Are the Manchester Silos Days Numbered? Adjacent Acreage Goes Under Contract News by Michael C. Hild - April 16, 2018April 16, 201822 I have long been an admirer of the Southern States silos at the base of the Mayo Bridge in Manchester. Their industrial grittiness is a reminder that Manchester was once where things were made and industry ruled. But that industrial star is slowly fading as residential housing takes hold of the area’s unparalleled views of the James River and city skyline. We were reminded of this change when Lory Markham of Markham Planning announced at last week’s Manchester Alliance meeting that three large parcels adjacent to the Manchester silos had been placed under contract by a group comprised of Fountainhead Development’s Tom Papa and WVS Cos.’ Jason Vickers-Smith and Richard Souter. Markham is handling the proposed rezoning for the parcels so that large apartment buildings can be constructed along the Manchester Canal. If you are unfamiliar with the area, you might recognize one of the buildings that is located on one of these parcels and is decorated with the mural of a witch from the RVA Street Art Festival. While the Manchester silos are not part of the transaction or rezoning proposal, if you connect the dots you can see where this is headed. We have seen this movie before. If the three parcels are developed with apartment high rises, those parcels will be built with parking in mind to serve the proposed 200+ apartment units located on the same site. That will likely do two things: 1) raise the value of the Manchester silos and 2) it will likely remove the use of these adjacent parcels for future parking for whatever is done with with Manchester silos. To be fair, the Manchester Silos are not the responsibility of the owners and developers of the adjacent land. These developers are simply doing what comes naturally for such an attractive and highly underutilized property: build and make it into something more valuable. But I have to say that I fear what might come next: an announcement that the Manchester Silos have been sold and are set for demolition. Lory Markham said with a concerned look on her face at the Manchester Alliance meeting when asked: “I don’t know what is going to happen to the silos.” Again, the silos are not her responsibility or that of the development group she represents. But you can read between the lines. As of this morning, Richmond BizSense reported on this same topic as they were also at the same Manchester Alliance meeting. They quoted one of the managers of the Riverfront Silos LLC that owns the silos who had this to say: “Recognizing Manchester’s changing landscape, LeCompte said the site, if it were to be sold, would be better suited to accommodate a mix of commercial or residential uses. ‘What’s there is not the best use as the city has progressed,”he said. “There used to be more industrial, and now that is transitioning to be more habitational. Manchester is an exciting place, so whatever goes on our property down the line, it will be significant.’” So what’s my takeaway? I think you’d best get your photos of the Manchester Silos now. If I were a betting man, I would say the silos’ days are numbered. I hope I am wrong and that someone comes up with a creative way to keep the silos and put them to good use. If there is one thing this town doesn’t lack-it is creativity. We shall see… SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave
One day, in the not too distant future, the entire skyline will be one, long, even, Wal-Mart-like line of apartments and condos. That’s gonna be great. Reply
Richmond having density is a good thing. Key is that good buildings are built, not short-pumpy ones Reply
Gain silos hold no romance for me. There’s not much you can do with a derelict grain silo except let it rot. It’s served is purpose. Now it’s time for something new. Reply
I like them – but it is interesting that things that were once industrial and eye sores become historic and of significance when development is talked about…🤔 Reply
I’m surprised at the number of people who really seem attached to these silos. I’m personally ok with moving on with this particular building and putting something (hopefully) more attractive and useful in its place. Reply
If you look at the Terraces and Rivers Edge you will see the future of Manchester. Nothing attractive about it. Reply
I just can’t stand how my family has been in Richmond since the beginning of time and these young people as well as out of towners come here and destroy pieces of our city in name of “progression” Reply
Maybe, despite first appearances and the widespread cultural narrative (including my own assumptions), it’s possible to have both industrial / port jobs and a waterfront line with high-end residential development. Baltimore port cargo volume apparently increased even as the cultural narrative was all about the loss of industrial/port land to luxury condos, at least if the port volume numbers in this retrospective from the CityPaper about The Wire Season 2 are accurate: http://www.citypaper.com/news/thewire/bcpnews-season-twothe-invisible-role-of-the-ports-and-the-shadow-economy-laid-bare-20150602-story.html . I don’t know what the right answer is. Wishing for the return of a working waterfront in Manchester won’t make it true, and I’m not sure the jobs that used to exist were all that “good” (after all, industry built in Richmond in part to take advantage of cheaper non-union labor). And I’m not sure nostalgia or the aesthetic appeal of the grain elevators is a good idea to keep waterfront land vacant. Reply
