A look at planned development near Willow Lawn
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As Henrico continues to expand, there has been a wave of sizable real estate developments proposed and/or approved in the Willow Lawn area, centered around the intersection of Staples Mill Road and West Broad Street. As new proposals are submitted over time, it can be difficult to see the complete picture, so we’ve summarized a number of them below with links to the Citizen’s past coverage for more information.
Including the 20-30 year timeframe for the redevelopment of Willow Lawn and not accounting for any new proposals yet to be heard, these developments taken together will, or have, brought major change to the area. Plans calls for the addition of nearly 8,000 residential units – largely studios to two-bedroom units, with some three-bedroom units – and more than 700,000 square feet of commercial space (such as offices and retail uses).
Willow Lawn
The nearly 70-year-old indoor shopping mall turned outdoor retail center is reinventing itself again to expand its commercial space and add residential units. In November 2023, the Henrico Board of Supervisors approved the center’s 20-to-30-year redevelopment plan. Redevelopment will happen in phases, the first of which may not begin for another two to four years, each of which will require its own plan to be approved by the county.
The long-term goal is to split Willow Lawn into 11 areas: some that are purely commercial, including office space, and some that are a mixture of commercial and residential. The site would also include a large central courtyard and the option for a 100-foot “signature” building. The final version of the site is estimated to contain approximately 2,000 residential units and more than 500,000 square feet of commercial and office space.
Citizen coverage:
Henrico supervisors approve Willow Lawn redevelopment plan
Henrico planners now recommending approval of Willow Lawn redevelopment plans
Owner seeks to urbanize Willow Lawn, add more than 2,000 residences
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Libbie MillOriginally proposed in 2006, this now-90-acre site has been under construction for 17 years, expanding three times to take in neighboring properties. As of November 2023, it held about 1,500 of 2,123 planned residents and more than 143,000 square feet of retail and office space, in addition to the nearly 53,000 square foot LL Flooring building.
Work began in January 2023 on the planned Harps Landing Apartments, expected to contain 398 units, as well as a 5,000-square-foot commercial building north of Libbie Lake. The owner, Gumenick Properties, has also announced that it will begin construction on Wrighthaven Square Apartments along Libbie in 2024. Wrighthaven Square is expected to contain 336 units in 15 three-four story buildings as well as a child-friendly activity area.
Citizen coverage:
Libbie Mill's development and what comes next
Despite setbacks, Libbie Mill steadily progressing
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2000 Maywill Street
In December 2023, the board of supervisors approved of a plan to redevelop the old Anthem-Blue Cross/Blue Shield offices at the intersection of Staples Mill Road and West Broad Street. The long-term goal is a mixed-use development with up to 700 residential units, a hotel, 30,000 square feet of retail space, and almost 140,000 square feet of offices. Development is expected to proceed in phases, with each phase requiring a plan to be approved by the county.
Citizen coverage:
Henrico supervisors approve large mixed-use development near Willow Lawn
Developers propose $450M mixed-use development near Henrico-Richmond line
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Thalbro Street and Westmoreland Street
Proposed Layout (September 2023)
In September 2023, the board of supervisors approved an expanded plan for a seven-story apartment building north of the intersection of Thalbro Street and Westmoreland Street. The building would contain 3,500 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor and 268 residential units. As of November 2023, no work on the site had yet begun.
Citizen coverage:
Henrico supervisors approve Near West End apartments mixed-use development in Short Pump
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Jacque Street and Dabney Road
In August 2023, the board of supervisors approved a plan for an apartment building on the south line of Jacque Street, west of its intersection with Dabney Road. The building would contain no more than 241 residential units. As of November 2023, no work on the site had yet begun.
