January 12, 2008
Condo project changeup
We wrote back in November about the condo project intended for the foot of the Lee Bridge, specifically that the inaccurately named Manchester on the James had shrunk from a 17-story high rise to 4 stories. Today’s T-D takes a further look at the project and residents’ concerns.
Some residents in the South Richmond neighborhood remain concerned, saying they fear the developer’s decision to remove the term “condominium” and trim the size of units from 800 square feet to 650 square feet will make for renter and not owner-occupied residences. Plans call for up to 200 units.
The developer maintains that sale rather than rental is the goal, that the units will not be targeted towards students, and that the buildings will have a more traditional exterior to fit better with the neighborhood.
There are ~35k students at VCU. They all need a place to stay. Many pay $850+ for roach infested 1 bedroom hovels in the fan. The developer may very well not “target” students, but he sure as poo can’t keep them out. If they’ve got the money, and many do, I suppose South Richmond will have to just welcome them to the neighborhood.
Or VCU merely buys it outright or leases it and turns it into a dorm environment- Lord knows they’ve the money and Oregon Hill is getting more obstinate by the day (Although I wouldn’t put it past Trani to attempt to get permission from the GA to dig up dead people so he could take over Hollywood Cem.)
Or, using my prescience from being a lifelong Richmond resident with great cynicism in me bones, the developer builds, sells, then new buyer bankrupts, City takes over and Section 8 moves in. Gotta replace Dove, Creighton, Gilpin and Fairfield with something. For the children.
Fun times ahead in any event.
Yeah, because condos are selling so well these days.
/sarcasm
The amendment to the SUP (Special Use Permit) will be voted on by City Council on Monday at 6pm. The developer has fundamentally changed the nature of the project (footprint, building height, size of units etc.). There is an excellent chance that if this is approved it will lead to many unfortunate consequences (traffic, lower property values, etc.). If anyone is interested in learning more about this they can go to the Springhill neighborhood association site at http://mysite.verizon.net/leapday92. Your last and only chance to express how you feel about this is to be at the city council meeting at 6pm on Monday, whether you’re for or against it. Ben
[...] was mentioned by Ben in a comment to another post, but I thought it was worth bringing up to the front: The amendment to the SUP (Special Use Permit) [...]