After several searches for apartments or condos, a hillside resort at the east end of Tobacco Row is now slated for a handful of high-finish townhomes.
Local developer Jeremy Connell is moving forward with a task to build four-story townhomes that he expects to charge between $1 million and $1. 5 million each.
He said the sets would be similar to the 7west townhouses he built across the river in Manchester, but with facades that would mirror the former tobacco warehouses close to 7west’s trendy shopping aspect.
Connell sought city approval to subdivide the 0. 3 acres into six lots, with the sixth set aside for long-term progress or amenity space. This lot would be closer to Dock Street, downstream from the townhouses that would face Cary Street at its intersection with Pera Street.
The assignment is a pivot to earlier plans for taller buildings that would have housed apartments or condos. In 2015, a developer organization proposed an 11-story tower that would have housed 15 high-end condos, but abandoned that assignment two years later.
Then, in 2021, Connell presented a plan for the construction of seven-story apartments (floors facing Cary Street) that would be filled with 47 apartments on top of a structured parking lot.
While he claimed to have thoroughly reviewed the building, Connell said he had the townhomes in mind when he exercised his agreement to acquire the assets in late 2021, paying $775,000 to a David White-connected LLC of the progressive Historic Housing corporation. through the city that year at $311,000 and is now valued at $623,000.
Thinking it was worth looking for “a small apartment concept” on the site, Connell said he had worked with two separate design teams and “came up with some wonderful apartment building concepts in 2022 and 2023. “
“Despite the gigantic projects on paper, financial challenges, the ever-increasing prices of structures and an obvious slowdown in the apartment market (involved), the concept of structured apartments had to be shelved,” he said. “In the end, I go back to my original concept: townhouses. I took the time to take a look at the other options.
Connell works with Mario DiMarco Architects, who designed 7west and several of its projects, as well as the redevelopment of Manchester Pie Factory.
Called The Terraces at Shiplock, the townhomes will have 3 stories overlooking Cary Street and four stories on the riverfront, with 3 degrees of living area above 3-car garages. The sets will be over 3500 square feet, with 3 bedrooms, four bathrooms, rooftop terraces and five-stop elevators from the garage to the rooftop.
The rooftop terraces will be partially covered to provide shade and protection from the elements, and the third-grade open concept with kitchen, dining and living room will have balconies overlooking The Low Line and Great Shiplock Park. The sets will also have a flexible studio or space.
Connell said he envisioned two rows of townhomes with twice as many sets, but it was too much to have good compatibility on site. He said a single row of five sets have “very good” compatibilities, allowing for optimal size, location and service. as in all homes. “
He said he hopes to get final approval for the city subdivision in two to three months, after which the land and building permits will be applied for. Baker Development Resources represents Connell as the project’s land use consultant.
Connell said his goal is for the structure to begin early next year and be completed by the end of 2025. He said no contractor had been found, but he is in talks with a builder active in the city who he said could simply create a joint venture with him. about the project.
Connell said he will list the sets with Patrick Sullivan of Samson Properties’ One South Realty Group, where Connell is also an agent. Sullivan also indexed homes in 7west. 3DI Studio handles graphic images and renderings of Shiplock’s decks.
Connell revealed an estimate of the cost of the allocation, but said he’s confident the homes will be financially viable. He said the assignment still involves a lender.
Located across from the power station of Cary’s Lucky Strike building, it sits at the corner of Pear Street and Shiplock Views, a 180-unit apartment development recently built through Guy Blundon’s CMB development. Across Dock Street is James A. The James River Association’s Buzzard has been taking shape lately.
Jeremy is a top-notch developer and an artistic and modern person. These townhomes will reflect that.
Jeremy is incredibly attentive to each and every task he completes, and his track record of success on previous townhome assignments is a testament to his skills. Add to that a very attractive site, with perspectives of Great Shiplock Park, the river and the added interest. of the trains that pass by, this order will prove impressive to lucky buyers.
I can’t wait for it to become a reality.
Scott Boyers
I’ll echo those two articles about Jeremy and the site. Spectacular views. Five buyers will be too hard for Patrick Sullivan to find. This is its strong point. They will be sold before they are finished.
It seems like a project
Good project. I hope they soundproof well, they are next to the CSX tracks.
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