Weighing in on the Future of Innsbrook

     Mac Wilson, a member of Thalhimer's Office Brokerage Group in Richmond, comments on the recent article discussing future plans for Innsbrook:

"Generally when a project is planned or rezoned for an urban mixed use project, we see retail and/or residential as the main driver for the development.  Locally, this could be seen in West Broad Village.  To really live up to the "Live, Work, Play" mantra that we hear associated with the Urban Mixed Use designation, there must be a significant office component as well.

What is intriguing about the designation change for Innsbrook is that the office component is the anchor to the Park as it is Richmond's premier suburban office park.  The retail in and around the park serves the employment base and there is residential built into the landscape as well.  It appears the owner's association is thinking long term with this rezoning to tie the uses into a more seamless, village style design. 

Personally, I would think the highest and best use of some of the areas within Innsbrook will one day be accomplished with higher density say, for example, where one-story office buildings currently sit.  These areas, especially ones located at the heart of the park could be ground zero opportunities for higher buildings for more leasable square footage where perhaps retail and residential uses could be worked into the building as well.  One would truly be able to Live, Work and Play in this sort of scenario." 

Read full article here:  Lazo, Luz.  "Henrico Board Backs Mixed-use in Innsbrook".  Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 15, 2010.