Diamond District Updates
Richmond Flying Squirrels Week concluded with a momentous groundbreaking ceremony for CarMax Park, the team's future home. On the afternoon of September 6th, 2024, fans, baseball officials, and city leaders gathered to celebrate the start of construction on the new ballpark, marking a significant milestone for the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Diamond District Development.
City, Squirrels, and CarMax break ground on CarMax Park - Press Release
Stadium Development Agreement by and between Navigators Baseball Stadium Developer LLC, and The Economic Development Authority of The City of Richmond, Virginia
Stadium Lease by and between Navigators Baseball, LLC, and The Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond, Virginia
Diamond District Update Release 04.8.2024
Diamond District Update - One Pager
Diamond District Updated Presentation
Diamond District Public Realm Design Standards
The Diamond District Public Realm Design Standards is a vital tool for the redevelopment of the Diamond District. The standards ensure that a cohesive design language is used throughout the public realm of the Diamond District; one that celebrates the District as its own unique destination. The Diamond District Public Realm Design Standards apply to all spaces that fall within the public right-of-way of the Diamond District as well as publicly owned open space within the Diamond District. The standards do not apply to development on private property, including the baseball stadium, although they should be used to inform design decisions on private property
The City of Richmond is seeking to redevelop 67.57 acres of under-developed, publicly-owned property along the I-95 east coast corridor into a mixed-use, mixed-income entertainment destination. The City has been preparing for a redevelopment of this strategic site for a number of years and, in the process, has relocated city functions, demolished buildings, and remediated the site with the exception of the baseball stadium and the Arthur Ashe Junior Athletic Center.
Development Partner Selected!
After a 9-month solicitation process that garnered 15 submissions from nation-wide developers, the City has selected RVA Diamond Partners LLC as the development team to partner with the City to fulfill the vision for the Diamond District. Learn more about the project by checking out this summary document. If you want to dig into the term sheet that the City negotiated with RVA Diamond Partner LLC, check out the resolution on Legistar.
Res. No. 2022-R055 to select RVA Diamond Partners as the developer
Res. No. 2022-R056 regarding the Ashe Center
Diamond District RFO
The three finalists were invited to submit a response to the Diamond District Request for Offers (RFO). This RFO is an extension and part of the process commenced via the issuance of a Request for Interest (“RFI”) on December 28, 2021, to solicit creative development responses from highly capable, financially sound, and experienced development teams interested in redeveloping the Diamond District, and the Request for Additional Information (“RFAI”) to seek additional more-detailed information from the selected six RFAI Invitees. The RFI and RFAI are available at www.rva.gov/economic-development/diamond. On February 15, 2022, the City received 15 submissions in response to the RFI. The Evaluation Panel reviewed the 15 submissions based upon the evaluation criteria set forth in the RFI and selected six development teams to respond to the RFAI and continue in the evaluation process. On May 10, 2022, the City announced three development teams as finalists invited to respond to this RFO (“RFO Respondent”).
- Diamond District Request for Offers (PDF file)
- Diamond District Request for Offers Excel Workbook Submission (Excel file)
- Diamond District RFO Addendum 1 (PDF file)
Finalists and the Request for Offer Process
Three finalists in the Diamond District redevelopment project were asked to respond to a Request for Offers (RFO). The RFO was issued the week of May 30, 2022, and responses were due June 28, 2022.
After carefully considering the responses to the Request for Interest (RFI) and Request for Additional Information (RFAI), the Evaluation Panel selected three finalist teams based on their design, program strength, community benefits, and financing approaches (listed alphabetically):
- Richmond Community Development Partners;
- RVA Diamond Partners; and
- Vision300 Partners, LLC.
Diamond District RFAI
The purpose of this City of Richmond Diamond District Request for Additional Information (“RFAI”) was to seek additional, more-detailed information from the selected six development teams for review and evaluation by the Evaluation Panel. Based on the review of the RFAI responses, the Evaluation Panel selected development teams to respond to the Request for Offers (“RFO”).
This RFAI was an extension and part of the process commenced via the issuance of a Request for Interest (“RFI”) on December 28, 2021, to solicit creative development responses from highly capable, financially sound, and experienced development teams interested in redeveloping the Diamond District. On February 15, 2022, the City received 15 submissions in response to the RFI. The Evaluation Panel reviewed the 15 submissions based upon the evaluation criteria set forth in the RFI and selected six development teams to respond to the RFAI and continued in the evaluation process (the “RFAI Invitees””).
