Current Projects – River District
Manchester Arts District
Manchester is emerging as Richmond’s Chelsea. Once an old industrial and manufacturing district located just over the 14th Street Bridge from Downtown, it is fast becoming a thriving mixed-use neighborhood. Some of the original manufacturing companies are still located in the area as well as some major corporations like UPS Freight, SunTrust and Alcoa, but in the last few years Manchester has become a magnet for artists and innovators. Legends Brewery and Carter Ryley Thomas were some of the early adopters of the area and have been followed by a whole new breed of urban pioneers from designers and developers to sustainable building products and scooters; there is even a vodka producer.
There is a high concentration of arts and artists at Plant Zero Arts Center, which was an old MeadWestvaco paper plant that has been converted into 60 working studios for artists. Art Works, located in the southwest corner of the building, has another 75 artists’ studios. ArtSpace, a nonprofit gallery for the visual and performing arts, is located at Plant Zero too. There is also exhibition space throughout Plant Zero and art openings on the Fourth Fridays are a signature event for Manchester.
Plant Zero has become the focal point of the neighborhood and San Marco Café, the gathering spot for many of the Manchester’s residents and business executives. A number of other warehouses in the area have been artfully redeveloped into one-of-a-kind creative spaces for innovative companies and residents.
Wide-open, big-windowed lofts with spectacular views of the Downtown skyline are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Residents range from the young to the young at heart. The rebirth of Manchester has only just begun — there are several neighborhood visionaries that own a lot of property and have big plans for this neighborhood’s future.
W. M. Jordan Company Office Expansion
New construction: doubling the current size; new two story building; 15,000 plus square feet, landscaping, green areas, exterior façade and more parking; contemporary but retains historical character of the neighborhood; environmental principles of design — applying for “LEED Silver” certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Bainbridge Street and Commerce Road.
Paper Company, formerly the Cauthorn Buildings
Historic rehabilitation of three buildings: a four-story, 58,000 square foot concrete warehouse; a one-story, 4,000 square foot warehouse space with Hull Street storefront; and a three-story, 21,000 square foot brick over heavy timber structure. The space will be converted into 79 studio, one, and two bedroom loft apartments ranging from approximately 600-900 square feet; 12,000 square feet of commercial space; with on-site, adjacent parking as well as some covered parking. Units include washers, dryers and dishwashers. Demolition is underway. Completion is expected by the end of 2008. Pre-leasing for the commercial space has begun. 203-207 Hull Street is located in the Manchester Industrial Historic District, at the base of the 14th Street bridge. Sam McDonald and Property Results.
Old Manchester Plaza
Historic rehab, mixed use: 50 affordable residential units totaling approximately 53,000 square feet of living space; 6,000 square feet commercial. A second location for Croaker’s Spot restaurant; on- and off-site parking. Construction is underway with an estimated completion in January 2009. The Hanson Company LLC.
Tobacco Factory
Renovation and conversion of the former Philip Morris USA production facility: 200,000 square feet; 225 apartments; 30,000 square feet of office/restaurant space; a 12,000 square feet glass wall office addition on the roof top will have incredible views. Projected completion date of summer 2008. Manchester Industrial District. Commerce Road and Stockton Street. French Consulting Company.
Old Manchester Lofts
Historic rehab of an industrial warehouse at 815 Porter St. Eighty condominiums; one and two bedrooms, one and two bathrooms, remaining units range from $225,000 to $270,205.
To learn more, visit www.monroeproperties.com.
Old Manchester Historic District
Forget just ONE project. Robin Miller and the rest of the team at Miller and Associates have tackled the renovation of an entire district. Taking on the Old Manchester district all at once, Miller and Associates keep renovating and developing new single family homes, workforce housing, renovated apartments, and mixed use residential, commercial and retail space over the next six to eight years. Miller says that the project will have a “major impact” on both the Old Manchester area and on Downtown Richmond.
Robin Miller and Dan Gecker are partners with Urban Design Associates, which is redeveloping more than 150 parcels in the Old Manchester Historic District.
Properties for sale include new construction and historic single-family homes with sale prices from $299,000 to $325,000.
To learn more, visit www.monroeproperties.com.
Old Manchester Historic Distric homes for sale
New-construction and historic rehab, single-family houses for sale. 1407 is just one example. Three stories, three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths. Priced in the $299,000 range.
