15 Responses to “demolition at Cold Storage”

1. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at December 29, 2007 11:49 am :
   

   Another icon of better times torn down.

   I have fond memories of going to ice houses in the 60s during the summer. This was in the day prior to places like 7-11, gas stations, or grocery stores carrying bags of ice. You had to drive to a ice house like this to purchase a bag, cooler full (often for fishing), block, or dry ice. Many time on the same trip we would stop at the Coca-Cola plant and get wooden crates (cases) of bottled Coke’s rather than the grocery store.

   Not sure when this ice house closed down or its official name but can look it up in old city directories to find out.

   Eric

2. posted by Bill Conkle at December 29, 2007 12:38 pm :
   

   I think it was Ruegers Ice? Am I right? I dont know if it was an historic structure.

   I hope to start a new tradition of visiting the brew pub fairly often.

3. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at December 29, 2007 3:54 pm :
   

   No, it wasn’t a historic building as I am sure by its design probably built during or after the 1930s. Just simply another memory of daily life in the past gone… like phone booths. I doubt there would have been much use for the building as it was constructed as an ice plant. Just surprised that it wasn’t torn down years ago?

   BTW… The Foundation LLC at 1553 E. Main Street owns the entire 400 block on both sides of 18th Street including the Cold Storage buildings. That included the ice house.

   Eric

4. posted by Bill Hartsock at December 29, 2007 4:01 pm :
   

   The Foundation LLC, if I’m not mistaken, is a company owned by Louis Salamonsky. It was said to me that Salamonsky and the new owners of Jefferson Townhouses (Genesis Properties) want to close Cedar Street coming down the hill when the work is under way for the Ice Plant (old Richmond Ice Company)

5. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at December 30, 2007 11:33 am :
   

   The last purchase date seen was in 1970. Not sure how long the Ice Plant remained open? Do see that The Foundation shown as land owner, had a roof repair application rejected in 1991 under the name: Commonwealth Ice T/A Rueger’s. In 2005 there was some abatement demolition done (approved that time) but under the name Stephen Salomonsky with construction done by SWA Construction, Inc. And there is the most recent application for current building demolation (applicant Betsy Hasty) issued 12/18/2007 again under contractor SWA and the land owner is still shown as The Foundation LLC. SWA and The Foundation must be the same company as they share a building (Foundation 1553 E. Main and SWA 1551 E. Main).

   Looks like the company doing the Cold Storage conversion:

   Norman Milligan/Mgt Const.
   Raven Apartments Llc
   1700 E Broad St

   Eric

6. posted by Eric S. Huffstutler at December 30, 2007 11:45 am :
   

   A little more history…

   In 1993 WLR Foods purchased of the Commonwealth Ice Co. of Richmond, Virginia, which was incorporated into the Cassco division. WLR Foods, Inc., is a fully integrated producer, processor, distributor, and marketer of poultry products that conducts its business throughout the United States.

   I have a feeling that at that point the ice plant and Cold Storage buildings were linked and the plant must have shut down about that time.

   Truck Driving jobs site shows:

   Company Name: COMMONWEALTH ICE COMPANY
   Address: 401 N 18TH ST
   City, ST Zip: RICHMOND, VA 23223-6321
   Phone / Fax: (804) 644-4336 /
   Email:
   Power Units: 17
   Dot Number: 455339

   Eric

7. posted by Bill Hartsock at December 30, 2007 12:53 pm :
   

   The most recent purchase date was 5/14/2004. A transfer from Richmond Cold Storage to The Foundation LLC for $2.4 million. At that time everything on 18th St. and down to 17th was purchased as a package. I remember the Ice Plant being open until just before that time. The Times-Dispatch always loved to run an article about working in the ice plant on very hot summer days. SWA Construction stands for Salomonsky, White and Alexander-names familiar to everyone who has lived here for a number of years. Alex Alexander did the Richmond Dairy Building, Bellvue Square Condos, and Belfry Condos, among other projects in the area.

8. posted by Bill Conkle at December 30, 2007 3:48 pm :
   

   I would oppose the closing of Cedar Street as it leaves Jefferson Townhouses and goes down the hill to Marshall Street. This is a natural shortcut from Union Hill down to Shockoe Bottom. It would make a great bike/pedestrian parkway. The Friends of Jefferson Park have worked with the City to begin cleaning up the area with hopes that it will enhance the park-like setting along side Jefferson Park and the site of the historic tunnel collapse.

9. posted by Stretch at December 31, 2007 9:43 am :
   

   Did someone say “Brewery”?? :)

10. posted by Stephen at January 1, 2008 9:59 am :
    

    Would someone clarify? If Cedar St. closed, it would just be temporary for construction purposes, right? If that is the case, then maybe, just maybe, the developers will help to beautify that section on the hill to make it more attractive to prospective tenants.

    Also, has anyone heard about whether or not Genesis Properties is still planning to build a high-rise apartment complex on top of that hill just behind the park? That’s what I was told when I was living in Jefferson Townhouses. I lived in one of the buildings they would have to raze to construct the dang thing, but it was nearly a year ago when I heard that.

11. posted by john_m at January 1, 2008 10:04 am :
    

    They are considering trying to permanently close Cedar Street.

    I heard a while back that there was a multi-phase plan for the Jefferson Townhouses. The first step is the currently in-process sprucing up of the properties. Later, they may go for a highrise.

    It is my understanding that the folks that would be involved with this are busy on other projects and that none of this real close to happening any time soon.

12. posted by Bill Hartsock at January 1, 2008 12:40 pm :
    

    John’s right. The properties that are to remain are the ones that have been enclosed by that wrought iron fence and security gates. The landscaping and facades have been improved. I would imagine that they are aiming for MCV/VCU students as renters. The buildings without the fencing are the ones slated to come down in the future and are to be replaced by high rise buildings. How far in the future this will be is anyone’s guess.

13. posted by Cadeho at January 4, 2008 7:28 pm :
    

    Cedar St (at that point) should remain open, spruced up, and renamed 19th and Pleasants again. Richmond has no respect for its oldest roads.

14. posted by BillConkle at January 5, 2008 4:02 am :
    

    I have also heard that section of Cedar referred to as “Corn Cob Hill” by kids (now adults) that grew up in the 50’s and 60’s).

15. posted by stephen at January 5, 2008 2:16 pm :
    

    So if that section of Cedar (or 19th & Pleasants) is closed permanently, does that mean that it would be closed to all traffic - cars and people alike? Or will it just be off limits to vehicles, leaving a “pleasant” route for foot traffic? One would think that a privately maintained, publicly accessible path would help to promote both the housing units and the businesses of the developers.

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