Mr Williamsburg, Revolutionary ideas on real estate!Hampton Roads Virginia

Have you noticed the building going up on Mooretown Rd in the photo below ?

And now the Big News!
Brass Cannon will be moving to a brand new building at 5476 Mooretown Road. They are  also be upgrading from a 4 barrel brewing system up to 20 barrels. and their new tasting room will be about 3 times the size of the current one. Projected opening date for the new location is March 2016 but the  Toano location will be open until the switch over.

The new  tasting room will be nearly 3 times the size of the current one, and will have both bar and table seating as well as plans for an outdoor beer garden area.

In these endeavors, location is key. Brass Cannon wanted a space that was closer to town than they are now, and readily accessible for guests.  The new location  lands them very close to Alewerks Brewing Company. BCB sees this as an opportunity for collaboration, and the combined presence of both breweries should be a positive thing for consumers and serve as a greater drawing power to get both locals and tourists out enjoying delicious beer.

Brass Cannon will be throwing a party at the brewery on Saturday, December 12. Good times and $1 off pints will be flowing from opening time at noon until at least 11pm.

Kickstarter Campaign
To help with the expansion, BCB is  running a Kickstarter campaign. Funds raised will go primarily towards improvements to the new tap room. Details and a lovely video are at their campaign site.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/946749068/brass-cannon-brewing-expansion

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Williamsburg/Yorktown based Homebuilder, WAYNE HARBIN BUILDER, INC. has been named Custom Builder Member of the Year by the Southern Living Custom Builder Program and will be featured in the June 2015 issue of the magazine.

“Harbin Builder is a family run business which consists of Wayne Harbin and sons Doug Harbin and Brad Harbin who now run the daily operation of the business. They represent the best our Program has to offer,” says Kristen Bryan, Associate Marketing Director, Southern Living. “Their tremendous ability as a builder and their sincere desire to serve their clients well have definitely contributed to their success and set them apart in this profession.”

The Southern Living Custom Builder Program is an invitation-only network of nearly 100 builders across the country. Each member is hand-selected for their outstanding reputation, quality of design and construction, integrity, and stability in the locations they represent.

A member of the Custom Builder Program since 2002, Harbin Builder earned the 2015 Builder Member of the Year award for its successful presentation of their Southern Living Showcase Home “Harrison Place” in Ford’s Colony, Williamsburg, Va. They welcomed 1,300 ticketed visitors to the Showcase Home over 3 weekends last fall. The home was marketed by Liz Moore and Associates and Interior Designer was Christine Vaughan Estep of Jackson Thomas Interiors. Harbin Builder is a custom design build firm that strives to create homes which are beautiful, well built, energy efficient, and suit the lifestyle of the buyer. By working with architects, designers, and interior designers, Harbin Builder offers its clients a multitude of resources to ensure homes of the highest caliber are achieved.

The award was presented during the Southern Living Builder Conference held February 22 – 23 at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, TN.

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The City of Williamsburg’s new smartphone app – Williamsburg Wayfinder– transforms the way residents and visitors interact with City government, local attractions and businesses. You can submit and track non-emergency service requests, photos, and text messages and now access everything from the Property Information Service (PIS) and Economic Development resources to the restaurants and shops closest to you.
"With this new app, we’re providing a single pane of glass into the City," said Information Technology Director Mark Barham. "The Williamsbug Wayfinder replaces CITY 411 and enables users to reach across all departments – from planning and permitting to taxes and facility rental. By capturing, routing and managing service requests, the system will create a convenient form of communication among departments, resulting in faster response times."
Williamsburg Wayfinder is also geo-location based, allowing you to customize the experience whenever and wherever it’s convenient. 
Want to take your morning run someplace new? Use the app to access the Great City Walks and get a map and description of the William & Mary Loop, a 2.1 mile route ringing the campus.

Trying to find the closest place for lunch? Use the Shop and Dine map to find out what’s nearby, how to get there, what’s on the menu, and call them directly for a reservation.

House hunting? If you’re wondering about a house you’ve just driven by, use the app to access the Property Information Service to find out the most recent sale price.
Williamsburg Wayfinder can be downloaded for free from both the Apple App Store and the Android Market.  Links and more information are available on the City’s website, williamsburgva.gov/mobile

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VA Governor Terry McAuliffe tonight awarded the 2014 Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup to The Williamsburg Winery’s 2010 Adagio, a blended red wine.

Speaking at the Governor’s Cup awards ceremony, Governor McAuliffe said, “I am honored to award the Governor’s Cup to The Williamsburg Winery, one of Virginia’s oldest and most prolific wineries.  It is no secret the Commonwealth’s wine industry has experienced tremendous growth both in quantity and quality in recent years.  Such growth has an enormous impact on Virginia in terms of economic development and job creation.  The Virginia Governor’s Cup, now recognized as one of the nation’s most stringent competitions, helps to raise awareness of the world class wines grown and blended right here in the Commonwealth.  My congratulations to The Williamsburg Winery for their long history of success and their most recent notable contribution to the Virginia wine industry."

