Mayor Levar M. Stoney today announced Newport Beach, CA-based Panattoni Development Company, Inc., one of the largest full-service development companies in the world, has acquired over 62 acres for development of a new state-of-the-art distribution center to be located along Commerce Rd., just south of the Bells Rd. / I-95 interchange and across from Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT) at the Port of Virginia. John Reinhart, the CEO and executive director of the Port of Virginia, said Panattoni’s confidence in Virginia’s business environment “will create more supply chain capacity in Central Virginia,” among numerous other benefits. Panattoni will proceed in two phases, with plans that include and total nearly one million square feet of cross-dock warehouses with multiple trailer drops. Phase one is expected to be completed by late summer 2018. In welcoming Panattoni to the city’s port area, Mayor Stoney said, “Richmond is happening; we’re on the move and we are growing as an epicenter ...

Mayor Levar M. Stoney began hosting brown bag lunches with city departments and their directors last week. These lunches have been initiated as part of the process to implement recommendations from the performance review completed by VCU’s Performance Management Group earlier this year. “I am having real dialogue with front line employees and giving them an opportunity to be heard,” said Mayor Stoney. “Their concerns, ideas and recommendations play a critical part in bringing needed changes to City Hall.” Mayor Stoney will meet with every city department in the coming weeks, with the following already scheduled: Budget Community Wealth Building Economic & Community Development Emergency Communications Human Resources Information Technology Justice Services Minority Business Development Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities Planning & Development Review Public Utilities Public Works Richmond Animal Care & Control Social Services