Citizen coverage:
Henrico Planning Commission endorses apartment proposal in Near West End
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Westmoreland Crossing
Proposed Site Layout (March 2023)
In March 2023, the board of supervisors approved a plan to redevelop the property at the intersection of Westmoreland Street and Jacque Street to rework the commercial space and add residential units. Building would occur in phases, with 500 residential units added in the first three phases and up to 1,000 possible in later phases. The development’s 52,500 square feet of commercial space would be split between restaurants, retail, and offices. Buildings could be up to 175 feet tall and the developer will be required to add sidewalks along all public and internal roads. As of November 2023, no work on the site had yet begun.
Citizen Coverage:
Henrico Planning Commission recommends mixed-use development at Virginia Center
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4911 Augusta Avenue
Proposed Layout (September 2022)
In March 2023, the board of supervisors approved a plan to redevelop an office building on Augusta Avenue between Willow Lawn and Staples Mill Road into a six-story building with as many as 160 residential units, 4,600 square feet of commercial space on the first floor, and an underground parking garage. As of November 2023, no work on the site had yet begun.
Citizen coverage:
Proposed Staples Mill Sheetz sparks opposition at Henrico Planning Commission meeting
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Tapestry West Apartments
(Image Credit: Apartments.com)
In September 2022, a recently completed five-story apartment building, Tapestry West Apartments at 2031 Maywill Street, was sold for $92 million dollars to its present owner. It contains 262 one-to-three-bedroom apartments and used to be part of the property located at Jacque Street and Westmoreland Street now being redeveloped into Westmoreland Crossing.
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4400 West Broad Street
Proposed Layout (April 2022)
In June 2022, the board of supervisors approved a plan to redevelop a vacant site on West Broad Street between its intersections with Westmoreland Street and Westwood Avenue. Two multi-family buildings are envisioned, with a total of 340 residential units and 412 parking spaces. The developer must maintain the existing sidewalks and build new sidewalks along all internal roads, plus Henrico County reserves the right to build a road through the central access lane to connect the properties to the east and west. As of November 2023, there were no buildings on the site, but no work had yet begun.
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Willow Lawn Avenue & North Grace Street
Proposed Layout (March 2022)
In May 2022, the board of supervisors approved a plan to redevelop office buildings along the north line of Willow Lawn Avenue, north of its intersection with Grace Street, into a seven-story apartment building. The building will contain 273 residential units and be staggered towards the rear to block less light from neighboring homes. No three-bedroom units will be allowed. As of November 2023, no work on the site had yet begun.
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2369 Lofts
In April 2022, the board of supervisors approved a plan to redevelop an office and warehouse on Staples Mill Road across the street from Libbie Mill. The goal is a 140-foot, 10-story building with 232 residential units, 253 parking spaces, and 10,000 square feet of commercial/office space on the first floor. To lower density, no more than 10% of the units would be three-bedroom. Henrico County also has reserved the right to build a road in the future that connects the existing traffic light and private road at the northwest corner of the site with Edward Holland Drive. As of November 2023, no work on the site had yet begun.
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Dabney Road and Westwood Avenue
Proposed Layout (February 2022)
In March 2022, the board of supervisors approved a plan to redevelop an industrial site on the east line of Dabney, north of its intersection with Westwood. A five-story building is planned containing 345 residential units and 3,500 square feet of commercial space on the first floor. As of November 2023, construction was ongoing but significant progress had been made.
Citizen Coverage:
Henrico Planning Commission endorses several projects, approves others
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6531 West Broad Street
In November 2021, the board of supervisors approved a plan to redevelop a former hotel and adjacent sites on West Broad Street just south of its intersection with Dickens Lane. The planned development will be four mixed-use buildings built in phases, totaling 250 residential units, 75,000 square feet of commercial space allocated between a daycare space, offices, and retail, and 262 parking spaces. No three-bedroom apartments are allowed and outside dining must be limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.. Entrances will be on West Broad and, eventually, Betty Lane and the owner must also provide sidewalks along West Broad, Betty, and any internal roads. The developer has also investigated purchasing the right to connect through the neighboring apartment complex to Redman Road. As of November 2023, the site had been demolished aside from the old sign and construction on the Phase I building was in progress.
