Latest news with #BizSense
Axios
24-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Downtown Richmond tower to bring condos, hotel, market and skydeck
An unnamed New York developer is planning to build a 400-foot-tall mixed-use tower in the heart of Richmond's downtown. Why it matters: The development will be reminiscent of something built in Chicago or New York, but still wholly unique to Richmond, the project's design lead tells Axios. State of play: The tower, first reported by BizSense, is projected to rise on a vacant, state-owned lot at 703 E. Main St. (the block east of Capital Ale House and across from Kabana, RIP). The big picture: The developer, who doesn't want to be named, wanted to get in on the "tremendous energy" happening in Richmond right now, says Nick Cooper, the Richmond office director for LaBella, the Rochester-based firm designing the tower. Among the RVA projects creating excitement for outsiders (and locals), Cooper cited the nearby Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront, CoStar's 26-story office tower, Brown's Island improvements, airport upgrades and CarMax Park, the new baseball stadium that his firm is designing. Zoom in: Plans for the tower are still evolving, but it will likely include: 🏘️ Hundreds of "for sale" residential units. 🏨 Hotel rooms. 💼 Class-A office space. 🛍️ Destination retail. 🍸 Restaurants. 🛒 A grocery store or upscale market. 🌃 A rooftop "skydeck" from 400 or 435 feet in the air (Of note: The Monroe Building, Richmond's tallest, is 449 feet). 👩🏻🎨 And very Richmond elements, like murals and glass inspired by the views of Brown's Island. The goal, Cooper says, is giving the city a "landmark piece of architecture," which will help get "as many people living downtown as possible" so Richmond can become an 18-hour city (basically, mid-plus). For Cooper, who's lived in Richmond for more than 20 years, this project is personal. He's watched as the city has moved from "a gem that was unknown" to outsiders but beloved by locals, to one developers and residents in bigger cities are clamoring to be a part of.
Axios
05-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Henrico's $2.3 billion GreenCity development and arena project could be in jeopardy
Henrico County recently sent default notices to the developer of its $2.3 billion GreenCity project, according to a scoop from BizSense. Why it matters: The future of the mixed-use development, including its 17,000-seat arena — which would've replaced the long-shuttered Richmond Coliseum as the largest concert venue in the region — is now in question. Catch up quick: In December 2020, Henrico announced plans to build GreenCity — an eco-friendly mixed-use project with an arena, hotels, housing, retail and office space, trails, and parks — on the 200-acre site off I-95 and I-295. The county tapped Michael Hallmark and Susan Eastridge — the developers behind the city's failed Navy Hill proposal (which included replacing the Richmond Coliseum) — to lead the project. GreenCity's first phase, the arena and hotels, were initially supposed to be delivered this year to open in 2026. Zoom in: The developers, operating as Green City Partners LLC, haven't yet obtained financing, submitted plans, broken ground or paid most of the $6.2 million it owes the county, Henrico charged in a letter to GCP in July, per BizSense. Thus far, the developers have paid the county just $1 million in two installments. Its final payment of $5.2 million was due last month. It didn't come. After the missed February payment, Henrico slapped the developers with a second default notice for failure to pay. That notice followed one the county sent in December for nonperformance, which cited the lack of any work on the site or toward financing. Of note: Green City Partners didn't respond to a request for comment by press time. What's next: Now Henrico wants the site back so it can look for a new developer to deliver its GreenCity project. Per the county's purchase with the developers, they get an automatic 10-day extension to pay the $5.2 million they owe. That ends March 13. Keep reading on Richmond BizSense to see the other local projects the developers are involved in.
Axios
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Happy hour is back at Lemaire and more Richmond dining news
If you're in need of some good news after the longest January in Richmond's history, we've got you covered. Driving the news: For the first time since the pandemic, happy hour is back at Lemaire. Why it matters: The fine-dining restaurant inside The Jefferson Hotel had some of the best happy hour specials in the city, and Richmond's been missing them for five very long years. Happy hour returned in mid-January and is available daily in the bar and lounge from 4-7pm (hat tip: Style Weekly). The specials include: 🍸$8 Cosmos & Old Fashioneds 🍻$4 Select beers 🍷$6 House red and white wine pours In other dining news: 🔥 Torch Kitchen & Bar, a swanky American fare spot with craft cocktails, started its soft opening this week in Midlothian, in the Walmart shopping center on Midlothian Turnpike. On the menu: French-style pork chops ($32), Louisiana gumbo ($24), lobster pasta ($40), and apps and sandwiches like ahi tuna, wings, and a burger ($10-$16). Plus, a fun and funky craft cocktail list with many of them just $7 during the soft opening happy hour (5-7pm). During the soft opening, which runs from 5-10pm Tuesdays-Sundays through Feb. 7, walk-ins are welcome at the bar, but reservations are required for a table. 🍖 Shawarma Inc., a Middle Eastern and shawarma restaurant, opened last week at 6215 W. Broad St. in the former Lebanese Bakery space. On the menu: shawarma wraps, shawarma pizzas, kabobs, falafel, fatayer (stuffed pies), sandwiches and gyros ($4.99-$17.99), Coming soon: 🍕 Fire & Char Pizza Company should open in early March for takeout and delivery out of the ChefSuite ghost kitchen on Broad Street near Staples Mill. The restaurant serves a pizza style inspired by a blend of New York, New Haven and Neapolitan styles, per its website. 🌮 Taco Vegana — the 100% plant-based Mexican restaurant we told you about in 2023 — finally found a space for their restaurant. The couple and owners who relocated to Richmond from Austin during the pandemic signed a lease at 1004 Oakwood Ave. in Church Hill and hope to open in February, they told BizSense. 🥖 Also in Church Hill, Chimbo Sandwich Shoppe is in the works and should open by March in the former 8 ½ space at 2709 E. Marshall St., BizSense reports. The casual lunch and dinner spot is co-owned by Alexa Schuett, who also owns Church Hill spots Liberty Public House and Riverbend Roastery. Closings: 🫗 Verseau Bistro and its sister concept Say Cheesecake, both in Stony Point Fashion Park, will close at the end of service on Feb. 15. after just under two years in business, the Times-Dispatch reports. ICYMI: Richmond-based Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches ' Chomps are now available at all Kroger stores nationwide, including the ones in Richmond.
