Comments on: Monument Avenue: The last frontier for developers?

By: Bobby Helme

Bobby Helme — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:14:34 +0000

I hope they do cater to nudists! I’m a nudist and I would love to check it out! I would be able to meet others!

By: West of the Boulevard News » Blog Archive » Another Bed and Breakfast on Monument Ave?

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:02:14 +0000

[...] It looks like another B&B is set to open on Monument Ave. I’ve already said that I don’t think businesses belong on our most beloved byway. [...]

By: West of the Boulevard News » Blog Archive » Bed & Breakfast on Monument now has a website

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:02:12 +0000

[...] that Bed & Breakfast that was approved to operate at Monument and Belmont? Well, Maury Place has the approvals they need [...]

By: Ross

Ross — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:26:13 +0000

Nude catering sounds awesome or terrible? I can’t tell.

By: Angie O'Plasty

Angie O'Plasty — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:48:10 +0000

I understand that they will do nude catering to their guests.

By: Angie O'Plasty

Angie O'Plasty — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:43:52 +0000

I have seen the business proposal; they intend to cater to nudists.

By: Scott Burger

Scott Burger — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:14:38 +0000

I am not against bed and breakfast places. And I am for youth hostels.

What’s interesting about this is where it potentially collides with “rooming house laws” that are designed to keep poor people from living together in big houses (like some of the giants on the Northside).

A bed and breakfast sounds a lot better than a “crack house” (and no, I don’t think this “Maury Place” is in any danger of turning into a crack house), but legislating the differences along class and racial lines is worrisome.

Tourism vs. affordable housing, anyone?

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:33:40 +0000

West of Boulevard now has two Council approved bed and breakfast locations as approved last September the 10th, last Monday.

2811 Grove Avenue
(ordinance 2007-224-196)

3101 West Franklin Street
(ordinance 2007-223-195)

These ordinances authorize the special use of the property for the purpose of authorizing an owner-occupied single-family dwelling with tourist home lodging units, together with accessory parking, upon certain terms and conditions. (as per the city’s ordinance and resolution tracking system http://www.richmondgov.com/applications/clerksTracking/index.asp)

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:03:31 +0000

I can only agree with the above comments. Monument Avenue isn’t Carytown; it’s a state and national historic district, with a raft of provisos and covenenants to prevent the very thing that has been happening on, say, Robinson Street with Starbucks. But even there, that was a business-oriented building with a parking lot. The building had sat there fallow for quite some time, and was then replaced by a video/tanning combination (which never made any sense to me).

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:59:24 +0000

I’m not against bed & breakfasts. In the very same zoning document, an application was filed to open a bed and breakfast on Grove. They can add a lot to the community.

I am against businesses on Monument. Business owners aren’t the only ones that refurbish houses – there are exterior remodels happening constantly up and down Monument.

I guess people don’t realize what a rarity it is to have a purely residential environment on a major thouroughfare. It’s an oasis in the urban jungle. Maybe not for long.

By: e

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:28:05 +0000

I agree with Fiona.

I think it would be a bit reactionary to think a bed and breakfast is going to be the harbinger of 7-11′s and Starbucks.

Funny thing is, I had this idea a couple of years ago after visiting a wonderful B&B in San Francisco’s Castro district. I wish the owners well and hope they are successful. Sounds like a dream life to me.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:30:40 +0000

Honestly, I wish that half the crappily cared for apartment structures (yes, and some single family dwellings) on Monument looked half as good or offered half the positive potential that this proposed B & B does.

For those of you easily confused by sensationalist propaganda, I can see how you may confuse a 7-11 with an up scale 2-4 room bed and breakfast; No large parties; No events; Parking available; No signage; Reservations required; No walkin bookings.

The structure also has enough historical preservation covenants to choke a horse. Moldings must be kept, floor plan must not change, even some of the light fixtures must remain. The level of financial commitment to the property by the owners is HUGE and not one most could afford to take lightly.

The initial post should have included before pictures as well. All that lovely paint and refurbed window is new. The proposed B&B has actually improved the condition of the property. It is in better condition than it has been in decades thanks to the extensive preservation minded renovations undertaken by the new owner/residents of Maury Place. The new owners will reside in the home from which they hope to manage this up scale bed and breakfast.

It would be a great place for residents to stow their overflow out of town company. It would be a great place for prospective property owners to stay while scouting out real estate in the area. I see it as a benefit for the community. It looks better than half the properties on Monument and it is good PR for our area.

Regardless of my opinion or that of the original post, contact the property owners yourself and find out the details before showing up half cocked and uninformed at a Zoning or Council meeting. Let’s not be sheep, people!