RECENT COMMENTS
Mosby Express Market and Deli seeking ABC license
A reader writes to share that they’d “noticed in todays’ legal notices that the ‘Mosby Express Market and Deli’ at 715 Mosby is applying with the ABC Department for an
off-premises license to sell beer and wine”, and the state ABC site has some more information. There were big plans for this property that had fallen behind schedule but were said to still be on as recently as November.
Just over a year ago, plans surfaced to redevelop the land of the former KFC. After a bit of a false start, the developer came back with plans that were well accepted by the neighborhood. Nothing much was heard after that, though the developer did chime in when the COMING SOON FALL 2009 deadline came and went. When a “FOR RENT” sign went up in front of the building last fall, the owner said that the sign “was an attempt to see if any one is interested in rental [in the planned development] and to let the area residents know that the property was not abandoned.”
Just spoke with our ABC agent, Agent Jimenez, regarding this application. It came into ABC on the 16th. The applicant’s name is Fadeq Murshed. The Union Hill Civic Association will be contacting him today to discuss the license.
Update: Mr. Murshed or his family own the Clay Street Market as well as the Blue Wheeler.
crap! WE DO NOT NEED another Blue Wheeler or Clay St Mkt in this neighborhood!
No single sales beers, no 40s, no malt liquor, no fortified wine, no paper cigarette adverts, and they better pick up the trash.
No!!! Do we have a say in this? Why can’t this area attract a convenience store that is more like Strawberry Market than the Blue Wheeler?
Interesting that in the past few years there have been a number of notable improvesments along that stretch of Mosby St…
…then out of the blue (wheeler?), there are suddenly two proposals that would seem to indicate a giant leap backward (the high rise, high density, low income apartments and now a cr@ppy liquor n’ junk food store).
Aw, come on!
@5 the answer to your question “why can’t this area attract a convenience store more like Strawberry Market than Blue Wheeler,” has more to do with the owner of this property refusing to improve it to the level that would interest a higher-quality market.
The same thing has happened recently with the store front at the corner of 21st and Fairmount…the building is a wreck, and the owner is NOT going to make significant improvements. No other decent business is interested in moving in there. The only business that has shown interest (according to the landlord) is another crappy-ass convenience store.
Crappy-ass convenience stores don’t need nice clean digs to sell beer, cigs and lotto-tix. These guys are accustomed to meeting only the minimum requirements for what the rest of us would consider a reasonable working/retail environment.
The same goes for the exterior of their stores. They look like crap because the they don’t give a sh-t about this neighborhood–all they want is the profits of the big 3: beer, cigs & lotto-tix.
Start thinking now about how were gonna argue against this at an ABC hearing.
Who is willing to oppose this license?
The owners want 3 illuminated signs at this location.
An Application for a Certif. of Appropriateness has been filed with the CAR staff for new signage (715 Mosby is in the Union Hill O&HD.)
The applications shows a sign that will read: CELL PHONES, HOT FOOD, ABC off, LOTTERY under the heading “Mosby Express Market and Deli”.
Largest illuminated sign is 3ft tall by 10ft wide and would replace existing ministries sign on front of building.
Two additional lighted signs atop existing posts would be about 1.5 ft tall, 3 feet wide.
Typically, internally illuminated signs are not allowed in historic districts, however, the owner is claiming there were illuminated signs at this location.
(I don’t recall ever seeing illuminated signs there…not since the KFC left in 1990.)
You can contact Catherine Easterling in the Div. of Historic Preservation at 646-7550 or catherine.easterling@richmondgov.com to register your thoughts concerning the proposed signage. Staff will take into account your comments in their staff report. This will be on the April CAR Agenda.
Union hill civic improvers spent the past 3 years demonizing neighbors that were opposed to a city historic district and promoted commercial uses in a historically residential neighborhood. The street corner crack shops got a pass in all of the know-it-all regulating. Victory will be claimed by selection the appropriate sign colors.
