Model Tobacco Building

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Contents 1 History 2 Future 3 Links 4 References

[edit] History

Built from 1938-40, the Art Deco style Model Tobacco Building is a tobacco factory at 1100 Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1), in Richmond, Virginia. Designed by the Chicago architecture firm of Schmidt, Garden and Erikson, it is known for the giant Moderne-looking MODEL TOBACCO letters which dominate the north end of the building.

It is one of many Art Deco buildings in Richmond, including assorted buildings on Grace Street including the Central National Bank building, the Virginia Union Belgian Building, Medical College of Virginia's West Hospital and Henrico Theater.

Currently the building houses approximately 3.5 acres of used cubicle partitions and other miscellaneous office furniture. It also is the site of Russ Parsons' famous collection of "hot dog cars," rumored in certain circles to be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

[edit] Future

A developer has proposed turning the property into over 600 apartments. The development will have a mix of both market rate and low income housing. If approved, the project will be developed in two phases. Many expect this development to stimulate other development in the blighted Jeff Davis Corridor.

[edit] Links

• Photos
• Richmond Citywatch Info
• Agility Nut Art Deco Survey
• Art Deco in America Survey

[edit] References

• New life for old leaf site planned, by MICHAEL MARTZ, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 23, 2008.
• Architecture in Virginia, by William B. O'Neal, Virginia Museum, Walker & Co., 1968.
• Model Tobacco: Then and Now, by Marion Andretski, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 30, 1998.