Richmond City Watch

April 2008 Gallery Update

73 new photos have been uploaded to the April Gallery featuring several construction sites downtown. Select the thumbnail above to access the photo gallery.

New High-Rise for SE-19 Block Downtown?

As the Richmond Times-Dispatch Reports today:

High rise could land on small lot in downtown Richmond

Property sits near expressway tunnel in downtown Richmond

Thursday, Apr 24, 2008 - 01:35 AM Updated: 07:27 AM

Another office tower could be rising in downtown Richmond. A developer is considering building on a sliver of land at 10th and Canal streets by the Expressway Parking Deck, according to officials with the city and the Richmond Metropolitan Authority. They would not name the developer or give other details but said construction would require extensive coordination, because the building could rise partly over the parking deck. Also, a portion of the block sits above the Downtown Expressway.

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March 2008 Gallery Update

36 new photos have been uploaded to the March Gallery featuring skyline shots from the South Richmond. Select the thumbnail above to access the photo gallery.

February 2008 Gallery Update

17 new photos have been uploaded to the February Gallery featuring the skyline from Libby Hill Park at sunset and MeadWestvaco construction. Select the thumbnail above to access the photo gallery.

January 2008 Gallery Update

23 new photos have been uploaded to the January Gallery featuring Downtown construction sites from City Hall's Observation Deck. Select the thumbnail above to access the photo gallery.

Centennial Tower To Rise 30 Stories?

Goodstein has apparently increased the height and scope of Centennial Tower this month. In a building profile update from 12/12/07, Goodstein has updated the composition of the tower, height and its timeline for construction. The rendering above still depicts the building at approximately 20 floors.

Project Overview: Changing Richmond�s skyline forever, Centennial Tower, a thirty (30) story, state-of-the-art skyscraper will include a parking garage, upscale retail space, office space, a one-hundred twenty two (122) room boutique-style hotel, ninety furnished short term stay corporate suites, and two-hundred fifty (250) ultra-luxury residential units in the building tower. Goodstein Development Corporation of Virginia anticipates Centennial Tower will help to encourage downtown revitalization efforts by providing an unparalleled first-class, mixed-use facility." Timeline: Market Analysis Completed Oct 2005 Design Commencement Late 2006 Design Completion 2008 Groundbreaking 2008 Occupancy 2010 Square Footage / Floors: Estimated square footage is as follows: Several levels parking garage

One (1) level upscale retail, including restaurant � 22,000 ft ²

Two (2) levels � office space � 46,000 ft

Four (4) levels (122 rooms) boutique hotel � 92,000 ft ²

Four (4) levels of Furnished Corporate Suites � 46,000 ft ²

Fifteen (15) levels of residential (218 units in all) (penthouses/ultra-luxury units) � 252,000 ft ²

Approx. 650,000 ft ² including parking garage

Estimated Project Cost: $183,000,000

Is Centennial Tower Moving Forward?

Small signs that Centennial Tower may be moving forward showed up early last week Barriers were erected along East Main Street & South 6th Street, adjacent to the site. One parking lane of East Main Street is closed next to the site, fenced off by the new construction barriers.

As of Friday, no new plans have been submitted to the City outlining the mixed-use tower planned for the site. Issues remain with tower, primarily the inclined plane line the tower would penetrate as outlined by the Zoning Ordinance. A penetration would require the owner to submit for a Special Use Permit. With a lack of any concrete plans submitted to the City, one can only wonder how far along this project really is. Let's hope we will be getting more than a new surface parking lot out of this prime downtown location.

Discuss Centennial Tower Here

October 2007 Gallery Update

83 new photos have been uploaded to the October Gallery, primarily of the North Church Hill Neighborhood. Select the thumbnail above to access the photo gallery.

September 2007 Gallery Update

35 new photos have been uploaded to the September Gallery. Select the thumbnail above to access the photo gallery.

August 2007 Gallery Update

71 new photos have been uploaded to the July Gallery featuring Downtown construction sites, Church Hill, Reynold's Crossing (Henrico) and the Brookfield Office Park (Henrico). Select the thumbnail above to access the photo gallery.