#8 CapitalGal – when KFC was there back in the day, the Union Hill Historic District was not in existence. You might have something to argue with just on that point – signs that existed back twenty years ago do not have anything to do with what is allowed today, now that it’s in an O&HD.
And I agree, I don’t recall seeing any illuminated signs there, either, since KFC left, so it’s not like they were there recently (besides, grandfathering in illuminated signs in an O&HD somehow just isn’t ringing true!) Since these types of signs generally aren’t allowed in O&H districts, I would think you have a valid argument against them. In spite of Bill’s comment, although he does have one point – in arguing the zoning case for corner businesses, what’s to keep out things like this? It’s a corner business, after all.
@5 Take a look around? I think the answer is apparent.
I have to agree with taloose in #11. Demographics aren’t going to support art galleries and ice cream stores in the corner lot scenario.
@9 –your smart ass-sour puss remark just made me realize sumpthin:
715 Mosby is in the MIDDLE of the block. It doesn’t comply with R63 zoning in terms of being corner commercial. The building has not had an active business there for 20 years.
So, our R63 zoning may actually help prevent this store from operating in this location.
Also, Union Hill and Church Hill were never historically exclusive to residential. Before the great exodus to the suburbs in the 1970’s, greater Church Hill was full of neighborhood-oriented businesses: hardware stores, tailor and shoe repair shops, drugstores, family groceries, movie theaters, ice cream shops and even manufacturing. The population in those days was middle and working class, and it was a lively, healthy place.
That’s what R63 is designed to do…help us restore our neighborhood to a healthy balance.
Greetings to all,
Just to clarify, it remains our intention to develop this property with the plans that we have revised as per the comments of the community. Even though we have received some of the permits for the project as proposed, we are awaiting an answer on an appeal for special use. We have incurred over $80,000.00 in costs for our efforts to move forward. Our decision to put a tennant in the vacant store was due to the fact that our property, while vacant, was vandalized and stripped of all the electrical wiring and copper pipes. The police were notified of this incident. The rear of the property was a dumping ground and monthly costs were exceeding $700.00 to keep it clean. We decided, while awaiting approval for our development, that the best thing to protect our investment and to keep the property from being an eyesore was to find a local business as a tennant. As far as the signs, my tennant made application without our approval and I have advised him to revise his application to read ” Mosby Express Market and Deli” and that is the only wording that I will allow. The two smaller signs will only read: Market Entrance and the other Market Exit. These signs will only be temporary as our plans for development show much different conforming signs. As well, there shall be no signs attached to the building unless approved by the City of Richmond. I can be reached at 1-804-859-2928 or by e-mail at dfortecontract@aol.com
Dang CapitalGal, you’re right – in my mind, I had it on the corner, but according to google maps sattelite view, it’s mid-way between Carrington and Venable Streets on Mosby. What’s between it and Venable St? I can’t tell from the map but there’s something.
I don’t know if that helps your cause or not, but best of luck! I really do think you have a bigger chance with the signage, too.
Can I ask one thing of you? I’m assuming that #9 is the Bill that I know (99% sure). Yea, his post was sour puss – but he’s invested a whole lot of money in some properties around here including one not far from the proposed potentially nasty market, and said market won’t do anything good for him at all. So what I’m asking of you is, don’t get (tea party) angry with him, please….he’s got his reasons for being sour, and it really is not unjustified anger. He’s probably as much against the market as you are, if not more so. He also doesn’t have much confidence in the city to do the right thing when it comes to approving things like this and making them be good for the neighborhood. We’re both older and more cynical than a lot of the young crowd working to make Union Hill a wonderful community for everyone. I guess what I’m saying is, he’s sounding sour, but he’s on your side in the long run, no matter what he blames for the situation.
Bill, call or email me direct if you must vent directly to me, tnx.
I hope they get their license.
Neighbors, the most reasonable response is to ask for ABC license limitations that would address the neighborhood’s legitimate litter and vagrancy concerns. Show up to the hearing with recent dated photos of all the discarded single bottles/cans in little baggies floating around up there and you’ve got it.
