Richmond Developments

[wrldcoupe4]

Did anyone else receive the survey regarding the future of the Coliseum today?

[ZUMAN]

Does anyone know what might be planned for the block on Semmes Ave between 9th and & 10th Streets (next to UPS FRT HQ)? I heard there are/were plans for a mulit-level, mixed-use

development. Workers were out yesterday taking soil samples.

[calwinston]

Does anyone know what might be planned for the block on Semmes Ave between 9th and & 10th Streets (next to UPS FRT HQ)? I heard there are/were plans for a mulit-level, mixed-use

development. Workers were out yesterday taking soil samples.

A stimulus funded parking deck and a planned 160 apartment complex enviosoned by CMB Development!

A parking facility along Semmes Avenue in Manchester that could be used by employees of UPS Freight and SunTrust. The structure would be part of a 160-apartment development that's envisioned by CMB Development.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/jan/10/b4-bond10_20100109-175802-ar-20637/

[ZUMAN]

A stimulus funded parking deck and a planned 160 apartment complex enviosoned by CMB Development!

http://www2.timesdis...75802-ar-20637/

I appreciate the link. Will be interesting to see if this project movers forward. I hope some retail is included.

[burt]

Ryan Ramsey has a new set of pictures in his August Gallery at Richmond City Watch. There are about 50 of them, including many of apartment construction along East Broad and Marshall Streets in The Bottom.

There are also views of the new parking deck going up at Main Street Center, shots of foundation work for the new apartment/dorm tower on Canal and Foushee Streets, and a wonderful picture of Richmond Center Stage on the last page showing the great redevelopment of the old Thalhimers building at 7th and Grace Streets next to The Carpenter Theatre.

The photos are not captioned but you'll probably be able to figure out what you're looking at.

Enjioy:

http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/

Edited August 13, 2010 by burt

[Brent]

The parking deck on Franklin is crazy tall. I'm going to take a photo of it today and post it.

[calwinston]

The parking deck on Franklin is crazy tall. I'm going to take a photo of it today and post it.

From the rendering its going to be about 8-9 stories tall with 1000 parking spaces at 357,000 sq ft

http://www.comarchs....al/dgsdeck.html

Edited August 13, 2010 by calwinston

[Brent]

For Burt (John Marshall)

Parking deck

Apartments on Canal Street gets a first floor

[calwinston]

Justin French has just been arrested and charged with eights counts of forgery and one count of writing bad checks. This looks like fishing by the feds when they raided his office (for Markel) then went through each document one by one! Im not saying he doesn't deserve what he gets for trying to screw the banks cut come on all this publicity for nothing. He'll probably just get a slap on the wrist no more than 6 months in jail with probation and pay some fines! Then he'll come back out doing the same thing again but not in Richmond "where everybody knows your name".

http://www2.timesdis...at13-ar-425558/

Edited August 13, 2010 by calwinston

[Brent]

He may get more than 6 months given his record of gun running and cocaine distribution. He has certainly lead a colorful life for just 39 years old. On a side note, is it too much to ask that Richmond have a real developer? I'm really over all of these crooks and numb-nuts buying up property then running it into the ground.

[burt]

For Burt (John Marshall)

Parking deck

Apartments on Canal Street gets a first floor

Great pix, Brent. The first one clarifies the minimal demolition that is taking place involving the John Marshall. The picture is taken from 6th between Grace and Franklin Streets and shows the demolished portion of the building enclosed by the chain link fence. The older (original) tower of the JM is in the background center and the newer addition is background right (with the man in the window.) The reason for demolition of the small section is still a mystery.

You're right -- the new garage is tall. Isn't it supposed to cover the entire frontage of Franklin between 6th and 7th Streets? So far, it appears to be rising only at the 6th Street corner of the block.

The new apartment tower on Canal between Foushee and Adams Streets is moving along rapidly.

[Brent]

Yes, the deck will go all the way to 7th. This corner is the highest elevation of the site. From the drawings it doesn't look like the deck steps down any along its way to 7th street. The deck will be about 2 levels higher on that low corner.

[burt]

Isn't the new State parking garage on the south side of Franklin between 6th and 7th Streets shown in Brent's pictures considerably taller than the rendering?

http://www.comarchs....al/dgsdeck.html

Edited August 15, 2010 by burt

[Icetera]

Isn't the new State parking garage on the south side of Franklin between 6th and 7th Streets shown in Brent's pictures considerably taller than the rendering?

http://www.comarchs....al/dgsdeck.html

I think the windows are just deceptive, as each appears to be two levels in height.

Edited August 15, 2010 by Icetera

[burt]

Michael Paul Williams in his Times Dispatch column today emphasizes the importance of tax credits toward revitalization of historic structures in Richmond and across The Commonwealth.

There are some great pictures behind him in the video.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/aug/21/mike21-ar-464878/

[burt]

Good intentions gone sour.

For a while, a number of downtown properties showed real signs of rejuvenation, but now a number of them are behind in city tax payments.

Douglas Jemal, real estate mogul from Washington, was the great hope for downtown Richmond's vacant properties.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2010/aug/28/jeml28-ar-476838/

[burt]

Monroe Park may get a $6.2 million make-over.

