VillaRiva, Riverside’s newest luxury riverfront condominium home community, is quickly becoming a reality.
FlagVenture Riverside, Ltd., the development partnership, recently closed the initial construction loan with AmSouth Bank. The Auchter Company, the project’s contractor, has officially commenced construction.
The groundbreaking included a twist: Mayor John Peyton did the honors with a giant backhoe, deftly scooping a shovel of dirt.
“First time I’ve ever done that,” he said. “It was hand-eye coordination.”
The operator, Eric Clayton, added, “It’s just like a video game. But, we also had it set up so he couldn’t mess up.
“That’s a big piece of machinery.”
Also at the groundbreaking were City Councilman Mike Corrigan; Brad Glass, president of The Auchter Company, Declan Reiley, the senior director of economic development for Cornerstone; Jeff Cash, senior vice president/manager of commercial real estate for AmSouth Bank; and Trip Stanley of the Riverside-Avondale Preservation Society.
According to Sonny Moody, senior vice president for Auchter, site preparation has already begun and the company is now working on the condominium tower’s actual foundation.
“VillaRiva will have a large foundation, which includes 84 drill shafts that extend 65 feet deep into the ground and range from three to six feet in diameter,” said Moody. “We’re ramped up and ready to get the full-fledged construction process underway.”
The Auchter Company’s next steps will involve the building’s structural aspects, including columns, sheer walls and slabs, in addition to tying in with the existing utilities systems.
Bryan Weber, the managing director of Flagship Communities, LLC, said that the community is 25 percent sold out with more than $14 million in sales.
With 425 feet of direct waterfront frontage and access, each of the condominium homes has views of the St. Johns River, with many homes offering skyline view from the front terraces and windows.
Located on Riverside Avenue near St. Vincent’s Hospital, the Mediterranean-themed, high-rise development will have 66 waterfront condominium homes and six two-story residential townhomes.
The community’s amenities include a spacious swimming pool and spa, decks and a recreational boat dock and gazebo at the river frontage as well as an owners‚ lounge with a full bar and catering kitchen, a fitness center and a guest suite for visitors on the terrace level.
Plans also call for concierge service in the tower’s front lobby.