Alicia,
I tried e-mailing you directly, but the address you provided doesn’t seem to exist.
Can you explain why you hope they get their license?
Sure it is a convenient location.
I strongly agree with Eric.I think it is convenient for the folks in that area.
Dennis, why don’t you/the owner/developer make a presentation to the Union Hill Civic Assoc detailing your intentions for 715 Mosby Street?
The City’s Land Use Log Book shows that someone associated with the address is applying for a Special Use Permit at this address.
Rather than have folks guessing about the developer’s plans, and reacting to hearsay, you could attend one of the UHCA’s monthly meetings and discuss everything first-hand with the community.
We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month, and Matt Conrad, our president, usually sets the agenda. His email address is matthewconrad@gmail.com.
-Looking forward to meeting you and your associates and learning more about your plans for 715 Mosby St.
This area is not in need of another “convenience” store (ie 40, lotto cig store).I have resided in this section of Union Hill for over 7 years and progress has been slow.
While new proprietors always say the right thing to open the doors history tells reasonable people what will,statistically, happen. Beer bottles all over the place, trash, hanging out, blank lotto tickets all over, drug deals taking place via outdoor kiosk,etc etc.
Want to know what it will look like after they open? Go to Fairmount and Mosby, or Q and Oakwood, or at the top of the hill at Mechanicsville and Redd.
An owner who lives where he/or she earns that money, an owner whom keeps not just his/her storefront clean but helps keep the area around their business clean and safe. This would be nice.
The previous owners of the market at Venable and Mosby were rude and condescending to their customers and neighbors. They would attend some community meetings just to insure they were meeting no resistance. You know, politically correct.
And lets not forget there is a bus stop at this location also. I’d rather see 715 empty and graffiti than a “convenience” store.
I am pretty sure the owners of the Blue Wheeler live near by. They are never late opening the store – not even in the blizzard of 2010. I gotta admit I was awful grateful we had the Blue Wheeler because there was no way I was getting to the bottom of the Hill to the Market during that first snowstorm.
BRD Development in New Rochelle, NY, owns 715 Mosby (according to city property records).
On 1-28-2010, an application for a special use permit “authorizing mixed use and 2 residential dwelling units” (see Land Use Log, downloaded from city website.) Presumably, and SUP is needed b/c the commercial use is in the middle of the block, not on the corner as R63 requires.
***There was a presentation to the UHCA some months back with the initial plans for redevelopment. Folks at the meeting asked for lots of changes regarding the construction materials and design. The neighbors were told the developer/architect would “get back to them” regarding the changes.
It looks like Dennis’ posts from May 21, 2009 on CHPN represent the “getting back to the neighbors”.
Note that on a “Permits Inquiry” a building permit was applied for on 7-24-2009 and later “killed”. The cost of improvements were listed as $495,000.
The only open building permit is one for signs. In January 2010 two permits were pulled for plumbing and electrical improvements and these improvements have been completed, couple thousand dollars worth.
The weird thing about these last two permits is that the building use is listed as M1, not R63.
I wish them all the best with getting their licence. They are really nice community focussed ,tax paying people. You have my support.
Greetings to all,
If invited, I will be glad to attend “another meeting” of the UHCA. At the last meeting that I attended when we first showed the community our plan we listened to the concerns and revised the plan according to the comments of the residents present (about 15- 20). Upon revision, we submitted sketches and drawings to this web site and answered all of the comments and again made more revisions. Then, we had our architect submit what we thought was the sentiment of the community. We thought by showing our plans with the requested changes and my open answers to questions regarding them was in fact getting back to the people.
On many of my trips down over the past 18 months I listened to the people in the immediate community. They expressed thanks and praise that we were investing in this property and further expressed the need for a fair and community minded convenience store. We had removed the large sign in early January when we executed a lease with our present tennant. We filed for permits so we could repair all of the damage that was done to the building due to vandalism and yes we did apply for permits to build in July of 2009.
