Stonefield (mixed use development)

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Albemarle Place continues to line up tenants

Stonefield (formerly known as Albemarle Place) is a neighborhood model project being developed on 65 acres surrounding the Sperry Marine facility at the northwestern corner of the intersection of US Route 29 and Hydraulic Road. The South Carolina-based Edens, formerly known as Edens and Avant, are the current owners of the property. [1]

The site for Stonefield has been noted as an "extremely challenging"[2] design environment, with developers having to negotiate the neighborhood model's requirement of inwardly facing buildings and sequestered parking lots, while also satisfying the Architectural Review Board's design considerations for the Hydraulic Road and Route 29 entrance corridors.

The original rezoning was approved by the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors [3] in October of 2003. Ground was broken on the project on May 10, 2011. [4]


Project history

Early History

The original developer of the project was the Landonomics Group with the Cox Company serving as project engineer. The original land use request was an application to rezone 63.7 acres from C-1 (Commercial) and LI (Light Industry) to NMD (Neighborhood Model District) to allow a 1.8 million square feet mixed-use development running from Hydraulic Road up US 29. The rezoning of Albemarle Place to Neighborhood Model was approved on October 23, 2003.[5] Originally named Albemarle Place, Edens renamed the project in January 2011 to Stonefield.[6]


Ambox notice.png This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.


Architectural review

Stonefield received a certificate of appropriateness from the ARB on October 17, 2011 for its first major portion of site plans, covering nine buildings including the Trader Joe's at the corner of Hydraulic and 29.[7] The Regal Cinemas building was also approved at that meeting. Brick color on the Trader Joe's building was controversial, and the board required Edens' architects to return with an alternative to the white painted bricks. Board members Chuck Lebo and Paul Wright were consistently against white bricks, forcing a 2-2 tie vote against Edens' revised unpainted white brick choice. The full board later voted 3-2 on December 5, 2011 to allow the unpainted white brick.[8]

The Architectural Review Board provided initial feedback at a meeting on May 16, 2011 and stated the corner of U.S. 29 and Hydraulic Road is one of the most important in the county. [9] In late June 2011, they indicated they could not support the design of the Trader Joe's and Regal Cinemas because they were not similar to previously approved plans.[10]

Construction plans

The project will be constructed in two phases by Faulconer Construction.[4] The first will see the construction of a 270,000 square feet of retail, a central plaza and 245 residential units.[4] The second phase will include a 135-room hotel and more residential units.[11] Officials with Edens & Avant confirmed in January 2012 that the hotel will be a Hyatt Place.[12]

Stormwater violation

On June 1, 2012, the Department of Neighborhood Development Services served the developers with a violation notice following the developer's decision to open a 72-inch pipe that carries stormwater. The pipe was to remain closed until the developers added erosion control measures to the drainage channel.[13] The violation was appealed to City Council on July 16, 2012, but council upheld the decision unanimously.[14] In August 2012, Edens appealed the Council's decision in Charlottesville Circuit Court, arguing that they fulfilled their duties toward erosion control. The brief also claims that Great Eastern Management Co., one of the companies who owns the land through which the water drains, is using City Council's decision to try to force Edens to bear the cost of improvements on the land to benefit future development of Seminole Square Shopping Center.[15]

Tenants

Floor plan for Albemarle Place Stadium 14
  • In September 2010, Edens announced Regal Cinemas would open a 14-screen stadium seating movie theater as part of the development's first phase. One of the screens will feature IMAX technology. The theater will serve as an anchor for a plaza to be built on the development's main street.[16] The theater is expected to open in 2012.
  • In March 2011, Edens confirmed that the site will feature a Trader Joe's. [17] On August 3, 2012, developers announced that the Trader Joe's would be opening in November of that year.[18]
  • At the ground-breaking, it was announced that two restaurants will be part of the first phasee. They are Osaka Sushi and Travinia Italian Kitchen.[4]
  • May 28, 2012, the Charlottesville Business Journal published more confirmed tenants for the site including Cafe Caturra, Burton's Grill, Pier 1 Imports, and a Hyatt Hotel. [1]
  • On August 27, 2012, Payne, Ross & Associates announced that Albemarle Place would host the second location for chef Jason Alley's tapas-style restaurant, Pasture.[19]


Potential residential build-out

Stonefield can have a maximum of 650 dwelling units. None have yet been built nor are under construction. [20]

Construction Timeline

  • Mass Grading / Storm Water Management: May 2011 – Oct 2011
  • Off Site Road Construction: July 2011 – April 2012
  • On Site Infrastructure: Oct 2011 - Aug 2012
  • Town Center Construction: Oct 2011 – Oct 2012 (Nov 1 Grand Opening)
  • Apartment Construction: Feb 2012 to Apr 2013
  • Townhome Construction: TBD (2013)
  • Northside Construction: TBD (2013)[4]


Sewer capacity

At their meeting on September 10, 2008, Albemarle County Service Authority Executive Director Gary Fern told the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors that it was his understanding that the Albemarle Place developers would be paying the costs for the sewer connection to the RWSA's Meadowcreek Interceptor. The Supervisors were told that the sewer capacity would be in place and available when Edens is ready to move forward with the development.[21] A separate upgrade of the capacity of the Meadowcreek Interceptor, necessary to support Albemarle Place, is under construction.