To learn more, visit www.monroeproperties.com.
Old Manchester Historic District homes for rent
Fan-style houses which offer terrific architectural detailing, hardwood floors, porches, new kitchens and baths, and private yards. The homes feature up to four bedrooms and three baths at very attractive prices. Located in the Old Manchester Historic District with easy access to downtown and the Fan.
To learn more, visit www.monroeproperties.com.
Porter Street Flats
New construction: 1508-1512 Porter Street; $1.25 million; eight units; two bedrooms; two bathrooms; two porches and parking. Some units have private yards. Remaining units range from $190,000 to $199,000. Monroe Properties.
To learn more, visit www.monroeproperties.com.
1106 Porter St.
1108 Porter St.
1500 Porter St.
1502 Porter St.
1503 Porter St.
1505 Porter St.
1501 Porter St.
1301 Bainbridge St.
1303 Bainbridge St.
1305 Bainbridge St.
1301 Porter St.
Rehab of a 1914 four-story apartment building into 16 apartments/condos. Each new apartment has a corner unit with very few common walls. Spectacular light and views of the neighborhood, period details and an elevator. This is just one example of the numerous apartments for rent.
To learn more, visit www.monroeproperties.com.
Corrugated Box Building
Adaptive reuse. 40,000 square feet of office space, $3.5 million. This project is a collaboration between 3 North and Grace Street Home Addition. The big idea for this space was to create an open work environment, bringing creative firms together in a space without walls, with shared amenities including receptionists, break room and an incredible multi-media room for businesses in the building as well as the community. Property located at Seventh and Porter streets.
Parachute Factory
Adaptive reuse of this old factory created 95 lofts. Tenants started moving into the building in 2006; dramatically increasing the concentration of residents in the Arts District Area of Old Manchester. This project is located across the street from Plant Zero Arts Center and takes up most of the block bound by Third and Fourth streets and Decatur and Stockton streets.
Plant Zero Art Center and Plant One
The MeadWestvaco Plant Zero paper packaging plant has been renovated and converted into Plant Zero Art Center. The primary purpose was to create affordable, spacious and secure studios for working artists in Downtown Richmond. Plant Zero is comprised of a total of 75,000 square feet yielding 60 working studios, ranging in size from 300 to 3,000 square feet. There are over 60 artists of various disciplines, including sculptors, metal smiths, painters, photographers, woodmakers and filmmakers that occupy the space. There is a healthy waiting list for studios. There is also a 5,000 square-foot event space and San Marco Cafe. Artspace, a non-profit gallery for the visual and performing arts, relocated from Broad Street to Plant Zero. Art Works purchased about 25,000 square feet on the southwest corner of the block and has 75 artist studios. In addition to the artist studios, two three-story sections of the mix-use warehouse have been converted to upscale apartments (12,000 square feet for eight units).
The Decatur Building
Property is located at the back of Plant Zero at the corner of Third and Decatur streets. This is one of the most exclusive condominium projects in the city. There are four condominiums. The three residential loft warehouse condos are very large with 4,200-plus square feet, 3,400 square feet and 1,900 square feet. They feature rooftop decks made of Brazilian hardwood and sweeping views of downtown. The single commercial condo was purchased by Lee Brauer Photography, whose former location in Monroe Ward is being redeveloped as part of the VCU Monroe Park Campus addition project. Sold out.
The Commons at Plant Zero
Adaptive reuse. Sixty market-rate apartments with 30,000 square feet of retail and office space, parking on-site. Gregory Kaplan Law Firm is the lead tenant. Located just over the 14th Street Bridge south of the James River at Old Manchester. 2007 completion. Commercial space is available for lease. Fountainhead development.
Warehouse 201
Historic rehab. Fourteen residential lofts, office, $2 million. Open loft-style units ranging from 800 to 2,450 square-foot penthouses (two on fifth floor). Rents range from $750 to $2,100. This was the first residential rehabilitation project in the Manchester Historic District. The developers pioneered Downtown Richmond’s expansion to the Manchester area with the conversion of this building formally known as the Cheek-Neal Building. Partners on the project were: Sam McDonald, developer; Chris Dillon, Christopher S Dillon and Associates, real estate attorney; Charles Macfarlane, Macfarlane Partners, LLC, local developer; Joe Yates, Joseph Yates Architect, the architect for the building.