A developer is proposing to build a 200-unit residential complex to create a gateway into South Richmond from the Lee Bridge.

But with the City Council expected to vote on the project early next month, neighbors remain adamant that it's not a deal the city should take.

"It's clearly a suburban county design," said Lee Shewmake, president of the Woodland Heights Civic Association. "It's going to stick out like a sore thumb."

Crosland, a Charlotte, N.C., development company, is proposing to build the four-story complex, with a 320-space parking deck and street-level commercial space, in the block bounded by Cowardin Avenue, Riverside Drive, West 19th Street and Stonewall Avenue.

The 2-acre property, adjacent to the Springhill neighborhood, now includes two billboards and a few small buildings.

Last week, the Planning Commission and the City Council's land-use committee endorsed the development despite concerns about the design, scale, traffic impacts and the prospect of apartments.

Crosland intends to build and market the Manchester on the James project as condominiums, but it wants the flexibility to offer apartments if market conditions warrant, said Andrew Condlin, an attorney for the developer.

He said the development is being designed for young professionals and empty-nesters, with rents from $900 to $1,600 per month or sales prices from $169,000 to $300,000. Amenities would include a rooftop pool, courtyards, a movie room and conference facilities.

He said the complex would range in height from 40 to 70 feet, with most of it around 60 feet. He said coming up with a suitable design was a challenge because there's "no set architecture" in the area.

Rachel Flynn, the city's director of community development, said she is comfortable with the proposal because it includes street-level commercial space, brick and other quality materials and a site design that pulls the building close to the street. She sees it as highly preferable to a 17-story residential tower that had been planned.

Flynn said the prospect of apartments isn't a concern given the overall design. "It's the quality of the development that can determine whether it's a stable development."

City Councilman E. Martin Jewell, who represents the area, said he is convinced that the development would be a good fit and said concerns about possible student or low-income housing are misguided.

"This is a luxury, self-contained development that has all of the amenities that are not amenable to the incomes of students or the incomes of Section 8," he said.

Shewmake said she is concerned that the project has not been given proper review by the city and said opponents may seek legal representation. She contends the property would be better suited for office development.

Dean Van Arsdale, who moved to Woodland Heights just over a year ago, said he would prefer a residential tower, such as the nearby 2000 Riverside complex, to the shorter, boxlike complex that is being offered. He suggested Crosland is offering the design because it is cheaper to build.

"They're building a much lesser product -- a monstrosity in my opinion -- that doesn't fit in the neighborhood," he said.

Condlin acknowledged that wood-frame construction would be less expensive than what would be required in a high-rise. However, he also said the construction would be of high quality.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com.