Developer proposing to breathe new life into Maidstone at New Kent Courthouse

Vegetation has taken over land slated for housing and additional commercial space at the Maidstone development at New Kent Courthouse, but a new developer is proposing to complete the project that for now has mostly vacant commercial buildings that can be seen in the background.

Alan Chamberlain photo

A Richmond developer is proposing to revitalize a village development at New Kent Courthouse that has remained stagnant since undergoing bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings two years ago.

The Maidstone development, part of the New Kent Courthouse Village project, had its beginnings nearly 10 years ago as the brainchild of county resident John Crump. His ambitious plan for housing and commercial development progressed slowly before taking a sharp downturn when the economic recession struck in 2008.

Crump reported spending $9 million, but millions were owed to the three banks — Bank of Essex, Colonial Virginia, and EVB — that had loaned money for the project. In September 2011, Bank of Essex foreclosed on $1.7 million of a $2.5 million loan. Later that same month, Crump filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, seeking to buy time until investors came on board. A cash infusion, however, never materialized.

Colonial Virginia and EVB took foreclosure action in early 2012. Colonial Virginia was owed $1 million on the residential component of the project while $750,000 was owed to EVB for Preservation Park, home to the Rose and Crown Tavern and an unfinished, nine-unit office complex located between the county administration building/courthouse complex and the Historic School.

Now, Richmond-based Maidstone Group LLC, headed by developer John Adamson, is stepping in. County circuit court records reveal the group bought the residential component for $350,000 from Colonial Virginia on Nov. 1 with deed transfer occurring on Nov. 4.

Then on Dec. 13, the group completed purchase of Maidstone’s commercial component from Essex Bank for $1,125,000. The deed transfer was recorded in county circuit court on Dec. 30.

Crump, meanwhile, said he has conferred with Adamson and expressed delight that the new developer plans to continue with the traditional English village concept for Maidstone.

“[Adamson] is excited about what we’ve done with the project and seems to want to continue with that vision,” Crump said.

County administrator Rodney Hathaway said county officials have been in contact with the developer, but no formal plans have been filed with the county.

“It is my understanding they are finalizing their building plan,” he said.

Hathaway also said the developer proposes to retain the English village theme although there should be a slight decline in housing units. Crump had proposed 77 units including five flats located above commercial buildings. Also, Crump’s plan listed just over 26,000 square-feet of commercial space in the project’s first phase, a number that could have doubled in a subsequent phase.

Hathaway said the revitalized project would not require approval by county supervisors provided the original concept remains unchanged.

“They will need to have a site plan approved, but as long as they stay with the same infrastructure and roads, all they’ll need is building permits,” he said.

Five of the eight buildings occupying the commercial segment, which is located on New Kent Highway (Route 249) across Egypt Road from New Kent Elementary School, are vacant. One building once held a Colonial Virginia branch but that along with a pharmacy, physician’s office, home health care agency, and a deli/marketplace are closed. Another vacant building was slated to house a veterinary clinic, but construction was never completed.

Businesses that continue to flourish in Maidstone are Active Life Fitness Center, Maidstone Dental, New Kent Insurance Agency, and Stay & Play Child Care.