Traffic concerns

Meadows neighborhood residents voiced concern over raised traffic in their neighborhood from Stonefield shoppers trying to avoid traffic on Route 29. The neighborhood's Cedar Hill Road is immediately across from an entrance to Stonefield, but city staff said it has been made inaccessible from Stonefield.[22]

Map

Coordinates:Erioll world.svg.png 38°03′52″N 78°29′31″W / 38.064531°N 78.491868°W / 38.064531; -78.491868


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Web. Stonefield project building interest, tenant list, Nate Delesline III, Daily Progress Business Journal, Media General, 28 May 2012, retrieved 28 May 2012.
  2. Web. Amid challenges, Stonefield garners some positive feedback, Kurt Walters, Charlottesville Tomorrow, Charlottesville, VA, October 5, 2011, retrieved December 14, 2011.
  3. Albemarle Place: More than traffic under review
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Web. The Shops at Stonefield: Project Highlights and Fact Sheet, Edens & Avant, May 10, 2011, retrieved May 10, 2011.
  5. Cilimberg, V. Wayne. "RE: ZMA-2001-007-Albemarle Place." Letter to Frank D. Cox, Jr. 13 Nov. 2003. Charlottesville Tomorrow's Document Archive. Web. 25 June 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/20031118-Albemarle-Place-Approval-Letter.pdf>.
  6. Web. Good-bye, Albemarle Place. Hello, Trader Joe’s?, Dave McNair, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, January 6, 2011, retrieved January 25, 2011.
  7. Web. Stonefield hits approval milestone, Kurt Walters, Charlottesville Tomorrow, October 18, 2011, retrieved December 14, 2011.
  8. Web. Architectural Review Board finally approves Trader Joe’s brick color, Kurt Walters, Charlottesville Tomorrow, December 6, 2011, retrieved December 14, 2011.
  9. Web. ARB ACTION MEMO, May 16, 2011, retrieved May 24, 2011.
  10. Web. ARB challenges design for Stonefield’s theater and grocery store, Tracie Cabler and Brian Wheeler, Charlottesville Tomorrow, June 26, 2011, retrieved June 27, 2011.
  11. Web. [Former Albemarle Place awaits start Former Albemarle Place awaits start], Chiara Canzi, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, March 15, 2011, retrieved March 15, 2011. Print. March 15, 2011 .
  12. Web. Stonefield still slated for 137-room hotel, says developer, C-Ville Writers, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, January 25, 2012, retrieved January 25, 2012. Print. January 25, 2012 .
  13. Web. Stonefield's grading and stormwater reviewed by Albemarle, Sean Tubbs, article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, July 11, 2012, retrieved July 18, 2012.
  14. Web. Council upholds Stonefield stormwater violation; Edens uncertain of next steps, Sean Tubbs, article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, July 18, 2012, retrieved July 18, 2012.
  15. Web. Stonefield developer files appeal in circuit court, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, August 26, 2012, retrieved August 27, 2012.
  16. Web. Albemarle Place Goes to the Movies with Regal Cinemas & IMAX, press release, Edens & Avant, September 30, 2010, retrieved September 30, 2010.
  17. Web. Stonefield Development: Trader Joe's coming to town, Dave McNair, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, March 9, 2011, retrieved March 9, 2011. Print. March 10, 2011 , 1011, .
  18. Web. Trader Joe's slated to open in November, Daily Progress Staff, Daily Progress, 3 August 2012, retrieved 6 August 2012.
  19. Payne, Ross & Associates. JASON ALLEY’S PASTURE RESTAURANT TO OPEN AT THE SHOPS AT STONEFIELD. N.p., 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 27 Aug. 2012.
  20. Web. [http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/forms_center/departments/community_development/forms/PC_Reports/COMP_PLAN_UPDATED_10-11_STAFF_REPORT3.pdf CPA 2013-00001 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVISION Part 2: Trends], Table 6: Residential Units Approved through Rezonings and Special Use Permits, County of Albemarle, September 28, 2011, retrieved October 11, 2011.
  21. 'Supervisors updated on sewer capacity for Albemarle Place and North Pointe'. Charlottesville Tomorrow. 7 Oct. 2008. Charlottesville Tomorrow. 2 Mar. 2009
  22. Web. Meadows residents seek protection from Stonefield traffic, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, December 11, 2011, retrieved December 14, 2011.

External links