The 1.6-acre parcel sits just northeast of Virginia Union University. (Courtesy 510 Architects)
A commercial stretch in the Northside has caught the eye of a Northern Virginia-based developer.
An entity tied to Fairfax-based development firm Sugar Mill Construction is planning a six-story mixed-use building at 2500-2536 N. Lombardy St., according to plans recently filed with the city.
The 1.6-acre project site is near Lombardy’s intersections with Overbrook Road, Seminary Avenue and Chamberlayne Avenue.
About eight buildings currently stand on the properties, many of which are vacant. Used car dealership RVA Motors operates at 2516 N. Lombardy St., as do a handful of retailers at the property’s northern end.
Sugar Mill, which is working the project through its One Parkwood LLC, declined to comment, according to its counsel, Jeff Geiger of Hirschler Fleischer.
According to its website, Sugar Mill works in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region, specializing in renovating multifamily residential buildings as well as commercial fit-outs. It also operates a sister company, Park Bradley Homes, that builds single-family homes.
Earlier this month, Geiger, on behalf of Sugar Mill, filed requests for both a special-use permit and rezoning of the Lombardy Street properties, stating that his client “plans to replace the run-down, underutilized buildings on the property with a class-A, mixed-use building containing commercial and multifamily uses.”
Many of the buildings being eyed for redevelopment are vacant. (Mike Platania photo)
The new building would have commercial and amenity space on the ground floor. The number of apartments was not included in the plans.
Geiger wrote in the SUP application that “This project will also help contribute to the area’s rejuvenation and start the evolution the City seeks in this corridor and further the City’s aspirations for this neighborhood.” He also wrote that a parking lot would be constructed behind the new building.
Sugar Mill already owns half of the six parcels that make up the site. City records show it bought 2500, 2510 and 2516 N. Lombardy St. in a trio of deals between July and December 2022 for a combined $1.72 million. Geiger’s application states that it controls the remaining three properties at 2530, 2534 and 2536 N. Lombardy St. Those properties are currently owned by the Massad family, which recently closed and sold the Massad House Hotel downtown.
510 Architects is listed as the project architect.
Sugar Mill is seeking to rezone the project site to TOD-1 Transit-Oriented Nodal District. Though that zoning allows for up to 12 stories, the firm is seeking a special-use permit because of inclined plane height restrictions.
Sugar Mill has also shown interest in other parts of the city. City records show that in 2021 it bought 1005 Westover Hills Blvd., a triangular, quarter-acre lot in the Southside that local developer Zach Kennedy had recently gotten approved for a 12-unit mixed-use building.
The 1.6-acre parcel sits just northeast of Virginia Union University. (Courtesy 510 Architects)
A commercial stretch in the Northside has caught the eye of a Northern Virginia-based developer.
An entity tied to Fairfax-based development firm Sugar Mill Construction is planning a six-story mixed-use building at 2500-2536 N. Lombardy St., according to plans recently filed with the city.
The 1.6-acre project site is near Lombardy’s intersections with Overbrook Road, Seminary Avenue and Chamberlayne Avenue.
About eight buildings currently stand on the properties, many of which are vacant. Used car dealership RVA Motors operates at 2516 N. Lombardy St., as do a handful of retailers at the property’s northern end.
Sugar Mill, which is working the project through its One Parkwood LLC, declined to comment, according to its counsel, Jeff Geiger of Hirschler Fleischer.
According to its website, Sugar Mill works in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region, specializing in renovating multifamily residential buildings as well as commercial fit-outs. It also operates a sister company, Park Bradley Homes, that builds single-family homes.
Earlier this month, Geiger, on behalf of Sugar Mill, filed requests for both a special-use permit and rezoning of the Lombardy Street properties, stating that his client “plans to replace the run-down, underutilized buildings on the property with a class-A, mixed-use building containing commercial and multifamily uses.”
Many of the buildings being eyed for redevelopment are vacant. (Mike Platania photo)
The new building would have commercial and amenity space on the ground floor. The number of apartments was not included in the plans.
Geiger wrote in the SUP application that “This project will also help contribute to the area’s rejuvenation and start the evolution the City seeks in this corridor and further the City’s aspirations for this neighborhood.” He also wrote that a parking lot would be constructed behind the new building.