Backed by the city and VCU, supporters are looking to establish a nonprofit group called the Monroe Park Conservancy.

The makeover would include more canopy trees, reconstructed paths, monumental style lighting and a cafe.

There might even be a carrousel near The Landmark Theatre and a concert stage near Belvidere Street.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2010/sep/01/monr01-ar-482023/

[burt]

John Murden has posted this information from Richard Florida who projects that Richmond will be up there near the top of the list of cities with "creative class" workers within 8 years.

You can click on Florida's entire report within Murden's capsuled piece.

From River District blog:

http://riverdistrict...s-jobs-will-be/

Edited September 1, 2010 by burt

[Brent]

The Monroe Park renovation was supposed to start over a year ago. I haven't read the article yet but is there anything new about this or are they just dusting off an old story for some Metro section filler?

The addition of canopy trees concerns me. My personal opinion is that the trees need to be thinned out, by about 1/3. The park looks dark and overgrown as it is. You can't see through the park which makes one less inclined to walk through it. Right now it feels like a place that you should walk around, not through. I'm not suggesting that it feels unsafe because of the trees (though others would)but it helps to be able to see your destination when walking or riding your bike. For example, from the location of the now closed Saxby’s Coffee it would be nice and inviting to see the cathedral. From the cathedral, one could be tempted by coffee, if only they could see that a coffee place existed across the park (same with Landmark). I walk around and through the park a couple times a week. By far the most used places in the park (aside from the benches) are the open, sunny spots. Monroe for a lot of people is the only place where they have access to grass and open space. Imagine how ass backwards it would be to fill Central Park's grassy areas with trees. I think that it is just as backwards to junk up the park with more trees (that will probably go neglected).

As for safety. When I was at VCU the park had the reputation of a place where women go to get raped. The city cut down and pruned dozens of trees and the crimes all but ceased. There were swing sets which were used by the local kids. They should bring those back instead of trees.

[burt]

Another Downtown music venue by the end of 2010.

The old Hippodrome Theatre is on track to debut in December as a sleek new entertainment center in Jackson Ward. It and the next-door Taylor Mansion on North 2nd Street between Clay and Leigh Streets, are under heavy renovation.

Ron Stallings is the developer and BAM Architects is responsible for design of the project.

The theatre, which will be called THE HIPP, will have adjustible seating flexing from 400 to 800. By contrast, capacities in other downtown venues are 1,800 luxurious seats at The Carpenter Theatre; up to 1,700 standees and seated patrons at The National; about 1,400 standees at The Hat Factory; 700 standees and bar patrons at The Canal Club; about 500 standees at the newly reopened Alley Katz; 399 seats at The Empire Theatre, and 250 seats at tables in The Capital Ale House Music Hall.

The Downtown Richmond Coliseum can seat up to 14,000 in various configurations, and The Landmark Theatre on the fringe of downtown at Monroe Park has 3,600 seats on orchestra and two balcony levels.

The Bensusan Group which books the famous Blue Note Jazz Club in New York's Greenwich Village anticipates bringing in 5 to 7 blues, jazz and soul entertainers to The Hipp each month.

Meanwhile, the adjacent Taylor Mansion will have 28 apartments, a two-level restaurant plus a 120-capacity "listening room" which is expeced to be booked almost every night.

From Will Jones in today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...pp04-ar-486574/

Edited September 5, 2010 by burt

[burt]

Our friend, Paul Hammond has posted updates of activity at The old Hippodrome, including construction photos (click on the highlighted Hipp Blog in Paul' story.)

You can also click on the RTD story from last May about planned hotels in Jackson Ward.

From The Carver/Jackson Ward blog:

http://www.cjwn.net/...-hop/#more-2470

PS: Photos of the Hippodrome when it was in its heyday (1904 to 1945) are non existent. Or if not, those in possession of them are unwilling to make them available.

After reconstruction following the 1945 fire the newly rebuilt utilitarian buiding on North 2nd Street was used exclusively as a movie house.

I, for one, would love to see pictures of the theatre that reportedly booked the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington on its stage.

The Globe Theatre, a shoe-box building practically next door to The Hippodrome on 2nd Street, was a popular second-run movie house for blacks only.

In those dreadful segregation days of my youth, the premier movie houses for blacks were The Booker-T and Walker Theatres in the 100-block of West Broad Street. They are now known as the Theatre IV complex.

The Booker-T was built in 1911 and opened as a theatre for whites only and had a resident stock company of actors. It was called (as it is is today) The Empire Theatre.

Shortly thereafter, a commercial building was constucted next door and subsequently was transformed into The Little Theater, showing films exclusively for white audiences.

Later, The Empire was renamed The Strand and offered vaudeville and movies for white audiences. (It is not to be confused with another stage theatre for whites on East Broad between 8th and 9th Streets that opened in the early 20th Century as The Bijou and later assumed the Strand name when it transformed to a film house.)

Evntually, the Empire (Strand) and the Little Theatres in the 100-block of West Broad closed for lack of business and sat idle for several years.

