BizSense Beat is a weekly collaboration between VPM News and Richmond BizSense that brings you the top business stories during NPR's Morning Edition on Fridays.

Here’s a recap of the top stories for the week of October 25, 2024:

Tom Leonard’s plans expansion, new locations as new generation takes helm
Reported by Richmond Bizsense’s Jack Jacobs

With a new Leonard at the till, Tom Leonard’s Farmer’s Market is headed for growth mode.

Plans are in the works to expand the square footage of the Short Pump grocery store, as well as open additional locations and introduce organic products more consistently to the store’s shelves. That’s according to TJ Leonard, who recently took on the role of company president from his dad, who opened the store that bears his name 20 years ago.

The planned 11,000-square-foot addition to the existing 15,000-square-foot store at 4150 Tom Leonard Drive would rise on what’s currently the store’s outdoor market space. The project is expected to cost $5.5 million to $7 million to build.

The outdoor market area, which rotates its offerings seasonally with things like pumpkins and Christmas trees, would be relocated to a new location on the property, which is owned by an LLC tied to the retailer.

A start date for the expansion project hasn’t been set yet. The project is expected to last about 18 months from start to finish. The store would remain open during construction.

City EDA to issue RFP for redevelopment of Intermediate Terminal Building
Reported by Richmond Bizsense’s Mike Platania

Left in limbo for six years after a Stone Brewing-backed redevelopment plan went off the boil, the city-owned Intermediate Terminal Warehouse is being primed for new life.

The Richmond Economic Development Authority is preparing to issue a request for proposals for the potential reinvention of the century-old structure at 3101 E. Main St. near Rocketts Landing.

The EDA, which owns the building, is looking to field proposals that would see the building restored or renovated, not demolished, said EDA Senior Deputy Director Katie McConnell.

She said the EDA is hoping to release the RFP by the end of the year, and that they’ll be seeking specific uses for the riverfront property.
 
VUU scales back apartments plan, says it will fully preserve hospital building
Reported by Richmond Bizsense’s Jonathan Spiers

Responding to pushback to proposals that would have razed all or part of the old Richmond Community Hospital building, Virginia Union University released what it says is its final plan for hundreds of new apartments that now calls for preserving the entire century-old structure that once housed the first black hospital in the city.

VUU announced Tuesday that developer Steinbridge Group has scaled back its plans for two new apartment buildings along Overbrook Road based on input received from the community since August, when a previous plan was released that called for preserving only part of the 1930s-era hospital building that’s stood vacant along Overbrook for decades.

An earlier plan released in February indicated the entire building would be razed to make way for the apartments, which initially totaled 200 units across two six-story buildings.

Date center project on Hanover-Ashland line gets town approval, awaits county consideration
Reported by Richmond Bizsense’s Jack Jacobs

A Northern Virginia developer’s plan to build a data center complex on the Hanover-Ashland line has achieved the first of two needed cross-jurisdictional milestones, though it will have to wait a little longer to reach the second one.

Reston-based WestDulles Properties last week earned Ashland Town Council approval for the zoning request for the project that would stretch across both localities. While that approval cleared the way for the development on the Ashland side of the line, the Hanover Planning Commission opted to defer its decision on the project until its November meeting.

If approved, the project would span more than 230 acres split about 60-40 between Hanover and Ashland. It would feature an undetermined amount of data center space, as well as a 49-lot residential subdivision. The project site is bordered by East Patrick Henry Road (Route 54) and Mount Hermon Road.

Conceptual plans for the project don’t provide detailed information about the data center layout and scope. WestDulles CEO Eric Wells said the data center could be 2.5 million to 3 million square feet of facilities across 10 to 12 buildings.

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