Innsbrook Plan Aims To Cut Down On Vacancy, Redefine An Established Office Park

Developer Sidney Gunst had a vision of a place where people could live, work and play when he started piecing together the plans for Innsbrook in the late 1970s. Since then, the mixed use office park has grown by leaps and bounds, attracting local and national businesses alike. But lately, vacancy rates upwards of twenty-five […]

May 11, 2010; 11:27 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

Developer Sidney Gunst had a vision of a place where people could live, work and play when he started piecing together the plans for Innsbrook in the late 1970s. Since then, the mixed use office park has grown by leaps and bounds, attracting local and national businesses alike. But lately, vacancy rates upwards of twenty-five percent have plagued the center.

The Innsbrook Foundation, along with the County of Henrico, put together a land use study and an initiative collectively known as “Innsbrook Next,” to explore possibilities for the future of Innsbrook.

The plan calls for the gradual transition of Innsbrook from an office park to a UMU district, which county code defines as an “Urban Mixed Use” area, where a variety of uses are combined in one property or area, similar to nearby West Broad Village.

“The Innsbrook Area will maintain its place as an important economic generator for Henrico County and the Richmond region,” a quote from the study reads. “New development will enhance the area, and will contribute to the retention of existing businesses and help in attracting new employment generating tenants. Development will incorporate pedestrian-scaled design and serve the needs of new population growth while respecting existing development adjacent to the study area. New construction will be environmentally conscious and focus on creating a sustainable environment that reduces automobile travel and impacts on natural environmental features.”

A public hearing was held on the issue last week and the plans will go before the Henrico County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in June and August, respectively.

Changes to the development’s goals and objectives include increasing pedestrian-friendly options and implementing improved sidewalk systems, encouraging better distribution of future retail construction, alternate transportation options and better traffic flow.

Artist renderings posted on the Innsbrook Next website paint the picture of a future Innsbrook resembling a small town. Many existing features such as the Innsbrook Shops would be demolished or heavily modified under several of the conceptual plans. Many existing office buildings would remain or be updated.

We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.

May 11, 2010 11:27 AM 0