We do not feel as though we have done anything behind anyones back. Frankly, I am quite suprised that no one has realized or commented prior to the latest installment of CHPN that changes have been made to the property and building.
In fact, I personally sent a message to Matt Conrad via facebook explaining that our permit was denied and that we were moving to SUP. He responded by saying call me if I can be of any assistance.
Again, if the community is interested in speaking with us regarding our plans I will be available for the next meeting. Hopefully, if invited, I will be able to answer all of the above concerns. Any immediate questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at the info I provided in my comment of last night.
Thank you and looking forward to speaking with most of you at the next meeting.
Dennis
Dennis, I’m confused.
In their sign application, your tenants made it clear that “beer, wine, lottery tickets and cell phones” will be their primary sales items (based on the wording on their sign sketch).
Is that the product line one of a “fair and community-minded” neighborhood store? It reads to me as the stereotypical ghetto-store product line. Profitable to the owners and exploitative of the neighborhood; especially residents who don’t drive and find it difficult to get to a “real” grocery store.
In addition to beer, wine, lottery tickets and cell phones, what assurances can you give us that this store will offer anything other than junk food or fried, fatty take out food in their “deli”?
Even our First Lady, Michelle Obama, wants inner-city kids to slim down. Our Church Hill convenience stores are already over-stocked with chips, candy and sodas…and greasy takeout. Not enough healthy choices are available for kids who want a snack after school.
What assurances can you provide that this “Mosby Express Mart” will be that “fair and community minded” market you are referring to?
Just give them a chance, I have been patronizing them for years and will continue to do so at their new location and will as their current location. I have seen their positive attitude towards their customers from the neighborhoods schools, bus drivers and their residents in the area. They contribute and /or donate monies and supples when asked, to our communites. Yes, we all need to change our eating habits and diets; but it is our choice and they are not at fault for that.
That building has been a eye store for many years and I think it will be good for the tenants/college students, local churches and the residents in that area.
Again, I say they they have my total support.
I hope they sell 40’s AND lottery tickets! I can’t seem to find a place around here that sells them? If they sold incense sticks also they may really be on to something…
Dennis
Obviously you do not live in Richmond and are not aware of the current condition of your property. reference your comment about “changes made to the building” the building and its exterior are a mess, unless you are saying painting yellow parking space lines is “improvement”. The trash at the rear of the building has been there for at least two months and the contractors contribute to the trashy environment by disgarding their waste outside as well. The lawn is unkept. they tore down half the fenceing and took away half the trash. A little cleanliness would go a long way towards helping to convince neighbors this would be a community based and concerned proprietor but instead the truth is in our face. Its going to be a 40 shop and maybe a few lottery ticketsand maybe, just maybe some incense sticks.
Dennis Dennis Dennis, smooth as silk and oh so polictical but not yet correct.
The place is a dump!
yeah dennis,,, a total dump. ..stop pissing on our legs and tellin us its raining….
Work has taken place on the interior of the property. The city shows 3 permits applied for and completed since the beginning of the year:
(How long do the developers intend to operate this as a retail convenience store to see back the more than $22,000 invested?)
There was a permit put in on 7/24/2009 for to do $459,000 worth of work to for “Adding A Mixed Use Addition With Apartments And Retail Spaces” that was killed. Anyone know why this was killed?
Also, the city’s Land Use Logbook (PDF)(as of 3/24/2010) shows that a request for Special Use Permit went in on 715 Mosby on 1/28/2010 to “Authorize mixed-use development with ground floor commercial and two dwelling units in R-63” (which sounds like the design&plan of which folks were supportive). This is listed “Active: Under Review” according to the city’s land use mapper.
I believe Dennis is probably being legit, but completely missed how it would read to have a convenience store open in that location.
