Through this project you will be learning about a community through the lens of one building, the land it sits on, and the parcel’s possibilities for reuse. The City of Richmond has long been engaged in addressing a problem with vacant buildings. Once vacant, they can become neighborhood eyesores and topics of debate for interested stakeholders.
The private sector, including business owners and real estate developers, and private citizens can be faster to act than the public sector in bringing these buildings back into use. The results are sometimes for better and sometimes for the worse of the neighborhood… depending on who one asks.
In recent years, with Richmond’s real estate market heating up, both local and out-of-town real estate developers have increased the rate at which they are purchasing these parcels.
During this project, you will play the role of the property developer. Whether you are interested in investing in a large downtown building, an industrial warehouse, a former corner store, or an abandoned school building, or a single-family house is your choice. This project centers on the question of what you do with your building and its impact on the neighborhood in which it is located.
ASSIGNMENT Following the steps below, create a proposal supporting the adaptive reuse of a vacant building in Richmond. Your proposal may be Powerpoint, a PDF, or other style presentation.
STEP 1 Select your building! Pick a building that speaks to you or compels you in some way. You may work in collaboration to get to and from the building, or to do research, but the work should be your own. If you cannot find a building then, reference this
STEP 2 Make sure your building is located in a so that you will have access to the information you need for the assignment.
Through the Adaptive Reuse Project, your opportunity to imagine the future needs of a neighborhood through the adaptive reuse of a building, is based on your responses to these 9 questions:
What is the history of your building, including
when it was built, architect (if available), and current owner
what it was used for previously? how did that function reflect the character of the neighborhood?
what is the current market value of the location? how have average values of the neighborhood changed since 2000?
How would you describe the architecture of the building and the urban design of the area?
How would you describe the current condition of the building
Research the neighborhood: were there any community engagement efforts made in the past? What was the outcome?
Recommended sources: StyleWeekly.com, RichmondBizSense.com, Richmond Magazine, Richmond Times Dispatch
Use your research to draw your own conclusions
What is your proposed use of your building parcel? Does it meet the existing zoning requirements for that location? If not, what argument would you make to apply for a new zoning determination?
Is there a demand for the proposal you have?
Who is your intended customer or user? How will your adaptive reuse change the neighborhood in which your building is located?
What other changes in the neighborhood would be necessary to the neighborhood if your project were to succeed?
In what terms would you define the success of your proposed adaptive reuse (choose or determine at least 2 criteria): for ex. number of customers, street presence, significance to the community, significance to tourists and visitors, occupancy, service to distinct populations, gathering place, innovation space, or cultural impact, etc.