An out-of-town entrepreneur purchased the empty buildings in the 1930's and transformed them into movie houses exclusively for black clinetele. The Strand was renamed The Booker-T and the adjacent Little Theatre became The Walker Theatre.

When The Booker-T and Walker Theatres foundered after integration (as did The Hippodrome and Globe Theatres on North 2nd Street), they again sat idle for a decade until a local man purchased the Broad Street theatres in the late 1960's, did cosmetic work on both, and reopened them primarily for live theatre and art film showings.

They are now The Theatre IV complex.

The big house has been renamed The Empire and the Walker Theatre is now rehearsal halls, costume storage and a black box playhouse called The Little Theatre.

My point is that The Booker-T (nee Empire) Theatre was the prime theatre building available to segregated audiences and had a far superior stage to The Hippodrome -- I think!.

That is, unless someone can show me pictures of performances and facilities at the Hipp, circa 1904-1945.

Regardless, it's great so see another building revived for entertainment purposes.

Edited September 5, 2010 by burt

[burt]

Preliminary word from the Los Angeles firm studying The Richmond Coliseum dilemma has put forward four site possibilities for a new arena. One of the suggestions is the site on which the building now sits; another is the decrepit public safety building which would also include an adjacent parking lot between 8th and 10th Streets; the remaining two suggestions are on the fringe of downtown.

From this afternoon's late edition of the RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...roup-ar-497169/

Edited September 9, 2010 by burt

[Icetera]

Preliminary word from the Los Angeles firm studying The Richmond Coliseum dilemma has put forward four site possibilities for a new arena. One of the suggestions is the site on which the building now sits; another is the decrepit public safety building which would also include an adjacent parking lot between 8th and 10th Streets; the remaining two suggestions are on the fringe of downtown.

From this afternoon's late edition of the RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...roup-ar-497169/

It would be nice to see the 8th-10th St. lot reused, but that would be a tight fit for even the existing size of the coliseum and I think those blocks could be better used in the future. There would also be the issue of how to handle the main entrance to the John Marshall Courthouse. The ABC/Diamond area would be nice for the accessibility to I-95/64 and would be best if the baseball stadium remains in that area. I wonder why they are not looking at the Shockoe site as that would be a good fit and has accessibility (and be a good excuse to fix that quagmire of inconsistent one way streets).

Edited September 10, 2010 by Icetera

[burt]

Here is an updated story about the Coliseum Study from today's RTD, and it has an interesting "Related Links" feature revealing that a total of seven sites were considered.

In addition to the current location, the Public Safety building with adjoining lots, and two sites near The Diamond, consideration was also given to Old City Stadium, Mayo Island and the Chippenham/Powhite junction.

I'm somewhat surprised that Shockoe Bottom, Manchester and the Reynolds Plant North along the James were not among the sites discussed.

A new building, according to the report, should accommodate 14,000 to 15,000 spectators. Charlottesville's John Paul Jones Arena (the largest within the Commonwealth) has a capacity of 15,219.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/sep/10/coli10-ar-498009/

[Brent]

I want to share with the group how moronic I think the Boulevard site is.

First a little history of arenas as economic development in Virginia. One must look no further than to the areas surrounding the Diamond, the current site of the Richmond Coliseum, Norfolk Scope and the Hampton coliseum to see that arenas and diamonds don’t spur economic development. When built, all of these were state of the art facilities. Even at the height of enthusiasm for each, none produced any development around it’s would be sphere of influence. There is no reason to believe, after 30+ years of observation, that a new arena would have any effect as a development engine regardless of it’s location.

The Boulevard is a terrible location. The raised interstate to the north and railroad tracks to the east, south and west create real and psychological barriers. Literally and visually this area is cut off from the rest of the city. You cannot see down Boulevard to the Fan because of the railroad bridge, you cannot see the neighborhoods to the north because of the raised I95.

The existing business in that immediate area have no incentive to leave the area. The only thing that makes this site attractive for an arena is the same one that makes it an ideal place for distribution centers, interstate access. Greyhound is never going to leave that location. Seiwers is never going to leave that location. The U-Hall self storage is never going to leave that area. Plywoods and Plastics is never going to leave that area. Empire marble and stone is never going to leave that location. You cannot expect to build housing and restaurant/retail around lumber yards and bus stations. You can’t build a cohesive neighborhood with those business intact. There are too many conditions necessary for this site to even partially work. We have to hope that all of these business willingly move (and bear the cost of moving), that hotels will gamble on the area, that the city will move its highway equipment storage area, that the state will move the ABC distribution center, that the Squirrels stay in Richmond (which isn’t likely given their history of perpetual shopping around for incentives packages), that the Arthur Ashe center gets replaced by an aquatics center etc.

If arenas don’t serve as economic/development engines, the most one can hope for is that is provides entertainment for the masses, that it pays for itself through taxes on admissions and concessions sales and that it can add visual impact to the urban landscape. It should be treated as a $200million piece of public art. What you see will be what you get. No more. Put it some place where it will fill a hole in the landscape and will elevate the image of the immediate area (something that cannot happen on the Boulevard as this area is visually and literally disconnected from the city).