An aerial view of the Maidstone development. (Photo courtesy of Joyner Commercial)
More than 18 months after taking over a once troubled New Kent County development, the project’s new owner says he’s taking his time bringing the $22 million plan to fruition.
John Adamson is continuing work on Maidstone, a 21-acre mixed-use development that will eventually hold 56,000 square feet of commercial space and 55 single-family homes.
Since purchasing the stalled sites out of foreclosure in late 2013, Adamson has overseen the construction and recent completion of two model homes and is working to add to the commercial component. An expansion of a current tenant’s space is underway, as is the hunt for a restaurant to anchor the project before its next commercial phase begins.
“We’re going to work the market, meaning that we’re prepared to start immediately if the right use came into play,” Adamson said.
Maidstone was conceived as part of New Kent Courthouse Village, an idea initiated by Grosjean “John” Crump, who sought to bring a traditional English village concept to his home county. But when a lack of financing kept Crump from completing his plan and led to bankruptcy and foreclosure, Adamson stepped in to buy the residential and commercial portions from their respective banks in 2013.
One of the recently completed model homes at Maidstone.
Through Maidstone Village LLC, Adamson purchased the residential side from Colonial Virginia Bank in November 2013 for $375,000. He then snagged the commercial piece, which already had almost 20,000 square feet constructed, for $1.12 million from Essex Bank in December of that year.
With the two model homes in place, marketing is active on the residential side by Joyner Fine Properties. Virginia Beach-based J.F. Schoch Building Corp. is the builder.
On the commercial portion, Adamson said he wants to fill the remaining vacancies in the existing commercial space before he starts construction on the rest. He is currently expanding the space for Stay & Play Daycare, doubling its size to about 6,000 square feet to meet an increasing demand for its services.
He is working with Jon Beckner of Joyner Commercial to secure tenants for the commercial space.
That space is currently home to a day care, insurance agency, fitness center and dentist. It has about 3,800 square feet available for two tenants, likely another medical practice and a retailer.
And Adamson and Beckner are in talks to finalize what they say is the most important tenant: a restaurant that will fill an already constructed 5,000-square-foot space. Adamson describes the future restaurant as Maidstone’s anchor tenant, which will be key to the development’s English village feel.
“We’re entertaining operators right now for a diner-type, family restaurant,” Beckner said. “It’s going to be a regional or local operator more than likely.”
Adamson said he sees the restaurant and development filling a gap in that part of New Kent County, with some type of brewery or tap house taking the space and attracting people in the area visiting nearby wineries or golf courses.
Beckner said he and Adamson are “being very picky” over the final choice.
“This is a rural setting, so you’re bringing that village feel into a rural setting and it will create an oasis,” he said.
Maidstone’s total cost of development is $22 million, and so far, Adamson is financing the work himself.
Adamson’s plan is a downsized version of Crump’s vision, which sought to have government buildings, schools and churches within walking distance of the development.
“Crump, the previous developer, was the mastermind of (Maidstone), and it’s been strategically placed near the courthouse, and three of four county schools are literally right behind the project,” Adamson said. “We are trying to foster what we feel will really help the community as a whole.”
The other piece of Crump’s New Kent Courthouse Village plan was a 3-acre commercial section dubbed Preservation Park. It too went back to its lender – in this case EVB – before being purchased by Rose & Crown LLC in January 2013, county records show. Preservation Park is home to the Rose & Crown Tavern.
An aerial view of the Maidstone development. (Photo courtesy of Joyner Commercial)
More than 18 months after taking over a once troubled New Kent County development, the project’s new owner says he’s taking his time bringing the $22 million plan to fruition.
John Adamson is continuing work on Maidstone, a 21-acre mixed-use development that will eventually hold 56,000 square feet of commercial space and 55 single-family homes.
Since purchasing the stalled sites out of foreclosure in late 2013, Adamson has overseen the construction and recent completion of two model homes and is working to add to the commercial component. An expansion of a current tenant’s space is underway, as is the hunt for a restaurant to anchor the project before its next commercial phase begins.
“We’re going to work the market, meaning that we’re prepared to start immediately if the right use came into play,” Adamson said.
Maidstone was conceived as part of New Kent Courthouse Village, an idea initiated by Grosjean “John” Crump, who sought to bring a traditional English village concept to his home county. But when a lack of financing kept Crump from completing his plan and led to bankruptcy and foreclosure, Adamson stepped in to buy the residential and commercial portions from their respective banks in 2013.
One of the recently completed model homes at Maidstone.
Through Maidstone Village LLC, Adamson purchased the residential side from Colonial Virginia Bank in November 2013 for $375,000. He then snagged the commercial piece, which already had almost 20,000 square feet constructed, for $1.12 million from Essex Bank in December of that year.
With the two model homes in place, marketing is active on the residential side by Joyner Fine Properties. Virginia Beach-based J.F. Schoch Building Corp. is the builder.
On the commercial portion, Adamson said he wants to fill the remaining vacancies in the existing commercial space before he starts construction on the rest. He is currently expanding the space for Stay & Play Daycare, doubling its size to about 6,000 square feet to meet an increasing demand for its services.
He is working with Jon Beckner of Joyner Commercial to secure tenants for the commercial space.
That space is currently home to a day care, insurance agency, fitness center and dentist. It has about 3,800 square feet available for two tenants, likely another medical practice and a retailer.
And Adamson and Beckner are in talks to finalize what they say is the most important tenant: a restaurant that will fill an already constructed 5,000-square-foot space. Adamson describes the future restaurant as Maidstone’s anchor tenant, which will be key to the development’s English village feel.
“We’re entertaining operators right now for a diner-type, family restaurant,” Beckner said. “It’s going to be a regional or local operator more than likely.”
Adamson said he sees the restaurant and development filling a gap in that part of New Kent County, with some type of brewery or tap house taking the space and attracting people in the area visiting nearby wineries or golf courses.
Beckner said he and Adamson are “being very picky” over the final choice.
“This is a rural setting, so you’re bringing that village feel into a rural setting and it will create an oasis,” he said.
Maidstone’s total cost of development is $22 million, and so far, Adamson is financing the work himself.
Adamson’s plan is a downsized version of Crump’s vision, which sought to have government buildings, schools and churches within walking distance of the development.
“Crump, the previous developer, was the mastermind of (Maidstone), and it’s been strategically placed near the courthouse, and three of four county schools are literally right behind the project,” Adamson said. “We are trying to foster what we feel will really help the community as a whole.”
The other piece of Crump’s New Kent Courthouse Village plan was a 3-acre commercial section dubbed Preservation Park. It too went back to its lender – in this case EVB – before being purchased by Rose & Crown LLC in January 2013, county records show. Preservation Park is home to the Rose & Crown Tavern.