,400 s/f store was to open last Friday at Short Pump Station, which is immediately west and adjacent to West Broad Village. I believe there is also a Petsmart in that shopping center.

Trader Joe's opened its Williamsburg operation on the same day.

[KingDog]

Thanks, KingDog. Have you been in the store?

Yes. I've only been in one other one in Towson, MD but didn't buy anything. I picked up a few items today including a bottle of 2-buck chuck which as it turns out, is really not too bad. Certainly, it's the best under $4 wine I've ever had.

It wasn't too mobbed in there. The staff seemed friendly and when I got to the checkout lines, I didn't have to wait at all. Hours are 9 to 9.

[burt]

I just checked out DAVE & BUSTER's on West 42nd Street up here in Manhattan. If the one in Richmond's West Broad Village is anything like it, prepare yourselves for a glittering experience.

It's the kind of place that totally rattles an old brain like mine. Not unlike an Atlantic City casino with all its game machines flashing and sputtering. There are at least two bars and about three eating areas, PLUS the big game room. And LOTS of junk for sale.

I predict most younger folk will have a blast at WBV.

[TBurban]

It's been a while since I posted an update, so..

Foundation work is well underway for the next two out parcels fronting West Broad St, McCormick and Schmicks and Mimi's Cafe. Kona Grill continues interior and facade work.

Johnny Rockets will fill the space in the shopping center Downtown Short Pump (where Regal Cinemas 14 is) in the old spot McAlister's Deli occupied--at the end cap closest to Skate Nation. The original plan was for it to be in WBV, but they later changed and moved to Downtown Short Pump. JCPenney's deal with WBV also fell through so they will no longer be included in the center. Rows of townhomes are starting to pop up in WBV.

The Hilton at TCW is up to it's 3rd story if Im not mistaken.

Sierra Suites continues facade and interior work.

[burt]

It's been a while since I posted an update, so..

Foundation work is well underway for the next two out parcels fronting West Broad St, McCormick and Schmicks and Mimi's Cafe. Kona Grill continues interior and facade work.

Johnny Rockets will fill the space in the shopping center Downtown Short Pump (where Regal Cinemas 14 is) in the old spot McAlister's Deli occupied--at the end cap closest to Skate Nation. The original plan was for it to be in WBV, but they later changed and moved to Downtown Short Pump. JCPenney's deal with WBV also fell through so they will no longer be included in the center. Rows of townhomes are starting to pop up in WBV.

The Hilton at TCW is up to it's 3rd story if Im not mistaken.

Sierra Suites continues facade and interior work.

Great report, Tommy. Would you mind re-posting the restaurant portion of your report in the Dining Out Thread and be as specific as possible about actual locations and construction progress? Thanks.

Has there been progress on the aLoft Hotel at West Broad Village? I believe they pretty much follow a formula -- like four or five stories in a white building with slanting blue-colored roof at one end.

Judging from my visit in July, Sierra Suites next to Dick's in SP Towne Center should be pretty close to opening. What do you think?

[TBurban]

Great report, Tommy. Would you mind re-posting the restaurant portion of your report in the Dining Out Thread and be as specific as possible about actual locations and construction progress? Thanks.

Has there been progress on the aLoft Hotel at West Broad Village? I believe they pretty much follow a formula -- like four or five stories in a white building with slanting blue-colored roof at one end.

Judging from my visit in July, Sierra Suites next to Dick's in SP Towne Center should be pretty close to opening. What do you think?

No problem, Burt

The aLoft Hotel is making a lot of progress. Facade is going up and interior work should be well underway. The facade is unlike any other aLoft I've seen from photos. It blends with the 'Main Street' feel of the rest of WBV, no modern/curved roof lines or large expanses of glass walls, but it's hard to tell what the final product will look like just yet.

The Sierra Suites is ahead of schedule last time I checked with Lodgeworks, the company developing it, and it still stands for an early spring opening date. The facade work is taking longer than planned though, lots of different paint colors, cornices, windows and archways, etc., have been used and final touches should be right around the corner. Heavy interior work has been underway the past few weeks.

[evanf]

I had to come home from college for the weekend to get my mac fixed at the apple store, so I decided to take some pics around Short Pump while I was there. They're quite blurry, but they show progress on WBV and TCW. I might be back there tomorrow, and if so, I'll try to get some better pics. Click on the "WBV" link below which will take you to my flickr account where you can view them.

WBV

[Cadeho]

I haven't been since August. My pics were from across the street than in it. I'm sure a lot more has been done since. I never completed my uploads.

[burt]

I had to come home from college for the weekend to get my mac fixed at the apple store, so I decided to take some pics around Short Pump while I was there. They're quite blurry, but they show progress on WBV and TCW. I might be back there tomorrow, and if so, I'll try to get some better pics. Click on the "WBV" link below which will take you to my flickr account where you can view them.

WBV

Nice pix, evan! Thanks, and I hope there will be more.

West Broad Village is one of the few projects that (so far) looks like its original renderings. Most are diluted by the time they are completed.

[evanf]

I uploaded two more picture from yesterday. Again, they're not very good, but hopefully I'll get some better ones soon. You can see that they enclosed the stairwells; looks very much like the renderings.

WBV

[evanf]

Here are a few more pictures.

WBV

[TBurban]

Here are a few more pictures.

WBV

Those are some great pics, evanf! WBV is really coming along nicely. I like the look of those townhomes!

[evanf]

I changed the link for the WBV pictures. Here is the new one:

WBV