Current Projects
City Center
City Center is just that, in the center of downtown; it is a civic and government center. City Hall, the new Federal Courts Building and Capitol Square anchor the eastern side of this neighborhood and great performance venues anchor the west. It is the municipal center of the region with the two major facilities — the Richmond Coliseum and the Greater Richmond Convention Center — that host hundreds of events annually ranging from conventions and concerts to sports and circuses. A third major venue, Richmond CenterStage, which includes the Carpenter Theatre, underwent a $71 million renovation and expansion that opened in fall 2009. The fourth venue is another wonderful old theatre, The National, which was renovated into a 1,000-seat concert venue in 2008.
In the midst of all of these local attractions, you’ll find more and more people living in City Center, whether for a night or two at the Marriott or for the year in a Berry Burk loft. The Marriott was purchased by Apple REIT seven in December 2007 for $53.3 million and underwent a $14 million renovation completed in 2009. The Miller & Rhoads building has also been through a historic rehab that converted an old department store into a 250 room Hilton Garden Inn and 133 condominiums. Renovation of the Hotel John Marshall into 238 apartments is underway and completion is expected in first quarter 2012. Planning for other developments in this neighborhood are also in the works, and with more workers, residents and visitors to Richmond’s City Center, more restaurants and shops are sure to follow.
The National Theater
The grand vaudeville historic stage once played to Orson Welles has been renovated into a state-of-the-art concert venue. Seating capacity for 1,500 with a connecting restaurant, Gibson’s Grill. Multiple bars serve standing room patrons as well as the 300-seat ticket holders in the mezzanine. Patrons and pedestrians are able to dine at Gibson’s Grill, adjacent to the National on the corner of 7th and Broad streets. Bill Reid, a partner in The NorVa, a concert venue in the Downtown Norfolk; and Brad Wells, a partner in the company that produces Innsbrook After Hours — both well-known concert producers and promoters — partnered with RIC Capital Ventures, the owner and developer of The National. Construction was completed in 2008 for a total investment of $15 million. Property located at Seventh and East Broad streets across from the new Federal Courts building.
Federal Courts Building
Renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern designed Richmond’s new Federal Courts Building, a 346,000-square-foot, $120 million project completed in 2008. The building has been LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certified, making it a certified “green building.”
Hilton Garden Inn: Miller & Rhoads Building
Historic rehab of the Miller and Rhoads Building: $100 million, 250 hotel rooms; 133 residential condominiums ranging from 660-1,440 square feet; 21,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, as well as 200 parking spaces are available. Completed in 2009. Jointly owned by New Orleans based HRI Properties, Inc., Prudential Securities and ECI Development Services. The property is located at 230 N. Sixth Street.
Richmond Center Stage
The historic rehabilitation of Richmond Center Stage includes the revitalized Carpenter Theatre and Dorothy Pauley Square. Dorothy Pauley Square houses three performing arts venues that focus on music, theater, dance and arts education; Gottwald Playhouse, Rhythm Hall and the Genworth BrightLights Education Center.
Dorothy Pauley Square includes the Showcase Gallery for the display of visual arts of all types. Construction began in 2007 and was completed by September 2009. Located at 6th and Grace Streets.
To learn more, visit www.richmondcenterstage.com.Berry-Burk Building
Mixed use: residential, commercial and parking. $6 million, 31 high-end luxury lofts, 25 parking spaces. Completed summer 2006. Commercial space is available. Located at 525 E. Grace St.
“The corner of Sixth and Grace streets will be the epicenter of vibrancy in the coming years,” says Edwin Gaskins, building developer for Eshelon Resources. Currently turning a 1920s clothing store into a commercial and residential haven, Gaskins says that the building’s strategic location across from the Carpenter Center is the perfect place for those who appreciate being in the center of activity. “This place is ideal for a higher-end restaurant or a boutique office space for someone that will appreciate the activity that will come on that corner.”
City Hall’s Makeover
The city of Richmond began removing City Hall’s deteriorated marble skin in spring 2003 and re-skinning the building with a metal panel system. The sculptural and reflective qualities of the panels really contribute to the architectural character of the district and complement surrounding buildings. This $25 million project was completed in 2005 and gives the 900 block of East Broad Street a new, progressive look.
Broadway
Mixed use: residential and commercial. $3.5 million, 28 apartments.
Richmond Marriott
The Marriott was purchased by Apple REIT seven in December 2007 for $53.3 million and underwent a $14 million renovation completed in 2009. The entire building has been renovated, making it a 21st-century Marriott. A new addition is T. Miller’s Sports Bar and Grill, located in the Marriott. It offers a warm, fan-friendly atmosphere loaded with high-def flat screen televisions and a spacious patio with an outdoor fire pit.
Greater Richmond Convention Center
The Greater Richmond Convention Center is providing the stimulus for the transformation of the center of Downtown Richmond. The state-of-the-art complex encompasses five and one-half city blocks from Broad to Leigh streets, and Fifth to Third streets. It is a $162 million, 600,000-square-foot facility with a new 500-space parking deck attached. The 30,000-square-foot ballroom, overlooking Broad Street, opened in 2001, and the exhibit hall portion of the building opened in February 2003. It is the largest convention center in Virginia and one of the top five in the mid-Atlantic region. This project is a joint effort of the city of Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover. The commonwealth of Virginia provided an appropriation of $10 million.
Study recommends downtown site for new coliseum/arena
Barrett Sports Group, a coliseum consultant, has recommended that a new arena of 14,000 to 15,000 seats be constructed downtown between 8th and 10th streets, next to the existing Richmond Coliseum site. The cost estimate for a new downtown arena is $147 million. The consultant also reports that a suburban site requirement is 65 acres vs. 6 acres if built downtown, due to parking needs. Venture Richmond is hosting the report, which is in three parts.
View the full report:
![[PDF]](../images/layout/pdficon_small.gif){kind=small}
Visitor Center Relocated
The Richmond Region Visitor Center moved from Robin Hood Road to Third and Marshall streets and is located inside the convention center. The new visitor center is 8,295 square feet and includes a room for viewing videos on area attractions; a large gift shop featuring Richmond memorabilia and Easy to Love merchandise; and a computerized kiosk with links to places to stay and visit as well as information on events around town.
Broad Street Community Development Authority
The Broad Street Community Development Authority is the first urban community development authority in Virginia. The CDA issued $67 million in bonds to fund significant infrastructure in the Broad Street Redevelopment area, including: removing Sixth Street Marketplace and returning Sixth Street to vehicular traffic; developing and installing a pedestrian and vehicular signage system; renovating a historic parking deck at Sixth and Franklin streets; demolishing dilapidated buildings and creating surface parking lots at Sixth and Grace streets (124 parking spaces) and Fifith and Broad streets (117 parking spaces); purchasing and renovating the parking decks at Fifth and Marshall streets and Seventh and Marshall streets; upgrading the underground utilities; and extensive streetscape improvements throughout the CDA area, which included new sidewalks, street lights, crosswalks, landscaping and repaving the streets. The renovated parking deck at Sixth and Franklin streets is one of the most historic parking decks in the country. There are actually hubcaps and the grill of a Hudson on the façade — it’s quite dramatic at night with the lighting and graphics.