Greetings to all,
Thank you #33 for putting up the link which shows our design plan and the support of the community. I can assure all that our investment will not be jeapordized by a tennant. The modifications to the property recently was to again, repair damages incurred to the premises from vandalism. When approved our plans for the property remain as submitted, a total face lift on the existing building and the addittion of new retail and residential with new landscape and hardscape. When we submitted our plans for development we were in compliance with all zoning codes. It was after our submittals and prior to approval that zoning was changed. That is why the delay in developing and the need for a SUP. Our tennant is fully aware of our plans for the property and has signed our lease full well knowing that he will be under neighborhood scrutiny because I have warned him of my promises to the community and he will comply. To stop him from selling items that every convenience store sells is pointless but to suggest to him what other items the community would like to see on his shelves only makes his business more valuable to the area residents. Again, if invited and put on your next agenda I would gladly attend your next neighborhood meeting. Just let me know when and where. Also, I have retained a landscaper and gardener who will be doing weekly clean up and maintaintenance as well new spring plantings on the property.
Wow dennis $80,000! For less than half that you could tear down your pos kfc, remove the paving, avoiding the storm water and improvement tax, then build something reasonable when you can afford it. Maybe you figured the carpet burn cost in your negotiations with city planning/zoning and the union hill potentates? Is that considered a “legit” activity? No doubt you will promote this as an economic development project. Poverty pimping and developer give-away are economic activities sanctioned by the city.
Anyone know if there is a law against selling single servings of beer (and wine)? Way back, when Quick Check market was where Capt. Buzzy’s coffee shop is now, they were told not to sell single servings. I think there was also something about not selling alcoholic beverages in plain brown bags, too. Same with what was then Chimborazo Market, at 29th and Broad. It helped clean up East Broad St. to have those rules (or laws) in place. Anyone know if that is a law and if so if it’s still in place?
Matt Conrad, you really need to invite this guy to speak at a UHCA, this is his second post saying he’ll do so IF invited.
What is the public comment period on the ABC permit? It sounds like it’s time for the neighbors to start WRITING to the ABC board. Enough written comments might force a public hearing about the license.
Hello all,
I would like to respond and am one of the owners of 715 Mosby and yes I do live here. You’ve done your home work and found my uncles address in New Rochelle. He partnered up with me on this project and recieves his mail in New York, yes. I on the other hand live in Richmond Downtown to be exact although i wasn’t born here my two beautiful children were. When we first set out to do this project 2 years ago we would have never guessed it take this long. We’ve spend alot of time working with the city in proposing this project. We also have spent a lot of money which has put us in our current situation. We needed to rent the current building to bring in some for of income in order for the bank to review the project and receive a loan. Construction loans are very hard to come by now at days. I have sat in on several neighborhood meetings in the past related to a variety of projects and topics. The only reason we choose the tenants we did is because of the neighborhood feedback we received on them. Most people at the union hill and church hill association meetings spoke very highly of the type off people they are and what a great job they do at running their business. Since I was told such good things about them and since the direct area needed certain amenities I spoke to my uncle and he agreed to allow them to rent. We do plan on developing our project and it is still in the works but we can only move so fast. I would love to respond to all of you and hopefully I will get a chance. Keep in mind I have two children a loving wife, am helping a restuarant open, am helping a childcare open and work a full time job at Lowes so please bear with me. My direct email is Newearthbuilding@gmail.com. I can promise that when our development is underway it will speak for years to come but understand that my money is tight I’m fortunate to have the support of my family on this project. Thank you.
Bert Terranova
This project does not nor has it ever had broadbased community support (there are more than 16 people in UH). What was minimally supported was the idea of a mixed used multi level facility, not a convenience store.It appears Dennis is attempting to Houdini Union Hill citizens.Installing 10 electrical outlets and a couple commercial sinks is not my idea of a two story $459k conversion.
And how is that the 10 electrical outlets and 2 sinks are stopping vandalism? Classic!
Thanks for cosidering cleaning up a little and installing some plants. We will be looking foward to that one. Guess you’ve figured a way to energize the base, huh.
