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Notes on a vacant corner store
08/24/2014 8:08 AM by John M
- The former Family Supermarket at 24th and Jefferson was condemned in April of 2013.
- As of last August, it was uncertain whether the building would be demolished or repaired.
- Building permits were issued in February of this year, the building was stabilized, and it has sat vacant and untouched since.
- Assessed at $167,000 for this year, the property is owned by John B. Mann, Carolyn M. Myers, and Josephine R Katz Residuary TR. Mr.Mann is a Richmond lawyer with Canfield, Baer & Heller, LLP, and is married to Barbara J. Gaden, Presiding Judge of the Civil General District Court.
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This building, with the adjacent lot, and the precedent of the Roosevelt, Sub Rosa, Union Market and Metzger nearby, could be one of the most interesting mixed use properties in the City.
That’s a rather dark & moody shot. Maybe it’s haunted…by its past??
Wish they would do something with it already. (And the vacant lot next door!
Wedge corner buildings have always been iconic and memorable properties so hope someone will fix it up! Maybe the vacant lot next door can be purchased for off-street parking for this building?
I agree with Mr. Huffstutler and “Next Friend”. The acute corner site and bay windows make this one a gem. With some love, it could be one of the most attractive storefronts in the east end. I love this building.
I’d encourage people interested in this store to contact the Manns. They do not perceive it to be the valuable building or location we all know it could be.
I’d love to see the property become our own mini Flatiron Building. The wedge-shaped lot certainly lends itself to a building like that. The Zoning (which includes several good by-right uses) and Parking Exempt overlay district also make this a really attractive property. Also, can we please get something just a few stories taller in the neighborhood? I love this neighborhood, but I’d love to see a little more variety in height – maybe 4 or 5 stories.
Whoa there on the idea of using the vacant lot for “off street parking”. Don’t need any more of that–at least not here.
All the pedestrian and bike patrons in the area around Sub-Rosa-Union Market-Roosevelt testify to the changing nature of how we rely less on cars to get to the great places in our neighborhood–and around town. For drivers: Jefferson Ave is wide open for on-street parking.
Best case scenario: the whole block (including the vacant lot in the middle and the law offices) all get re-developed in concert with each other and the best interests of the community. Let’s think big, y’all and do this right.
@Elaine Odell & @ Eric Huffstutler – I wonder what the parking requirements are like if they build new or significantly renovate? (And how the size of the buildings would play into those requirements?)
Assuming parking would be required, why not build with a passthrough from M to Jefferson and conceal the parking “inside” or out of sight? If not required, a building with a pedestrian arcade connecting across? I don’t think we want one massive storefront. But maybe the space seems bigger because it’s so…empty.
Thoughts?
I see a local hardware store.
Agree with Elaine totally. This is a great spot for appropriate, high quality and interesting density and more ground floor commercial. The brewery that left for Scotts Addition is a great example of something local that could have stayed if this space was actually available.
It all depends on what kind of business they will put in there and what spaces are grandfathered in. You also don’t want to restrict your business to just locals on bicycles either. One idea above mentioned a hardware store. Harper Hardware that moved in 2011 to Glen Allen could use a replacement since they carried unique supplies for restoring older homes like pushbutton light switches, antique style hardware for doors and cabinets, and such. I would rather see and feel the merchandise rather than order through a catalog and be disappointed when it arrives. That would work and a plus for everyone citywide.
Am I the only one who is secretly hoping one of these vacant stores might become a Chinese restaurant?
K… that would be diverse for sure but do we need another restaurant to compete with one another for revenue?
I’m picking up what Magneto’s putting down. I’d rather fill in an empty lot than replace this nice building, given the choice, but I would love to see more diversity in building heights, styles, etc.
Does any one know Mr. Mann or has anyone contacted him to see what he thinks, since he owns the place and we don’t?
For those interested in questions of parking, this is an Urban Business district. Here’s language from the ordinance (Sec. 114-433.1): “Pursuant to the general purposes of this chapter, the intent of the UB urban business district is to encourage business areas with a densely developed pedestrian-oriented urban shopping character, compatible with adjacent residential neighborhoods, and with minimal disruption from vehicle-oriented land uses and features that would detract from a safe, convenient and economically viable pedestrian environment. The district is intended to promote continuity of storefront character along principal street frontages, with minimum interruption by driveways and vehicle traffic across public sidewalk areas. The regulations within the district are intended to preserve the predominant scale and character of existing urban shopping areas, promote retention of existing structures and encourage that new development be compatible with such existing areas and structures.”
Don’t forget that it’s also in a Parking Exempt Overlay District. According to the City, the purpose of this district is: “Pursuant to the general purposes of this chapter, the intent of parking exempt overlay districts is to provide relief from the off-street parking requirements for certain uses so as to facilitate the development and redevelopment of economically depressed, older, urban commercial districts characterized by a substantial number of vacant and deteriorated structures. With the exception of certain high intensity uses, off-street parking is generally not needed for most uses in these areas because of high vacancy rates, availability of on-street parking, considerable walk-in trade due to proximity to residential areas and available public transportation. As these economically depressed, older, urban commercial districts undergo revitalization consideration should be given to re-establishing appropriate parking requirements.” More details can be found at http://www.municode.com
I just walked past the building last night, and there appears to be some pretty significant settling/structural damage going on. The entire sidewalk, running the length of the building on the 24th Street side, has split and heaved in a line parallel to the street.
Looking at the photo at the top of this post, you can actually see the split.
I miss that corner store and the family that ran it. They were always super friendly and it was a nice having an unpretentious, in and out bodega so close by.