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CAR to consider a number of new houses and mixed-use projects
10/16/2014 7:15 AM by John M
The agenda for the Tuesday, October 28, 2014 meeting of the Commission of Architectural Review includes a number of local projects, including an unusually high number of new buildings and more mixed-use projects than I ever recall seeing:
- 2808 E. Marshall Street – Construct new egress stair and reopen doorway at rear of building
- 2115 M Street – Install dry-laid brick entrance porch and step
- 310 N. 33rd Street – Install frame for banner sign
- 2303 Venable Street – Install HVAC unit in front yard
- 806 Jessamine Street – Install Hardiplank siding
- 870 N. 22nd Street – Construct new duplex
- 2109-2111 M Street – Construct two new single-family residences
- 3603 E. Marshall Street – Construct new single-family residence
- 2307 E. Clay Street – Construct new single-family residence (BELOW)
- 721 N. 24th Street – Rehabilitate exterior and construct new second-story addition
- 320 N. 32nd Street – Construct new mixed-use development (BELOW)
- 722-724 N. 23rd Street (BELOW)
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2307 E. Clay Street
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320 N. 32nd Street
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320 N. 32nd Street
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722-724 N. 23rd Street
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722-724 N. 23rd Street
722-724 N. 23rd is a cool design for an interesting intersection. That could be a really great place. As a conceptual review application, it doesn’t show siding – it will be interesting to see what CAR suggests.
320 N 32nd is really interesting as well. Would be awesome to have a Roosevelt-y Metzger-y WPA-ish character place in there to help change the culture of litter and dilapidation across the street at Blue Wheeler. (I know they’ve made strides, but the litter and sidewalks speak for themselves)
Very interesting things going on. Good design – hopefully good execution follows.
How exciting! It’s great to see more mixed use projects coming to the neighborhood. It’s also refreshing to see something proposed that’s greater than 2 stories tall.
Wow–lots to look at here. Especially for Union Hill folks.
I hope the developer for 722-724 N. 23rd Street plans on attending the next Union Hill Civic Association Meeting on Wed Oct 22. The community has grown to love that open green space across from the Cedar Street Baptist Church (lots of Brunswick Stew and corn hole games along with a shady cool spot in the summer heat.) We always knew the eventual development of the oddly shaped parcel would happen.
I’ve grown to love all the new businesses that have opened in Union Hill lately, and the mixed uses of existing buildings.
Looking forward to learning more about this in-fill project. What do the nearest neighbors think of the drawing?
I realize this is a “conceptual review” – but wish they had included architectural details on the drawings. Regardless, it actually looks pretty good.
Both the two mixed use ones look sharp. Let’s hope they aren’t using metal panels or some crap like that in the final plans.
I don’t understand what’s happening at 2307 E. Clay Street. From what I’m picturing of that address, the proposed build site is a fenced-in backyard and not a vacant lot?
722-724 N 23rd St project will require a Special Use Permit “to allow for the expansion of the ground level commercial space and additional density on the site.” This is noted in the applicant’s paperwork on the CAR agenda webpage.
@Mandy – The city parcel mapper shows that as a separate piece of land
re 2307 E. Clay
Details of the project including plans, photos of the site, proposed materials etc. can be found here:
https://richmondva.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=1942783&GUID=284038D8-0A5F-48A9-9C7B-B5C00E31ADE5&Options=&Search=
They want to do most of the the house in brick veneer which seems odd and potentially unattractive (imho), but more importantly seems like it will make it stick out from surrounding area. Why not do siding like they did around the corner at 418 N 24th which seems to fit in well with the area, but at the same time can’t be mistaken for a kind of “false historical appearance” )as the CAR Design Review Guidelines put it ). And has to be cheaper, no?
http://www.zillow.com/homes/418-north-24th-street-Richmond-VA_rb/
I’m also a little leery about the size (3036 sq ft) and wonder how that will blend with the surrounding streets all of which are smaller.
It’s amazing and great to see all the interest in building in Church Hill and Union Hill!
Thanks for the info, @John and @Oliver. re: 2307 E. Clay.
Its exciting to see the opportunity for added commerce and neighbors in the area. The projects on 23rd and 32nd appear to fit nicely with the community.
Kind of shame that the 233rd street project doesn’t come a bit closer to that corner. Buildings which come out and grab an acute corner always have some charm and drama, it seems. Still, at least it actually uses the angle instead of dropping a box on the site and creating awkward planting areas. You’ve got to take what you can get these days.
@Don O’Keefe, the sidewalk at the intersection of 23rd and Jessamine is pretty deep at the end, and it looks as if the plan follows the existing sidewalk. I like that it allows some space in front of the building, and doesn’t require pedestrians using the sidewalk to walk through the front patio/entrance of the new building. I’m a little concerned that the drawing seems to have eliminated the bench at the bus stop there, though. Neighbors waiting for the bus use it frequently.
It would be great if the owner of the property or the businesses that occupy it could strike a deal with Cedar Street Baptist Church to use the parking lot they just finished paving and striping (you can see the apron for the curb cut on the left in both drawings). A primarily residential neighborhood is no place for surface parking lots, but if they’re there, it would be great to see them used more than once or twice per week.