The zoning rendering for Meadowville Town Center by Timmons Kelley Architects. (Click to enlarge)
A longtime Chesterfield developer is laying the groundwork for a major mixed-use project next to the new Amazon distribution center.
George Emerson, head of Emerson Builders, is in the early stages of planning the 68-acre Meadowville Town Center project that would include up to 400 apartments and about 200,000 square feet of retail, he said.
“We’re going to go in and do a nice town center project that will be commensurate with what Meadowville Technology Park is becoming,” he said. “This is going to be one of the nicest projects we’ve worked on to date.”
George Emerson
Emerson is working with Chesterfield County to obtain zoning that would allow for apartments. Getting the right permits and the financing will likely take all of next year, he said, adding that he hopes to begin the project in 2014.
The parcel, a wooded lot, is near the intersection of Enon Church and Meadowville roads, near the access road to the technology park.
Emerson said he would focus primarily on the apartment portion of the development, which he said should cost about $40 million. He plans to start with 300 units that will be leased for between $1,000 and $2,000 a month.
“From a location standpoint, it doesn’t get much better,” Emerson said. “It’s not just being next to the park, either. It’s a short drive from the highway and about a 10-minute drive to the airport.”
Garrett Hart, assistant director at Chesterfield’s economic development office, said the county was working closely with Emerson on the project.
“That was actually a piece of property we traded with George to help consolidate the technology park, knowing that the private sector would take over further development,” Hart said. “We’re excited about it. It adds housing and retail services for workers and just adds to the overall development of the park. We support it.”
Will Davis, head of economic development for the county, said detailed plans for the development would come together once the zoning was approved.
“We’re in the very early part of this,” Davis said. “Obviously, the neighbors will want to have some input, and we will want to include them in the process.”
Davis said the mixed-use zoning would allow for an office component as well.
According to Chesterfield County records, the zoning case will go to the planning commission March 19. If approved, the zoning would then go to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Records show that the development is expected to add 1,050 residents to the area. All the buildings will be a maximum of six stories and use brick and stone materials.
Renderings for the zoning case were prepared by Timmons Kelley Architects.
One key for mixed-use projects is – not surprisingly – the mix of businesses.
Harrison Hall, a broker with NAI Eagle who has worked extensively on the West Broad Village mixed-use development on West Broad Street, said that attracting the right retail tenants would be important for the success of Emerson’s development.
“Whether you’re talking about office users or residents, you can’t have a true mixed-use development without amenities such as banks, restaurants, all the way down to a pharmacy,” Hall said. “That’s going to be a lot more important than dry retail like a fashion merchant. That’s what we’ve found at West Broad Village, anyway.”
The zoning rendering for Meadowville Town Center by Timmons Kelley Architects. (Click to enlarge)
A longtime Chesterfield developer is laying the groundwork for a major mixed-use project next to the new Amazon distribution center.
George Emerson, head of Emerson Builders, is in the early stages of planning the 68-acre Meadowville Town Center project that would include up to 400 apartments and about 200,000 square feet of retail, he said.
“We’re going to go in and do a nice town center project that will be commensurate with what Meadowville Technology Park is becoming,” he said. “This is going to be one of the nicest projects we’ve worked on to date.”
George Emerson
Emerson is working with Chesterfield County to obtain zoning that would allow for apartments. Getting the right permits and the financing will likely take all of next year, he said, adding that he hopes to begin the project in 2014.
The parcel, a wooded lot, is near the intersection of Enon Church and Meadowville roads, near the access road to the technology park.
Emerson said he would focus primarily on the apartment portion of the development, which he said should cost about $40 million. He plans to start with 300 units that will be leased for between $1,000 and $2,000 a month.
“From a location standpoint, it doesn’t get much better,” Emerson said. “It’s not just being next to the park, either. It’s a short drive from the highway and about a 10-minute drive to the airport.”
Garrett Hart, assistant director at Chesterfield’s economic development office, said the county was working closely with Emerson on the project.
“That was actually a piece of property we traded with George to help consolidate the technology park, knowing that the private sector would take over further development,” Hart said. “We’re excited about it. It adds housing and retail services for workers and just adds to the overall development of the park. We support it.”
Will Davis, head of economic development for the county, said detailed plans for the development would come together once the zoning was approved.
“We’re in the very early part of this,” Davis said. “Obviously, the neighbors will want to have some input, and we will want to include them in the process.”
Davis said the mixed-use zoning would allow for an office component as well.
According to Chesterfield County records, the zoning case will go to the planning commission March 19. If approved, the zoning would then go to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Records show that the development is expected to add 1,050 residents to the area. All the buildings will be a maximum of six stories and use brick and stone materials.
Renderings for the zoning case were prepared by Timmons Kelley Architects.
One key for mixed-use projects is – not surprisingly – the mix of businesses.
Harrison Hall, a broker with NAI Eagle who has worked extensively on the West Broad Village mixed-use development on West Broad Street, said that attracting the right retail tenants would be important for the success of Emerson’s development.
“Whether you’re talking about office users or residents, you can’t have a true mixed-use development without amenities such as banks, restaurants, all the way down to a pharmacy,” Hall said. “That’s going to be a lot more important than dry retail like a fashion merchant. That’s what we’ve found at West Broad Village, anyway.”
Unless the traffic issues are solved first, I don’t want to see anymore projects started. I live in Rivers Bend Subdivision and from the hours of 6:30 am – 8:30 am and 4:45pm – 7:00pm at night you are taking a risk to your life just trying to get in and out of the neighborhood . We have had T-bone after T-bone accident. All due to the traffic pattern cause by Amazon 3000 plus employees. Their employee’s cut through Rivers Bend to get to work. The speed limit is 35mph and they have been clocked doing 70mph. So before one… Read more »