We really, really, really do not want another 40 convenience store here Dennis.We have enough of them to service all our alcoholic, gambing, cell phone, fried food and tee shirt needs. This type reinvesting in this community is not necessary nor a good thing except for landlord(rental income), propreitor(income) and city (taxes).The community will suffer.
Dennis, again, I’m confused. This time by your statements in post #34.
As I understand it (from discussions I’ve had with zoning folks familiar with your case) your plans for mixed use residential and commercial on the same lot (715 Mosby) were NEVER compliant with any zoning classification associated with this property. You would have always needed an SUP.
Why? Because 715 Mosby was zoned B2 before June 2009. B2 allows commercial activity only.
Now that R63 zoning has passed for the neighborhood, the ONLY way you can have commercial activity in the middle of the block is to keep your B2 status “alive” by getting some sort of business open at that location (especially one that is as high impact and non-neighborhood friendly as what B2 allows…believe me neighbors, none of us would want to live next door to what B2 allows…including drive thru businesses and convenience stores.)
When R63 zoning went into effect last June, your property was still vacant. But perhaps you were told by a helpful city zoning official that if you can get a business open within two years of the zoning change, you can “keep” your old zoning classification.
It makes a lot of sense to me that you would get a business open on at that address, and keep your B2 zoning classification alive. Then, you’d apply for the SUP to attach residential units to the property.
Your original project actually is what R63 is all about: mixed use residential & commercial.
BUT, your lot at 715 will always be non-conforming regardless of whether stop at the convenience store, or follow thru with the larger, mixed use project.
R63 written to encourage CORNER commercial. NOT middle-of-the block commercial.
Honestly, this is a city zoning loophole that simply f–ks us in Union Hill b/c it will forever screw up a block on Mosby Street.
Last question, Dennis: will your tenants be making use of the “drive thru” pick up window on that building?
There are a lot of vacant lots on the 700 and 800 blocks of Mosby…they should be developed as conforming R63 parcels. Not some back-ass-wards version of an outdated zoning classification globed onto what is designed to enhance our quality of life.
#37- Thanks you for your postive feed back on 715 Mosby Street, I have been a home owner in this district since 1987.
They are truly very, very nice people and I have supported and patronized them for years and will continue to do so.
I wish people would just give them a chance, after all they are TAX PAYING CITIZENS to.
A quote from #37 “Since I was told such good things about them and since the direct area needed certain amenities”
Translation, What they got out of the meeting is we need a 40 convenience stores ie “certain amenities”!
Whats paying taxes got to do with anything Sharleene. We all pay taxes and lots of them to live in this city. I would prefer they take their taxes and “certain amenities” to another community.
#39 -Now everything is clear! Rushing a tenant into the existing structure to preserve the B2 zoning actually makes sense. Union Hill fought hard to attain the R63 designation and it was approved with near unanimous approval. This talk about being good neighbors and bringing important ammenities to the community is not genuine. I understand Dennis is out of town, but Bert said he lives downtown. Bert, have you ever ever stepped foot in Clay Market or the Blue Wheeler? How can you live so close and be so oblivious to the longstanding “convenience” store scourge in this area? Did you ever visit the Acme Grocery located next door to your property before it caught on fire? That place is supposed to reopen soon, just imagine what things will be like when we have two 40 marts positioned right beside each other! Bert, you should know better. This community is trying very hard to push this neighborhood forward.
Wow again. I have translators I didn’t realize my words would be taken this way. Thank you for your positive support and I guess you’ve decided what type of people we are. Just so you know we’ve been contacting pharmacists, dry cleaners,and coffee shops to spark interest in phase II. And yes besides 40s the owner will have a full service deli. He will also be selling a range of products from diapers to milk and cookies. I think you’re under estimating the people who live in your neighborhood. If you have any positive feedback or someone interested in renting the future commercial they can contact me. If you have ideas for the space we are willing to listen so let try to keep this calm and productive. We would love for this to be a fun and exciting project so please Debi downer lay off. WE ARE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS SO DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU APPROVE OF THAT WOULD LIKE TO RENT?