- Diamond District Request for Additional Information (PDF file)
- Financial and Development Program Summary Workbook (Excel file)
- Diamond District RFAI Addendum 1: Existing Conditions Information (PDF file)
- Diamond District RFAI Addendum 2: Questions and Answers (PDF file)
Diamond District Request for Interest
On December 28, 2021, the City issued the Diamond District RFI (link below). Submissions were due on February 15, 2022 at 3 P.M. ET. Click here to read about the RFI submissions.
Why
This project was outlined in Richmond 300 and the Greater Scott’s Addition Small Area Plan which has both been approved by Richmond City Council.
Since Richmond 300, the City’s award-winning master plan was adopted in December 2020, the City has taken many steps to implement the plan’s vision, including the adoption of the Greater Scott’s Addition Small Area Plan. Regarding the Greater Scott’s Addition Small Area Plan, the key first step to move the plan forward was rezoning the property to align with the Future Land Use plan. The Greater Scott’s Addition rezoning initiatives were approved by City Council in July 2021. City Council also passed a resolution in April 2021 approving the biennial real estate plan, which declared the parcels surplus and calls for redeveloping this property into a mixed-use development. The next step outlined in the masterplan is issuing a Request for Interest (RFI) to redevelop the City-owned land between North Ashe Boulevard and Hermitage Road using the framework outlined in the Greater Scott’s Addition Small Area Plan and including elements such as a large-scale park; mixed-income housing; mixed-uses breaking up the superblock creating a street grid to incorporate features that support walking, biking, and transit; and incorporating engaging architecture, public spaces, sidewalks, street trees, buildings built to the street, and street furniture. The City developed the RFI, and it was released by the end of 2021.
This is an incredible opportunity for the City of Richmond and its residents.
- In 2019, there were approximately 458 acres of vacant/underdeveloped land in Greater Scott's Addition, representing 60% of Greater Scott's Addition's total land area. Redeveloping the land will generate much-needed tax revenue while creating opportunities for new housing, green space, entertainment, and employment in an entirely new neighborhood.
- More than 45% of the nation’s population lives within an 8-hour drive of Richmond
- 38 of the top 50 employers are within 10 miles of the Diamond District
- The Diamond District is located at the crossroads of I-95 and I-64 that connect Richmond west to Charlottesville (1.25-hr drive), east to the Hampton Roads region and the largest naval base in the world (2-hr drive), north to Washington DC (1.5-hr drive), and south to the Raleigh-Durham and Chapel Hill area (2-hrs).
- Richmond’s easy living and convenient access to diverse markets has translated into 11.5% city and regional growth rate since 2010.
Vision
Richmond 300 paints a vivid picture of a more connected, green, and equitable development of the Diamond District. In this vision, The Diamond is demolished and a new multi-purpose stadium is constructed. New buildings provide employment, retail, and mixed-income housing. A new street grid incorporates features that create a walkable urban experience with engaging architecture and urban design. Visitors to Greater Scott’s Addition have the option to safely arrive by foot, bike, transit, or car. Parking is centralized in a few parking garages to encourage users to park once and visit multiple destinations. A signature park between Ashe and Hermitage serves as a central convening space and is connected with greenways to multiple smaller public parks. The redeveloped Diamond District connects to adjacent established neighborhoods and redeveloping neighborhoods. The Greater Scott’s Addition Small Area Plan provides a general vision for future development; however, exact locations of buildings and features need not be replicated.
Who Is Involved
As the owner of 60 acres of land, the City is the primary lead on redeveloping this property. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) owns 6 acres of land within the site, the location of the Sports Backers Stadium. The City and VCU are partnering on the redevelopment of the property, with the City leading the effort.
The Evaluation Panel
The Evaluation Panel is comprised of 10 members, including City Council members, city administrative staff, and VCU administrative staff. The panel's job is to evaluate the RFI submissions based on the evaluation criteria.
- James P. Duval – Investment and Debt Portfolio Manager, Finance Department
- Sharon L. Ebert – Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Planning and Economic Development
- Karol Kain Gray – Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Katherine Jordan – Council Member, Second District
- Ann-Frances Lambert – Council Member, Third District
- J.E. Lincoln Saunders – Chief Administrative Officer
- Leonard L. Sledge – Director, Department of Economic Development
- Caprichia Smith Spellman – Director, Office of Community Wealth Building
- Robert C. Steidel – Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Operations
- Stephen M. Willoughby – Director of Emergency Communications