RECENT COMMENTS
Council to consider 24th Street property, M Street duplex
A handful of the 26 items on the agenda for the Monday, November 10, City Council Meeting (PDF) are of specific local interest:
Ord. No. 2014-203 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To declare surplus and to direct the sale of City- owned real estate located at 313 North 24th Street and 2407 East Marshall Street for $250,000 to Sterling Bilder, LLC, for the purpose of the construction of a mixed-use development including commercial, residential and civic space.
Ord. No. 2014-223 (Mayor Jones, By Request) – To authorize the special use of the property known as 2319 M Street for the purpose of a two-family detached dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions.
Ord. No. 2014-237 (Patron: Mayor Jones) – To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Stone Brewery Cooperation Agreement between the City of Richmond and the Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond for the purpose of facilitating the construction of Authority facilities that will house the operations of KoochenVagner’s Brewing Co., doing business as Stone Brewing Co.
Res. No. 2014-R156 (Patron: Mr. Baliles) – To support efforts by the Economic Development Authority to negotiate with the desired intent to acquire the properties known as 103 Ambler Street, 1601 East Grace Street, 1600 East Franklin Street, 1604 East Franklin Street, 1606 East Franklin Street, 1610 East Franklin Street, 200 North 17th Street, 208 North 17th Street, 212 North 17th Street, 214 North 17th Street, 220 North 17th Street, 222 North 17th Street, 1715 East Grace Street, 300 Oliver Hill Way, 400 Oliver Hill Way, 510 Oliver Hill Way, 101 North 17th Street, 207 North 18th Street, 1800 East Grace Street, and 1609 East Franklin Street for the purpose of developing one or more facilities for commercial enterprises in order to promote economic development in Shockoe Bottom and the City. (As Amended)
So suddenly the city is proposing to declare the property at 24th and East Marshall surplus and sell it, all of a sudden? I think this whole deal stinks. Sit on it for a few years and tell potential buyers that it is reserved for Mr. Bilder? Huh? How did he get the city to “reserve” surplus that was not even declared surplus until now?
And what is the rendering supposed to show? The property at 24th and Marshall, or something else? ‘Cause I can’t figure it out.
@crd – that’s the 24th Street project. The main building there is the existing garage
more here: http://chpn.net/news/2014/10/15/planning-to-consider-mixed-use-project-for-24th-and-marshall_37556/
I think it’s great that the site is going to be put to ANY use, but it reflects a bit poorly on the developer if he acquired the property through an unethical process. It reflects MUCH MORE POORLY on City Council, though
If the city has no use for a property it should be sold at auction to the highest bidder. Period. This preferred treatment bullshit has got to go. This is not Dwight Jones’s or city council’s property to firesell. They’re selling our assets for less than they could.
We are talking about the City of Richmond here. The same city that drags their feet. Lets things fall through the cracks. Cast a blind eye to situations. And who knows what else. I still have to give the benefit of the doubt to Bilder if he had his proposal in first and they have to give him first right of refusal no matter what status the propert is currently in.
The info at the city site stating the procedure for Surplus property says:
Surplus property consists of land and buildings that are owned by the city of Richmond but that have been determined to be surplus by their use agency and City Council. Once a property is declared surplus, it is then submitted to Economic and Community Development for review to decide whether the property can be placed on the surplus list or if it will be sold by Request for Proposal (RFP). All sales must be approved by city administration and City Council.
View Section 26-76 of the City Code that discusses city surplus property.
I wonder if they (the city) look at more than just the sale price when considering what would be the better outcome in the long run. Long term tax revenue may be better on the the project that includes retail and rental housing than just the restaurant. Personally I wish there were more projects geared toward home ownership. While a good rental market is important to any community, too much is not a good thing either.
East Grace
I have a feeling that it does come into play. They need to find a proper fit for the property rather than sell it to someone who will simply sit on it to resell, do nothing with it, or put in a business that may fail and ends up empty again. Housing is always a sure bet and civic space is too. We have so little concerning civic or museum attarctions considering the amout of vast and not subject specific history is actually here in Church Hill proper.