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 Center for Performing Arts, is undergoing a $60 million renovation and expansion that will open in fall 2009. The fourth venue is another wonderful old theatre, The National, which is being renovated into a 1,000-seat concert venue that recently opened 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 is undergoing improvements. The Miller & Rhoads building is under construction and is being renovated into a Hilton Garden Hotel and 125 condominiums. Planning for other mix-used renovations in this neighborhood are already underway, 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. Multiple bars will serve standing room patrons as well as the 300-seat ticket holders in the mezzanine. Pedestrians are able to dine at a street level restaurant. 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 is completed and the concerts have begun. 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 200,000-square-foot, $120 million project set for completion in mid-2008.
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. Scheduled for completion in the fall of 2008. Jointly owned by New Orleans based HRI Properties, Inc., Prudential Securities and ECI Development Services.
Richmond Center Stage
The historic rehabilitation of Richmond Center Stage includes the revitalized Carpenter Theatre and Dorothy Pauley Square. Dorothy Pauley Square will house three performing arts venues that focus on music, theater, dance and arts education; The Libby Gottwald Community Playhouse, Rhythm Hall and the Genworth Bright Lights Education Center.
Dorothy Pauley Square will also include the Showcase Gallery for the display of visual arts of all types. Construction began in 2007 and will be 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 and leased up in two months. 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 is undergoing improvements.
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.
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 the 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.
A second phase would include constructing a new parking decks on the Fifth and Broad surface parking lot (across from the convention center) and the Sixth and Grace surface parking lot (across from the Carpenter Center for Performing Arts) and would be funded by a second bond issuance.
ECI, a Chicago development company, is the master developer for the CDA projects and the renovation of the Miller & Rhoads building into a hotel. The CDA board oversees the project. The CDA improvements were completed in 2005.