PS. The drawing that you see in the above picture could have been built already but we wasted time and changed out design to suit (I’m not even sure anymore) who are we suppose to listen to?
We had an approved construction loan too, Thank you. We had very good intentions but it’s been a stone throwing match since we introduced the project which has put us in our current situation.
Bert, I don’t think you understand – the neighbors DO NOT WANT 40s, and in post #43 you wrote “And yes besides 40s the owner will have a full service deli.” So you obviously DO know what 40s are!
Also, just for the sake of pointing out some inconsistencies, in #37 you implied that you didn’t have a loan and said: “We needed to rent the current building to bring in some for of income in order for the bank to review the project and receive a loan. Construction loans are very hard to come by now at days.” Now in #44 you state “We had an approved construction loan too.”
Bert, “the drawing that you see in the above picture” could NOT have been built because 715 Mosby was and never has been zoned for mixed use (residential and commercial on the same lot.)
Zoning staff are really good at sharing info with the community…that’s how we know this.
You would have had to get a Special Use Permit, and that does take time and money. There are good reasons for that process (sorry it costs so much, but the city takes a pound of flesh from all of us.)
As for your ready-to-go loan, didn’t your lender require a Zoning Certification Letter from the city?
It IS good to hear you are soliciting other non-convenience store tenants, should you get your SUP approved and go forth with the larger project.
And don’t even try to lay a guilt trip on the neighbors who are opposed to a convenience store at this location. We got enuf lotto, cigs, blunts, 40’s and cell phones in our stores up here.
Heck, I’d be supportive of a limited beer/wine off-premises license if the place were something more like BoDillaz quesadillas shop, pizza/italian subs or the like.
Like Obama says, you CAN do better!
Bert, You and your team deserve kudos for the revised design proposal you presented last year. I especially appreciate the efforts you made to meet with the local civic groups. Believe me, we are all grateful that someone is trying to do something about a building that has been an eyesore for many years. However, I don’t think you realize what kind of message this recent move sends to the residents of this community. We actually live next to Acme, Clay Street Market, Blue Wheeler and others. In addition to rolling papers and fortified wine, they too sell diapers and milk. And yes, Sharleene, they are often owned and operated by decent folks who pay taxes. But this particular type of store, as well as B2 zoning, represent a part of the neighborhood’s past.
Follow-up to #28 Church of God and Christ and Temple of Judah are seeking donations and medical supplies for Haiti. When I asked Clay St Mkt. for their help, no questions was asked; they just wrote a check to the church. Thats why I suport and patronize them now and will continue to do so.
Thanks Clay St Mkt, for your continued comunity support. !!!!!!!!!
Corner stores are part of the urban make-up of the community and they primarily serve those who are in walking distance of the store. The store will market and sell what the immediate neighbors want to buy.
The store is defined by the neighborhood in which it is operated. Not the other way around!
I really don’t understand the demonization of the small corner store. I love my corner store.
Dennis, $80k isn’t much considering how long the plans have been on the table. I was recently wondering what was happening and though you said the artist rendering sign was taken down in January, it actually was taken down right before the store had its Grand Opening where they placed a Coming Soon over it. No biggie but the delay in getting loans or investor money together for the project is. With what was shown I am sure you would need at least $1-million invested.
So, how long is the lease for this convenience store – before we can expect anything happening to tear it down and start fresh with the string of buildings?
CapitalGal,
What was the result of your eureka moment concerning the R63 zoning… did the city cast a blind eye to the tennants and building use? Timeline.
HOW TO LIMIT 40s: Since this is an application (and not an exisitng license), you are in luck. You will need to get signatures from residents (or an association letter) to contest the ABC license. Then, ensure there is presence at the ABC hearing (just like a court room). Most likely, you won’t be able to keep the store from getting the ABC license, but you can negotiate to amend their license to prohibit the sales of singles. We did this up on Chamberlayne, and the store owner was incredibly gracious, and has been rather proactive in helping the area.
