Better Know a District

Riverfront condos slow to catch on

The two riverfront condo towers are around 50% occupied, according to a BizSense count. Note: After we published this story, Jack Berry, Executive Director for Venture Richmond, got in touch with us to give us some hard numbers. There are no unsold units at Riverside, and 10 unsold units at Vistas. We would like to… Read more »

There’s hope for Hull Street yet

What was once a main street of Chesterfield County, Hull Street is now the most run-down commercial strip in Richmond. Paper flyers and food wrappers get caught in the wind and ride aimlessly until they find themselves back on the ground – a sort of urban tumbleweed. Centuries-old buildings have busted out windows and boarded-up… Read more »

Shockoe Bottom-ing out?

In 2004 Richmond’s historic Shockoe Bottom was devastated by Hurricane Gaston. Drainage systems malfunctioned and overflowed, and floodwater ran freely through the streets causing extensive damage to businesses. Four years later, the area is showing a few signs of recovery, but the vacancy rate hovers above 20%. Turnover in restaurants and bars is high.

A Tale of Two Broad Streets

The farther east you walk down Broad Street and away from VCU, the more beat up and empty it gets. There are “For Sale” signs, “For Lease” signs, and signs simply marked “Closed.” Some buildings are boarded up with plywood, others with construction paper and tape. And that’s a significant improvement from even a few… Read more »