In Good Company

Friday, September 18, 2009

In coming weeks and months, we will be profiling several of the new businesses that are moving to Rocketts. That means it’s time to figure what Rocketts will mean for businesses.

In fact it’s the oldest commercial section of the city and the only commercial district with direct access to the James River. That last part is imperative because Robert Hensley, who has responsibility for leasing the project’s commercial space, takes potential business tenants on a boat ride along the James to gain a unique perspective of the project.

I recently met with Hensley, Vice President/Commercial Division for The WVS Companies, developer of Rocketts Landing, and he led me through the various units available.

“As a business owner, you will have a built-in population surrounding you, as well as additional amenities and restaurants for you to enjoy within easy walking distance,” Hensley says.

He points out some additional benefits to all commercial locations:

Exclusive, urban-inspired riverfront/riverside property
2,000 free parking spaces for employees and customers
Units custom-built to suit your needs by local developer
Commercial spaces available in both Richmond City and Henrico County

There are currently three distinct commercial areas within Rocketts Landing: Cedar Works Warehouse, 210 Rock and prime riverfront property. Let’s break it down.

Cedar Works Warehouse
The renovation of this early 20th century warehouse will convert 33,000 square feet into commercial property. Right now developers are working to obtain firm commitments from enough tenants before construction will begin in earnest. The building is located in Henrico County, and as such, is the closest County location to the downtown CBD.

With three floors of space available — each unit contains from 3,000 to 11,000 square feet — aesthetic amenities will include exposed brick walls and heart pine beams, and up to 10-feet ceilings on the first two stories. Businesses on the third floor will have 15-feet, A-frame ceilings. Each floor will also have three all-glass atriums. You may see retailers go in here since they will get street-front exposure to 11,000 cars passing by daily.

“Companies such as a dry cleaner and smoothie shop would do great in the first floor,” Hensley says, and could cater to the 3,500 residents who will complete Rocketts Landing, in addition to clientele from the surrounding communities. Hensley envisions the second and third floors working well for “creative spaces” such as architectural firms, law offices and ad agencies. Businesses could be able to move into the space in late 2010.

210 Rock
A restaurant and home builder/development firm are in the process of moving in, and the building also has an array of high-end residences. 210 Rock is a modern, six-story building offering street-level retail spaces, luxury condominiums and structured parking. In total, there are 12,000 square feet of retail space, and the units are between 1,000 to 3,000 square feet each.

“Storefronts offer great foot traffic from residents, and are just a step away from the river,” Hensley adds, “making this the perfect location for an outdoorsy professional,”

Prime Riverfront Property
The first restaurant to take off is The Boathouse, and word is they are experiencing a two-hour wait. While it may be two years before most of the other six to eight restaurant lots will be available, the fantastic skyline view, modern architecture and direct river access will probably make this highly sought-after. But for now that’s speculation.

The contemporary, three-story buildings will also offer retail and office spaces, and the future available space will total several hundred thousand square feet. Hensley points out that the size of each unit “really depends on what size space the client wants. We [can] accommodate just about any need from the smallest office to a large corporate headquarters.”

There is also a lot available for a high-end riverfront hotel, though it will probably be a few years before the space is available.

“We are happy to begin speaking with clients now,” Hensley says.

Businesses interested in Rocketts Landing commercial spaces get a river tour. The pontoon boat accommodates up to 15 people at a time.

Experiencing the full vision of Rocketts Landing is important, Hensley points out, since only the first four blocks out of the full twenty are currently in development. In an already exciting development, there is still so much more than meets the eye.

“We’re less than a mile from downtown, have a fantastic view of the city, offer convenient parking, and are only steps away from the river,” Hensley says. “This is only the beginning of a great destination.”

If you are interested to take a tour of Rocketts Landing’s commercial district, as well as the complimentary boat ride, you can contact Robert Hensley at robert.hensley@rockettsvillage.com or 804-536-5597.