The Williamsburg Winery’s Adagio is a blend of 42% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 28% Petit Verdot. Aged in French, American and Hungarian Oak, the ratio is  43% new oak, 14% one year old oak; 29% two year old oak; and 14% three year old oak. The winemaker’s tasting notes are as follows: The 2010 Adagio is a very bold upfront wine with loads of jammy fruit.  The blackberries and blueberry notes are accentuated with some elegant mature darker fruit such as figs, dates and prunes.  There is a hint of spice (warm cinnamon) with molasses and soy.  The earthy notes come across with a touch of nuttiness.  The oak is very integrated into the weight of the wine and the tannins are smooth and graceful. The wine has a wonderful finish that lasts for quite awhile.

"It is very satisfying and very humbling to be with my peers and the others who have won the Governor’s Cup.  The 2010 Adagio was unbelievable, exceeding all expectations for quality, and it was nice for Adagio to get that recognition,” said Matthew Meyer, vice president and winemaker of The Williamsburg Winery.  "Adagio, from the Italian ad agio, or ‘at ease’, is a musical term indicating the tempo of a composition that is meant to be slow and stately, so named in honor of the extraordinary depth, elegance and grace of this wine."

The 2014 Virginia Governor’s Cup Competition was conducted over three weeks of preliminary tastings, held at the Capital Wine School in Washington, D.C.  The final round of tastings was held at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond in early February. The Governor’s Cup award winner was selected from the 2014 Governor’s Cup Case. The top 12 scoring wines of the competition, The Governor’s Cup Case, were selected from 410 entries of both red and white wines, from 96 wineries.

The Williamsburg Winery is located on Wessex Hundred, a 300-acre farm located in Virginia’s Historic Triangle.  The winery has experienced continuous growth through an expanding portfolio of wines. The introduction of the 2007 Adagio was the culmination of a single-minded goal to produce the highest quality wines in the world. This is the second Governor’s Cup for Williamsburg Winery. The winery won in 1989 for its 1988 Chardonnay.

"Winning the Governor’s Cup is a testament to Matthew’s talent and to the dedication of our entire team, whose focus is on excellence in wines made 100% from Virginia grapes. Our goal is to grow as a leader in the industry, developing wines that reflect the character of our Commonwealth, neither Californian or European, but displaying elegance and interesting flavors," said Patrick Duffeler, president and CEO, The Williamsburg Winery.

In addition to awarding Williamsburg Winery’s 2010 Adagio the 2014 Governor’s Cup, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore was named Wine Person of the Year for his contributions to this rapidly growing sector of the Commonwealth’s economy.

Sales of Virginia wine reached a record high in fiscal year 2013 with more than 511,000 cases, or more than 6.1 million bottles, sold. Virginia currently ranks fifth in the number of wineries in the nation with 250 wineries. Virginia is also tied with Texas as the nation’s fifth largest wine grape producing state. According to a recently released economic impact study, the Virginia wine industry employs more than 4,700 people and contributes almost $750 million to the Commonwealth’s economy on an annual basis.

For a complete list of previous Governor’s Cup winners and information about the Virginia wine industry, please visit the Virginia Wine Marketing Office http://www.virginiawine.org/governors-cup/awards/ or call 804-344-8200.

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Sam’s Club will be joining Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, JCPenney and Best Buy at  the Marquis shopping center in upper York County

York County  recently approved  a 250,000-square-feet expansion to the center making room for Sam’s Club, as well as a gas station and restaurant.

The developer  plans to build out the site for Sam’s Club and a few other retailers first, then move behind the current commercial parcel to break ground on a housing development that will include:

193 single-family detached homes , 157 town homes, and 300 apartments

The detached homes and townhomes should be ready for sale in early 2015. Prices for the single-family homes will range from $350,000 to $450,000. The townhomes are projected to sell in the $225,000 to $275,000 range.

Three other retailers have  signed leases at the Marquis — a 55,000 square foot specialty goods retailer, a national brand fast casual dining restaurant and a national fast food restaurant.

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State regulators on Tuesday approved the construction of a high-voltage transmission line over the James River that critics contend will be an eyesore near some of Virginia’s most important historic sites, including Jamestown.

The State Corporation Commission acted on a request by Virginia Dominion Power to construct an 8-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission that would cross 4.1 miles over the James and include as many as 17 towers.

In its ruling, the commission acknowledged the concerns of opponents but said the project is “necessary to continue reliable electric service to the hundreds of thousands of people who live and work across this broad region of Virginia.”

The commission approved the so-called Surry-Skiffes Creek project. It includes the overhead transmission line from a Dominion switching station in Surry County to a new switching station in James City County in the state’s Tidewater region. It also would include a 230-kilovolt transmission line through James City and York counties, the city of Newport News and ending in Hampton.

More of the story here

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The York Board of Supervisors approved a pair of proposals expanding the footprint of a shopping center in upper York County.

Developers of The Marquis, located off Interstate 64 and Route 199 near Water Country USA, asked the supervisors to add 200,000-square-feet of retail space to the existing 127-acre commercial parcel for a national club discount store, gas station and restaurant. In another request, developers asked to rezone the lower, undeveloped portion of their property to allow for a 650-unit residential development.

