A local developer wants to make a $5 million investment near Virginia Union University.
Willie Lanier Jr. of Lombardy Street Partners last week filed a special use permit for a four-story student housing development at 2300 N. Lombardy.
The project is far from set in stone.
Lanier told BizSense on Thursday that discussions with the surrounding community, including Virginia Union, are ongoing.
“We are very excited to continue discussions on what we believe will be a project that will raise the bar in the area and have a positive impact on the community and the housing options currently available,” Lanier said.
As planned, the project would be built from the ground up directly across the street from VUU. Today there is a small commercial structure on the lot.
The 47,000-square-foot, four-story structure will contain 33 units and will house 100 students in a mix of four-, three- and one-bedroom apartments, according to permit filings.
Grant Architects, a Baltimore-based firm, is the architect.
Lanier said he is lining up a lender and construction firm for the project along with a property manager.
Andy Condlin, an attorney with Williams Mullen, is the lead zoning attorney on the development.
Condlin said that the project’s design fits with the architecture of Virginia Union and that the school needed more options for student housing.
“We found that a lot of Virginia Union students were renting single family homes in the area, and we think this gives them a more centralized option directly across from campus,” Condlin said.
A local developer wants to make a $5 million investment near Virginia Union University.
Willie Lanier Jr. of Lombardy Street Partners last week filed a special use permit for a four-story student housing development at 2300 N. Lombardy.
The project is far from set in stone.
Lanier told BizSense on Thursday that discussions with the surrounding community, including Virginia Union, are ongoing.
“We are very excited to continue discussions on what we believe will be a project that will raise the bar in the area and have a positive impact on the community and the housing options currently available,” Lanier said.
As planned, the project would be built from the ground up directly across the street from VUU. Today there is a small commercial structure on the lot.
The 47,000-square-foot, four-story structure will contain 33 units and will house 100 students in a mix of four-, three- and one-bedroom apartments, according to permit filings.
Grant Architects, a Baltimore-based firm, is the architect.
Lanier said he is lining up a lender and construction firm for the project along with a property manager.
Andy Condlin, an attorney with Williams Mullen, is the lead zoning attorney on the development.
Condlin said that the project’s design fits with the architecture of Virginia Union and that the school needed more options for student housing.
“We found that a lot of Virginia Union students were renting single family homes in the area, and we think this gives them a more centralized option directly across from campus,” Condlin said.
This is something that VUU has needed for a long time. Even though i have not had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Lanier, I’m confident that he’ll pull together all the necessary pieces and parts to make it a super successful development.
This is great, VCU can’t be the only college to get new developments. This should be very successful and hopefully start to revitalize the area
I would love to see the other corner of this intersection redeveloped to create a better gateway from the East and North for VUU.
Raise the bar exactly it should. People need to put more focus on this area and maybe even the whole Chamberlyne Corridor. The attention is needed is definitely needed in North Richmond.
Great idea and market for student housing for VUU and also for students who live in area who travel everyday to JSR community college. I have many years of experience managing properties from LIHTC to student housing and I found that student housing is a sure thing for investors with the right location and proximity to a college or university. VCU is expanding in the immediate downtown area but this project is a great plan for graduate students as well as students who drive and just don’t want to be right in the middle of downtown for school and living.… Read more »
I agree with all the comments here.Great for this VUU and this area in general. I’m happy its getting some attention.
*Great for VUU