HOW TO LIMIT ABC “OFF” LICENSES: Our civic association has been in contact with Delegate McClellan’s office to request a that she sponsor a bill for the next GA Session that would legally limit the # of ABC OFF licenses within a certain radius. If you are interested in joining this cause, send Del. McClellan an email!
Lauren S #52, is there a law against the sale of singles? Or did your association just negotiate that? There used to be two other convenience stores in Church Hill, one at the corner of 27th and Broad, the other at 29th and Broad, and both were limited and not allowed to sell singles – but I can’t remember how that came about.
i appreciate the small corner stores in church hill & would rather my money go to them than a commercialized sinkhole like the market or ukrops. it’s nice to be able to walk to pick up a roll of toilet paper, a can of beans, an ice cream bar or even beer!!! there are a lot of older folks in church hill who rely on small stores because they don’t drive. cookie-cutter strip malls on the other side of town are fine if you have a $40000 suv. there’s a butcher at chimbo and fresh veggies from the bus or farmers market right around the corner!
people buy lottery tickets, cigs and liquor from food lion & 7-11 – and i personally don’t want anything like that in church hill. let the mosby market operate as it will – let people in the neighborhood shop local. for the few of you all about a shiny thai-mex-cyber bookstore performance hall get in your cars and drive 15 miles to short pump – i hear there’s one now open.
crd: there is no law. You can only get this negotiated when the license is up for approval or if they have received violations, and are up for review.
Thanks Lauren for the clarification in #55!
@ Steven/#51. No, the city hasn’t turned a blind eye to the R63 zoning. The deal is that this lot is considered “non conforming” in the R63 district.
Before R63 took effect in June 2009, the lot was zoned B2. In effect, that lot was “down-zoned”. In Richmond, you are allowed one year from the date city council establishes the new zoning ordinance, to open a business/establish the use of the property based on the prior zoning classification (in this case, B2.)
At 715 Mosby, the convenience store in the middle of the block, is ok by B2 standards. R63 (and the new R8 for Church Hill North) requires commercial uses on corners.
Because the property owner opened the business within one year of the new R63 zoning classification, they are allowed to play by B2 rules (middle of the block commercial.)
bulldogbat… this store is NOT in the Church Hill area but more convenient to the Mosby Court crowds.
Well, thinking about this again today as I was driving back into town and saw 1) the lot needed to create that strip of buildings is up for Sale and 2) the store in the building isn’t doing any business. I have passed by this store probably a dozen times since it opened and the only people (car) I see there is the clerk. Even saw him standing outside by himself one day so – no business means a short lived business and the building will be empty again soon.
i drove past this dump today…it’s just blight on the neighborhood.
I think that any operating business even … GASP… a convenience store is better than the vacant building that has been there for the last 4-5 years. (I’m not sure when the church moved out.) I frequent the Blue Wheeler and sometimes the Clay Market and have found the owners to be very friendly and helpful. While I wish the Blue Wheeler would get grants to open up its windows creating a more attractive building and safer store, I will continue to use the Wheeler for my corner store needs including buying beer! Why would anyone think it was a good idea to jump in a car to replenish beer (during a BBQ, say), rather than SAFELY walking around the corner?
Just noticed the big sign @ 715 Mosby announcing “rezoning application” for this block.
The city Land Use Log book shows that the applicant is seeking a special use permit for R63 zoning for ground floor commercial and two dwelling units in R63.
Presumably, what make this “special” is the commercial use in the middle of the block instead of the corners.
Log book says the applicant submitted an O&R on 5-4-2010 (does anyone here know what an O&R is?). Log book shows 7-6-2010 as an initial date for the Planning Commission hearing and a 7-12-2010 date with the City Council.
To my knowledge, the property owner has not shared any revised plans with the community. Does anyone know what the current plan looks like?
“O&R” = Ordinance and Resolution, this is a document that summarizes the request and conditions associated with the special use permit request.