Richmond Developments

[wrldcoupe4]

lol I did see that, hopefully rus doesnt...

I liked this part of the interview though:

"I have great designs for what should take place and what Broad Street should look like. It

[burt]

I wish Mr. Wilder and other influential Richmonders would access UrbanPlanet and read our enthusiastic comments.

[wrldcoupe4]

I wish they'd have enthusiastic ideas like we do!

[wrldcoupe4]

good lord! according to blake on rcw and the TD, UofR has an endowment of $1.1 billion, one of the top 50 in the country. They could probably build a new law campus out of gold if they wanted to lol!

[rusthebuss]

You must not see that we have tons of condo projects going on besides the Granby Tower. We also have heard there is a florida or jax developer looking to put a high rise in DT Norfolk.

[rusthebuss]

Also that 35-40 story tower wasn't denided by the mayor either. He walked around it and seemed surprised that it was being brought to him.

Edited August 17, 2005 by rusthebuss

[wrldcoupe4]

i know russ i know, I was just saying that Richmond is just as hot.

[rusthebuss]

i know russ i know, I was just saying that Richmond is just as hot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Got to stick up for my city

[willy]

I want to see the state committing and I want to see the federal government committing.

WTF is Wilder talking about?

Yeah, lets let the whole state/country rebuild downtown Richmond.

[rusthebuss]

joey right now its just concrete .... If they could fit a metal skin onto it, similar to how they did city hall, I think it would do wonders. Add a spire to the new look, and we've got ourselve a much taller building! Put a 75 foot spire on there with a big Virginia Flag at the top or something and we'd go from 449' to 524 ft, making it the tallest in Virginia. We would even have to build a new building lollll

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well we could also change it and put the garage under it and it would kill the Monroe! MUHAHAHA

[rusthebuss]

WTF is Wilder talking about?

Yeah, lets let the whole state/country rebuild downtown Richmond.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here we go again state and federal money sh!t down the drain.

[Brent]

The Commonwealth of Virginia and the Federal government own a great deal of the land and properties downtown. Richmond does not collect taxes on these properties. It is reasonable to expect that the property be kept up and to expect that the state and feds bare some of the responsibility. Both VA and the feds have a stake in the health of the market in which both are heavily invested.

The feds so far have been good stewards of the land but sadly the state has been disgustingly neglectful of its properties in Richmond, allowing them to fall into disrepair. The poor condition of state properties should be an embarrassment to all Virginians, regardless of where said properties are located. The health of VA cities should be enjoyed by all Virginians regardless of where they live.

Edited August 18, 2005 by Brent

[wrldcoupe4]

well said Brent. There are 54,300 state and federal workers in the Richmond area. The GSA also owns four buildings in Richmond, including the courthouse, and leases space in 27 others. None of their property is taxed in prime real estate areas. What Wilder said is right. Since they don't pay taxes on the property, the least they could do is keep their properties in superb condition.

[vdogg]

The GSA also owns four buildings in Richmond, including the courthouse, and leases space in 27 others. None of their property is taxed in prime real estate areas. What

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Take it from us, the GSA is quite skilled at squatting on prime taxable land and being completely indifferent to the developmnent issues surrounding them .

[wrldcoupe4]

haha well unlike in Norfolk's case, the GSA chose a relatively vacant and blighted block for our new Federal Courthouse. There is a huge crane on-site now by the way and steel is going up!

But yeah, I know the GSA isn't always so kind!!

[urbanvb]

you're right they are being renovated....however, we don't know what's going inside!

Man you know how pissed HR would be if we pulled off something on the Monroe like that!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[wrldcoupe4]

If all goes well, this will be what the new Virginia Performing Arts Center will look like on Broad St.:

sorry for the small pics!

[wrldcoupe4]

I'm for it. They just need to raise more money and have more in the bank. Wilder would back off then.

[wrldcoupe4]

someone on RichmondForums said that they just found out that a developer is buying the Murphy Hotel with plans to lease it to UofR for their satellite Law School Campus. Stay tuned...

[Downtowner]

wrldcoupe thats great but whats taking the Ghazi company so long.

[wrldcoupe4]

ohh damn, that would have been a good question for me to have asked a couple days ago...too late now. Well we know soo little about what their plans are. Maybe they are the same. All we saw was a brief mention of Richmond in an article, and a "coming soon" on their website. Try contacting them and asking.....it can't heard to try!

ALso, I'm trying to confirm that Murphy is being purchased and refurbished.....

[wrldcoupe4]

also joey.... to look at the cup as half full, if Ghazi is planning something downtown, it could be BIG. With Centennial Towers already announced and expected to be 25+ stories, maybe Ghazi will build something taller to make a statement>? In any case, if ghazi builds tall, think about how dense the skyline will be with Centennial Towers (which are twins so it will add more density than just one), Vistas, and Daniel Corp planning a 3rd condo tower to accomodate 300+. Add that to the emerging Manchester skyline with 4 12 story condos coming online . In fact, I've heard that a developer was planning another, much bigger tower in Manchester, but had not been able to get financing yet. Let's hope that isn't Ghazi having trouble, but if it is his plan, I hope it happens.

[burt]

I still think it's odd that none of the local press has written a word about the Manchester project. Wasn't it first aired on Channel 12? The TD and Channel 12 have a tie-in, don't they?

[wrldcoupe4]

I think they do...I emailed the TD asking why they hadn't done anything on it and I didn't get any kind of response. you guys should try it out...we gotta find out more.

[wrldcoupe4]

an update from Buddy Gadam's Nolde Bakery Lofts in Churchill:

rendering of theater and entertainment center:

here

***As of August 6th

Roof area "G" tear off commencing

Installation of ISO board on area "F"

Membrane installed on area "B"

Replacement of deteriorated wood beams in area "G"

Installation of MEP rough-ins in units 238 & 239 for Model

Garage wall installation commencing

Under slab utilities installation in Area "B"

Installation of new Hollow metal frames in Existing wall along "4" line appears to be 80% complete

Ongoing overhead roof drain installation

Shoring for the Demolishing of Wall along "C" ongoing

Windows in Unit 239 have been removed from site for re-glazing and rework as required.

Installation of duct chases ongoing in Area "A"

New window installation in clear stories commencing ****

construction pics

there's some not very exciting construction pics but hey at least this thing is moving along nicely!

The first units should be ready by the end of the year...