redevelopment archive
June 23, 2008
renovator’s open house @ 801 North 24th
ACORN’s next Renovator’s Open House will be 5:30-7PM on Wednesday, July 2nd at 801 North 24th Street. Built in 1855, this is a handsome square, brick building with the flat roof typical of the pre- Civil-War 19th-century era. Take a tour with architectural historian Kim Chen to learn about the property’s historic features and how they work within the tax credit program.
June 13, 2008
ACORN announces June workshops
ACORN has announced 2 workshops for June: Renovation Lending on June 21st @ St.John’s and Working with a Renovation Contractor on June 28th @ Caravati’s Architectural Salvage.
June 9, 2008
a new Echo Harbor proposal emerges
The battle over Richmond Intermediate Terminal continues afresh. A new partnership between the proposed developer of Echo Harbor George T. Ross and restaurateur Michael Ripp offers “a joint project that would include moving Dock Street to allow the shifting of the condominium towers out of the view from Libby Hill Park and expanding public access to the river along the property”. [via]
June 1, 2008
Habitat for Humanity’s Pillars at Oakmont
Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity has announced plans to build The Pillars at Oakmont, 15 single-family, energy-efficient row houses at T and 33rd Streets. Twelve units will be sold at discounts (~$90,000), the remainder will be sold at market value (~$175,000 to $210,000). [via]
June 1, 2008
a proposal to revisit new construction in Old&Historic districts
Laura Daab is proposing that the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR) change their guidelines concerning new construction in Old & Historic Districts (PDF) so that new homes would much more closely replicate historic existing structures on the block. Saying that CAR does a fairly good job with rulings on existing buildings, Daab states, “I think that they have a lot to learn (or should I say, unlearn) about in-fill and new construction.”
May 31, 2008
801 North 24th coming back to life
Bill Conkle has recently purchased the long-vacant and much admired 1855 house at 801 North 24th Street. He opened up the house to neighbors on Thursday so that we could get a good look at the “before” version of the house.
May 21, 2008
I’d prefer to be a gaping hole in the urban fabric
Rumor has a demolition permit being obtained today or tomorrow for the old East End Theater at 418-420 N 25th Street…
May 21, 2008
ACORN Renovator’s Open House tonight on M Street
The 19th-century Italianate house at 2311 M Street in Union Hill will host ACORN’s Renovator’s Open House tonight from 5:30 to 7PM. A few blocks over, the Jewell’s renovation @ 2105 M Street will also be open to the curious.
May 19, 2008
grants, tax credits, tax abatement, etc et al
A reader writes in looking for pointers on what kind of financing and financial help might be available for renovating houses in the area:
What is the best way to get an historical grant for a recently purchased property in Church Hill? It is a 110-year-old house that has been recently purchased for rebuilding, and saved from demolition. A grant/fund would help me to keep the original design rather than going for some cheaper remedies to code violations (for the roof, exterior design, and the foundation, and remodeling a section rather than just losing a room of the house. Has anyone done this, or is this a legend?
May 17, 2008
church for sale?
Rumor has it that the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church @ 3200 East Broad Street is for sale for an amount between $1.5 and $2.5 million.
May 9, 2008
also facing demolition
A “Legal Notice - Demolition of Structure” published in this week’s issue of the Richmond Free Press has a list of properties that “have been condemned and may be demolished by the City of Richmond without any further notice”.
May 9, 2008
back to Cedar Street
With 2104-2106 Cedar Street apparently safe for now, there is some decidedly mixed news coming to light about 2116 Cedar Street.
May 5, 2008
next Renovator’s Open House set for M Street
The 19th-century Italianate house at 2311 M Street, slated for demolition in 2005, was saved when ACORN found in David Collett a buyer for the house up for the massive task of total renovation and rehabilitation. ACORN’s next Renovator’s Open House will be at this now wonderfully renovated house on May 21st from 5:30 to 7PM.
May 3, 2008
still a strong NO to Echo Harbor
In advance of the RTD’s Public Square on the James River, the Church Hill Association has reconfirmed its position with regard to Echo Harbor:
The developers are proposing 250 condominium units to be built in two 350’ wide buildings, (in a stair-step configuration), separated by a 275’ view corridor. These structures are to be placed atop a 3 level of parking garage, all of which would be setback 50’ from the river. Following the Q&A session …a motion was made, seconded, and universally approved. It stated: “The Church Hill Association opposes the development as proposed and recommends no rezoning other than RF-1 with its 60 foot height limit.”
April 25, 2008
demolition imminent on Cedar Street
Credible rumors have it that this double at 2104-2106 Cedar Street will be demolished by the city very soon, possibly as soon as next week. The very tall house at the other end of the block may also be on the short list.
April 21, 2008
Cedar and Broad update
There will be a meeting tonight on the project proposed for Cedar and Broad. The meeting will be held 5:30-6:30PM @ Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant (formerly Wildcats).
April 15, 2008
now for a meal AND a beverage
It looks like Que Pasa now has a liquor license!
April 10, 2008
Beckstoffers at Church Hill?
7th District Council Representative Delores McQuinn and T.K.Somanath of the Better Housing Coalition hosted a community meeting about a proposed development at the former Beckstoffer’s on 28th Street. Featuring a bold design by Urban Design Associates, BHC would like to build a mix of both attached single-family homes and condo/apartment units on the land.