Sugar Mill already owns half of the six parcels that make up the site. City records show it bought 2500, 2510 and 2516 N. Lombardy St. in a trio of deals between July and December 2022 for a combined $1.72 million. Geiger’s application states that it controls the remaining three properties at 2530, 2534 and 2536 N. Lombardy St. Those properties are currently owned by the Massad family, which recently closed and sold the Massad House Hotel downtown.
510 Architects is listed as the project architect.
Sugar Mill is seeking to rezone the project site to TOD-1 Transit-Oriented Nodal District. Though that zoning allows for up to 12 stories, the firm is seeking a special-use permit because of inclined plane height restrictions.
Sugar Mill has also shown interest in other parts of the city. City records show that in 2021 it bought 1005 Westover Hills Blvd., a triangular, quarter-acre lot in the Southside that local developer Zach Kennedy had recently gotten approved for a 12-unit mixed-use building.
Fantastic to finally see that under served area finally pop. My listing that sold last year at 2412 was a diamond in the rough. Surely the new owner who took a chance is pleased.
The VUU-Chamberlayne plan laid out a great set of recommendations for N. Lombardy. Northsiders need a great walkable mixed-use project along this area to change the feel of the area. Too much positive change in the neighborhoods…time to get a quality business district…please follow the plan.
I’m not necessarily a fan of the plan, but I am curious if you believe following the plan is the priority of our BZA and PC ?
How about trying not to micromanage the types of people who get things done?
This is the best news of the day that a parking lot will be turned into six stories of housing without any green space or trees being cut down. This will also bring in more taxes for the city instead of the parking lot.
But they really should look at making this project 8 to 10 stories tall to deal with the run away rents in Richmond.
I am pretty sure they are not spending their money in order to “deal with the high rents” but rather to make it work, and I suspect that they have decided on the scale of the project based on their research, which was likely necessary to get a lender to back the plan.
I always found that block interesting. I would sometimes stop at Paul’s Antique and Salvage place — and often park someplace nearby — and some of those places are like time capsules — not in a good or bad way, don’t worry History fetishists — if anything, a bad way, but INTERESTING. Old buildings that at some point seemed to have owners that seemed to think they were in a war-zone. DEFINITELY some history there, maybe the history people will someday get the idea that there should be a “1970s Desegregation Museum” or something and rush to freeze these buildings… Read more »
The war zone is a result of Richmond’s constant war against People of Color. Reparations please and thank you.
Exactly
Not from me — I’m from upstate NY and my ancestors are mostly Scottish and Irish. You can shake down the Virginia Tuckahoe types if you wish.
People of Color is one pretty nonsense term — I guess right now it means those of Sub-Saharan heritage — but, when convenient, it means everyone who is not “White”.
Ho Hum.
War zone was because people were not getting along. I think in the 1970s, from what I have heard and read, both of the main sides here had some pretty legit beefs with each other, though history, as always, tends to be a bit one-sided on this.
What a great article. We are super excited to be part of this revitalization as we purchased closer to Brook Road, 2300 block of N. Lombardy 2 years ago. Our new build is finally off the ground after the old burned out shell was dismantled. Please welcome BECK ESTATES to the area, long time northsiders Heather and Nathan Beck, specialize in estate personal property and real estate since 1997. Beck Estates holds roughly 50 online auctions per year and sells estate merchandise of the higher end and better sort. We hope to open our doors summer 2023. Please stop by… Read more »
How do you “seek” to rezone an area?
That corridor can’t reach it’s full potential until something is done about the seedy motels that line that section of Chamberlayne. I wish Sugar Mill all the luck, though. It’s going to be challenging to fill apartments/commercial space that are next to a ‘drug and prostitution magnet’, as my neighbors call them.
“planning a six-story mixed-use building”
Let me guess – another copy paste five over one with absolutely zero distinguishing characteristic.
I’m all for development but the sooner this trend dies the better.
Happy to see redevelopment of this block. We moved into our new recording studio building (Sound of Music) further south on Brook two years ago and we love the area Now if we could get a good restaurant nearby…😊