The board unanimously approved both requests, despite concerns from its planning board, which did not favor the residential development.

The planning commissioners voted 4-1 against the rezoning, saying developers were trying to accomplish too much with too little land. They voiced objections to the lack of recreational facilities, the small lot sizes and the potential impact to the schools.

During Monday night’s meeting, developer Todd Interests added additional recreational facilities including tennis courts and bike paths, increased the distance between buildings and offered a seven-acre site for a potential school or that could be sold by the county for an estimated value of $2 million.

The shopping center has struggled financially since its start in 2005. The current developer, Todd Interests, purchased the shopping center in 2011 after a previous owner went bankrupt.
Williamsburg attorney Greg Davis, who represents Todd Interests, told the supervisors the new plans are the key to revitalizing The Marquis.

“The state of The Marquis, as well you know, has been abysmal for the last four years,” Davis said. “A successful Marquis requires this national anchor tenant.”

Read more here

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Duck Donuts, with four stores in  Duck, Corolla, Kill Devil Hills, and  Kitty Hawk North Carolina has announced plans to open stores in Williamsburg and VA Beach.

The Williamsburg store will be in the Monticello Marketplace Shoppes (former Starbucks location) and the Virginia Beach store location is still in the approval process.

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Tech investor,  entrepreneur and past owner of Carters Grove,  Halsey Minor filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles.

He is seeking protection from law firms, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, his ex-wife and current wife, among others.

He listed liabilities of between $50 million and $100 million with more than 60 creditors, and assets of between $10 million and $50 million.

Minor was an early investor in Salesforce.com and founded CNET Networks, a news website that he sold to CBS in 2008 for $1.8 billion. He also founded Minor Ventures in San Francisco, a firm that made more than half a dozen investments in early-stage tech startups.

In a statement responding to questions about his bankruptcy filing, Minor wrote:

“I love being an entrepreneur even though it involves financial risk. I have been fortunate enough to play a meaningful role in building great companies like CNET Networks, salesforce.com, Rhapsody, NBCi, the service known as Google Voice and others. But if you win some you are going to lose some too.

A case might be made I should never have strayed from technology. However, I like doing things outside my comfort zone, and I believe that willingness in part accounts for my tech successes.”

Under Chapter 7 a trustee is appointed by the court to liquidate the debtor’s assets for the benefit of creditors.

When news emerged last summer that the ongoing legal issues may have allowed the Carter’s Grove property to slip into disrepair, historical preservationists expressed frustration and pushed for action to save and restore the property, action that has since come to fruition.

“The damage was from lack of repair — it’s all been fixed,” said Stanley Samorajczyk, a court-appointed trustee for the Carter’s Grove estate. “I’ve had almost no dealings with Mr. Minor. I do not expect Mr. Minor’s bankruptcy to have any impact.”

Carter’s Grove is now listed for sale with Charlottesville-based McLean Faulconer, Inc. The property is being marketed  for $14.95 million.

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A big-name public company is looking for a large block of office space in Richmond, potentially as a new home for its headquarters.

Lumber Liquidators, currently headquartered about 40 miles east of Richmond in Toano, is seeking between 30,000 and 45,000 square feet of office space in the area, according to half a dozen brokers and real estate developers with direct knowledge of the company’s requirements.

Lumber Liquidators has, over the past several months, toured properties across the region.

The company has looked at spaces in and around Innsbrook, according to three sources. Highwoods Properties confirmed it sent a proposal to Lumber Liquidators in January for space at its Stony Point office park on the Southside.

Lumber Liquidators already has a small presence in Richmond with 6,800 square feet in an office building at 5211 W. Broad St. near Willow Lawn.

The company’s most likely destination is downtown Richmond, where it has toured both existing office space and historic rehab projects, according to several sources.

More of the story here

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Williamsburg Crossing , which in the past was one of the area’s most popular shopping centers was acquired by  LNR Partners Inc., a financial services provider  for $5.3 million at a recent auction sale.

The buyer, a commercial real estate developer, was the original note holder for the property.
The single-story retail building at 5251 John Tyler Highway was completed in 1990 and totals 150,000 square feet.

The 17.3-acre shopping center is located at the intersection of John Tyler Highway and Route 199. According to James City County tax records, the property’s value is assessed at $6.6 million. It was owned by Williamsburg Crossing LLC; a company created by Calvin Davis

The property included two buildings. it is anchored by a Food Lion grocery store and is also home to Greenwood Christian Academy, Benjamin Moore Paints, a Fantastic Sams salon, Nails Uptown and others.

LNR Partners, LLC, the note holder began as an operating unit within Lennar Corporation, a national homebuilder (developer of Colonial Heritage). In October 1997, Lennar spun off LNR as a separately traded public company to distinguish it from Lennar’s homebuilding business and to maximize the respective values of its commercial property and homebuilding businesses. In February 2005, LNR was taken private .In 2010, LNR was recapitalized by a consortium of investors including Cerberus, Vornado, Oaktree, iStar, and Aozora.

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