A newer rendering of the five-story infill apartment building planned beside the Branch Public Baths building at Broad and 18th streets. (Hugo Render image)
A pair of five-story apartment buildings in the works in Shockoe Bottom at the foot of Church Hill are coming into fuller view.
Conceptual renderings have been submitted to the city for both the five-story infill project that the Vogele family is planning beside the Branch Public Baths building at Broad and 18th streets, and for an as-tall building across Broad Street a block east that’s planned by a group led by local architect Bill Laffoon.
Initially proposed over a year ago, the two projects would add dozens of new apartments along a stretch of Broad that serves as a gateway between Shockoe Bottom and Church Hill. The Vogeles’ project is planned to total 31 units, while Laffoon’s group’s building would total 36.
A perspective drawing of the apartment building planned at 1906-1910 E. Broad St. (City documents)
Laffoon, of Richmond-based RML Architecture, this month submitted conceptual site plans and perspective drawings of his group’s project to the city’s Commission of Architectural Review, which weighs in on new construction in the city’s designated Old and Historic Districts. A previous zoning confirmation request to the city did not include the perspectives.
The vacant lot on Broad where Laffoon’s group is planning their apartment building. (BizSense file photos)
The plans show the 36-unit building fitted between existing apartment buildings on that block. The new building would fill an undeveloped lot at 1906-1910 E. Broad St. and would include balconies, according to the renderings.
An initial review of the project was scheduled for CAR’s meeting this week ahead of an eventual request for a certificate of appropriateness, which is needed before construction can begin. City planners recommended that the plans include the balconies’ depth for final review, and that parking entrances be moved to the rear of the building, among other feedback.
Laffoon said a request for a certificate of appropriateness would follow, based on feedback from the commission. He said the group has not set a construction date for the project or selected a general contractor.
“We’ll see what the commission has to say,” he said.
The five-story building would connect to the baths building and adjacent building with a stairwell structure fitted between them.
Meanwhile, the Vogele family has secured CAR approval for their project, which would add a five-story building onto the back sides of the Branch Public Baths building at 1801 E. Broad St. and another two-story building beside it at 1805-09 E. Broad.
The existing buildings would be converted into apartments – five in the baths building and six in the other – and they would connect to the new construction with a stairwell structure fitted between them.
The Branch Public Baths building (right) and adjacent building date to the early 1900s.
The new building would fill a parking lot between the existing structures and separately owned apartment buildings along 18th Street. Those buildings – 213-215 N. 18th St. and 213 Rear N. 18th St. – were recently listed for sale with an asking price of nearly $1.7 million.
One South Commercial’s Isaac Weintz and Ryan Rilee are handling that listing for the seller, an LLC tied to Ralph Reahard, owner of Real Property Management Richmond-Metro.
The Vogeles are working with Johannas Design Group on their project, which would add modern architecture behind the two-story brick buildings that were built in the early 1900s. Current tenant Hodges Partnership is planning to move from the 1805-09 building after 15 years there in light of the project.
The new construction would fill the parking lot behind the existing buildings.
Tom Vogele, a California-based attorney, said the market-rate apartments would be comparable to current rents in the area, which he said range from about $1,450 to $1,800 a month. The family also owns the nearby 15-unit Southland Wine Co. Lofts on Oliver Hill Way, which Vogele said are fully occupied.
He said mass timber would be used in the project to cut down on construction noise and reduce the carbon footprint. Solar panels on the roofs also are planned, and plans show the new building units would include balconies.
Vogele said they’d originally aimed to put the project out to bid early next year, pending development plan approvals, but are now targeting the second half of 2025. He said a cost estimate has not been nailed down for the project, which will not involve historic preservation tax credits.
The five-story infill at Broad and 18th streets would be fitted between the century-old Branch Public Baths building and other apartments on 18th, shown below.
“It’s going to cost us a considerable sum, several million dollars, and we hope to have it be a viable project from day one,” he said. “We think it will be, because the area is still strong from a rental standpoint. We think the buildings will be standouts because of the interior finishes and the exterior detailing, the historical nature of the older buildings.”
The projects add to other activity along that stretch of Broad. A few blocks uphill, work is ramping up on the Midas of Richmond location planned at Broad and 21st streets.
Also nearby, work continues on Historic Housing’s 12-story Bakery Loft Apartments tower at 18th and Grace streets.
A newer rendering of the five-story infill apartment building planned beside the Branch Public Baths building at Broad and 18th streets. (Hugo Render image)
A pair of five-story apartment buildings in the works in Shockoe Bottom at the foot of Church Hill are coming into fuller view.
Conceptual renderings have been submitted to the city for both the five-story infill project that the Vogele family is planning beside the Branch Public Baths building at Broad and 18th streets, and for an as-tall building across Broad Street a block east that’s planned by a group led by local architect Bill Laffoon.
Initially proposed over a year ago, the two projects would add dozens of new apartments along a stretch of Broad that serves as a gateway between Shockoe Bottom and Church Hill. The Vogeles’ project is planned to total 31 units, while Laffoon’s group’s building would total 36.
A perspective drawing of the apartment building planned at 1906-1910 E. Broad St. (City documents)
Laffoon, of Richmond-based RML Architecture, this month submitted conceptual site plans and perspective drawings of his group’s project to the city’s Commission of Architectural Review, which weighs in on new construction in the city’s designated Old and Historic Districts. A previous zoning confirmation request to the city did not include the perspectives.
