Hull Street Slowly But Surely Makes Progress News by Michael C. Hild - November 8, 2018November 8, 201819 After years of decline, the 1200-1300 blocks of Hull Steet are starting to look alive again. Contractors are busily preparing The Butterbean Market & Cafe, Pig & Brew and Dogtown Brewing Co. for opening. Apartment residents above the businesses have filled all the available units in the once vacant buildings. Locals and visitors alike can be seen on Hull Street snapping pictures, walking to their new jobs at one of the new businesses on the corridor, or soaking in the changes with donuts & coffee in hand after visiting the newly opened Hot Diggity Donuts. Here is a quick synopsis of some of the activity: 1213 Hull Street: Fully renovated, all 4 apartments filled with new residents, Hot Diggity Donuts is open for business on the ground floor serving hot sourdough donuts, coffee, desserts, and cocktails. 1204 & 1206 Hull Street: Fully renovated, all 10 apartments are filled with new residents. Construction is wrapping up in the next 45 days for The Butterbean Market & Cafe, including an outdoor patio and parking lot. The specialty market will offers groceries, convenience items, and beer/wine. The cafe will offer made from scratch, soups, salads, sandwiches, along with beer, wine and kombucha on tap. Live music will also be scheduled on weekends. 1313 Hull Street: Fully renovated, all 14 apartments are filled with new residents. Pig & Brew on the ground floor is reported to be opening up soon. According to Richmond BizSense’s announcement in 2017, Lamont Hawkins, “said the menu will include smoked brisket and chicken, smoked wings and spare ribs. The restaurant will continue serving its signature pulled pork barbecue items, as well as side dishes such as collard greens, macaroni and cheese, green beans and baked beans.” 1209 Hull Street: Renovation is scheduled to be completed for the first phase of the building by year end including 12 new apartments and a new parking lot at the rear. Construction for Dogtown Brewing Co. on the first floor, the two story brewhouse at the rear, and its rooftop bar with city views is underway. The brewpub will include a restaurant with foodservice to complement its 20 beers served on tap, and cans to go. A special use permit that is up for consideration would enable the brewery to distribute its beer to other restaurants was unanimously approved by the City of Richmond’s Planning Commission. It is slated to go to City Council for a vote on Tuesday, November 13th. 1128 Hull Street: The plans for a mixed us addition and new brewpub in the form of Manastoh Brewing were temporarily put on hold after new zoning for Hull Street was proposed. With the new B-5 zoning now in place, the construction plans for the building are being updated to reflect what the new zoning allows/requires. 1228 Hull Street: The old Lighthouse Diner is in the early stages of re-development. Preliminary plans call for a mixed use project with apartments at the rear for the first phase of construction. Plans for a second phase that will revive the long shuttered diner at the front will hopefully follow. If you haven’t been to Manchester’s Hull Street recently, now is a good time to check out all the changes as they are in mid-stream. In a short while when construction is wrapped up for many of these projects, things will look quite different. The future certainly looks promising for Hull Street!
As a teenager I always though Manchester / Hull St. corridor had potential, wish I could have invested back then. Sad and senseless that the decline ever happened to begin with. Reply
Richard Mcree, the crime rate in Manchester is one of the lowest in the city, despite the ever increasing density with new residents moving in. Crime is lower in Manchester than in the Fan and lower than Church Hill. Those are the facts. Police will need to increase their presence as activity increases, no doubt. But that comes with any growing area. Reply
Yes that is true. I for one am happy to set the growth as a resident of the area further up near Chippenham. Growth is good for everyone and crime is a tag along for anywhere so thank God for the law enforcement as Hull Street is reborn! Reply
I’m glad to see businesses going up in the once vacant buildings. I have family who live in the area and visit some of the wonderful businesses there as well. Great little slice of Richmond!! ❤️ Reply
I am happy for this. I participated in the building of new and historic renovation of many homes and buildings in the Blackwell area many years ago. I hope though that gentrification is not taking place and that the local folk are being included in this process. Reply
We just opened our offices up the block from them and are beginning renovation. Hot Diggity Donuts is our spot for quick breakfast eats! Reply
Speaking of Hull Street future progress. I saw over the summer that Stoney was pushing for a $4.5 million dollar tax break for a development at 400 Hull Street by Lynx. Naysayers state that this is a hot area and doesn’t need incentives. I would wholeheartedly agree if this project was just purely the typical apartment hi-rises with a smattering of small retail space. However the 90 space public parking garage aspect of the project leaves me pause and makes me unsure if perhaps the parking amenity warrants a degree of tax break. Afterall sometimes when you leave it purely to the marketplace you get very poor land use like the new McDonalds at Hull and Commerce… I can’t recall seeing Dogtown Dish weigh in on 400 Hull. Would appreciate to hear your reaction. Reply
Was just over off Belvedere across from war memorial . Was amazed and surprised how great it all looked! Clean and thriving. Reply
Walk into Hot Diggity Doughnuts and say “hi”, the owners there are the ones opening all those businesses Reply