The vacant lot on Broad where Laffoon’s group is planning their apartment building. (BizSense file photos)
The plans show the 36-unit building fitted between existing apartment buildings on that block. The new building would fill an undeveloped lot at 1906-1910 E. Broad St. and would include balconies, according to the renderings.
An initial review of the project was scheduled for CAR’s meeting this week ahead of an eventual request for a certificate of appropriateness, which is needed before construction can begin. City planners recommended that the plans include the balconies’ depth for final review, and that parking entrances be moved to the rear of the building, among other feedback.
Laffoon said a request for a certificate of appropriateness would follow, based on feedback from the commission. He said the group has not set a construction date for the project or selected a general contractor.
“We’ll see what the commission has to say,” he said.
The five-story building would connect to the baths building and adjacent building with a stairwell structure fitted between them.
Meanwhile, the Vogele family has secured CAR approval for their project, which would add a five-story building onto the back sides of the Branch Public Baths building at 1801 E. Broad St. and another two-story building beside it at 1805-09 E. Broad.
The existing buildings would be converted into apartments – five in the baths building and six in the other – and they would connect to the new construction with a stairwell structure fitted between them.
The Branch Public Baths building (right) and adjacent building date to the early 1900s.
The new building would fill a parking lot between the existing structures and separately owned apartment buildings along 18th Street. Those buildings – 213-215 N. 18th St. and 213 Rear N. 18th St. – were recently listed for sale with an asking price of nearly $1.7 million.
One South Commercial’s Isaac Weintz and Ryan Rilee are handling that listing for the seller, an LLC tied to Ralph Reahard, owner of Real Property Management Richmond-Metro.
The Vogeles are working with Johannas Design Group on their project, which would add modern architecture behind the two-story brick buildings that were built in the early 1900s. Current tenant Hodges Partnership is planning to move from the 1805-09 building after 15 years there in light of the project.
The new construction would fill the parking lot behind the existing buildings.
Tom Vogele, a California-based attorney, said the market-rate apartments would be comparable to current rents in the area, which he said range from about $1,450 to $1,800 a month. The family also owns the nearby 15-unit Southland Wine Co. Lofts on Oliver Hill Way, which Vogele said are fully occupied.
He said mass timber would be used in the project to cut down on construction noise and reduce the carbon footprint. Solar panels on the roofs also are planned, and plans show the new building units would include balconies.
Vogele said they’d originally aimed to put the project out to bid early next year, pending development plan approvals, but are now targeting the second half of 2025. He said a cost estimate has not been nailed down for the project, which will not involve historic preservation tax credits.
The five-story infill at Broad and 18th streets would be fitted between the century-old Branch Public Baths building and other apartments on 18th, shown below.
“It’s going to cost us a considerable sum, several million dollars, and we hope to have it be a viable project from day one,” he said. “We think it will be, because the area is still strong from a rental standpoint. We think the buildings will be standouts because of the interior finishes and the exterior detailing, the historical nature of the older buildings.”
The projects add to other activity along that stretch of Broad. A few blocks uphill, work is ramping up on the Midas of Richmond location planned at Broad and 21st streets.
Also nearby, work continues on Historic Housing’s 12-story Bakery Loft Apartments tower at 18th and Grace streets.
I am in love with this, more infill to get rid of the sea of parking that is that part of Shockoe is always welcome in my eyes, hopeful that this attracts further eyes to the area for more redevelopment of empty lots!!
Wishing the best to Mr. Laffoon and the Vogeles for these proposed projects.
I’m all for development in the city. Particularly if it helps housing supply with additional units. However, I’m in awe at how incredibly vanilla the Bakery Loft Apartment Tower has shaped up to be. It’s truly a monstrous box leaving even a Holiday Inn Express looking quite extravagant. How this was allowed in a historic district is beyond comprehension. I never thought I’d say this, but I hope the CAR can be more involved in larger developments ensuring designs have more interesting architectural character. The Bakery Loft Apartment Tower makes it clear that some developers only see the bottom line… Read more »
“Some developers” Thank you for the chuckle.
I think the issue is that, in a historic district, new structures need to be compatible with but differentiated from the historic structures (I am assuming this is a city historic district). I think that tends to stymie architectural creativity, result in kind on bland designs. The problem is we need more density to make the area more walkable, to meet modern expectations with regards to living space, to meet housing demand, to replace everything that was lost to all that parking, etc. But architectural guidelines meant to highlight the historic structures by downplaying the contemporary ones, it seems like… Read more »
I also think it is odd that they say the new building will “add activity” to the area. The Branch buildings have been office spaces for more people than it will have bedrooms. The building will no longer have any street front/level retail but all apartments. The project will reduce pedestrian traffic and trade along that section of Broad not encourage it.
I can see it from my office as I type – just a huge beige monolith. More hideous NOVA-scaping of our city.
exactly! I said the other day it looks like a comfort inn! I thought it was supposed to tie into the old warehouse vibe??
You nailed it, Bruce. They have created the ugliest building in the City of Richmond. And second place isn’t even close.
Actually, I think second place is pretty close and it is their other building, The Icon in Scott’s Addition. Part of which actually used to be a hotel like a Comfort Inn.
great to see infill there
Richmond is a travel by car city.
I’m bummed for the people who live in those row houses on Cedar St, who will have five stories of windows looking down into their backyards.
Curious to see if this will help curb all the chronic late-night shenanigans at the adjacent Exxon and McDonald’s……
It’s refreshing to see infill with high-quality design. Good luck.