The City of Williamsburg’s Architectural Review Board conducted a conceptual review of redevelopment plans for the Williamsburg Shopping Center at their regular meeting Tuesday evening.
The plans were submitted by Broad Street Realty, which purchased the Williamsburg Shopping Center in January.
“We have worked hard with stakeholders in the community and city representatives to come up with a shared vision for what could be accomplished at the premier gateway location in Williamsburg,” Michael Jacoby, CEO of Broad Street said in a press release.
Broad Street’s redevelopment strategy calls for the addition of landscaped pedestrian boulevards, a public plaza, art, sidewalks, bike lanes, new residential buildings, new storefronts and a new hotel.
“The intention here is to create a walkable destination, to create a place, to create a center,” said Robert McClennan with Bonstra Haresign Architects in his presentation to the ARB. “We see this as a place students will be walking to and citizens of Williamsburg will walk to…what we’re trying to do here is create a sense of place.”
Broad Street Realty purchased the shopping center for $13.3 million on Jan. 6. The firm’s proposed plan affects the area surrounding the intersection of Monticello Avenue and Richmond Road, an area Broad Street refers to as Midtown.
The City’s biannual Goals, Initiatives, and Outcomes for 2017-18 list Midtown as a region ripe for redevelopment. As stated in the GIOs, the city hopes to, “Pursue the vision for Midtown as a pedestrian‐friendly shopping and entertainment hub based on vertical mixed‐use.”
CEO Mike Jacoby added that the vertical space above the first-floor retail will contain 250 apartment units that will be geared toward students and young professionals. First-floor retailers will also be afforded a great deal of freedom to design their façade.
Throughout the meeting, representatives from the ARB listened to Broad Street’s presentation, along with feedback from citizens — and offered their own feedback as well.
“My concern is the height,” said ARB Chairman Robert Lane about the proposed 5-story mixed-use buildings. “There’s a reason we have that restriction in Williamsburg…I see no reason to make an exception [here].”
Residents in attendance generally supported development on the property, but did express concerns about specifics of the proposal.
“My family and I would like to see this development be a success,” said Christopher Del Negro. “The fact that the buildings were four or five stories really gave me pause. It didn’t feel like my town.”
The ARB reviewed the presentation at the behest of Broad Street Realty. Broad Street’s legal counsel Vernon Geddy III said during the meeting Broad Street had not formally applied for a Special Use Permit to construct the complex.
While it was not necessary for Broad Street to appear before the ARB at this stage, “We wanted to get in front of this board very early for this feedback,” Geddy said.
Broad Street will appear before the ARB again after they apply for a Special Use Permit, which Geddy indicated would likely be this summer.
“This is very exciting. This is something I’ve been waiting for for years,” said Andrew Edwards, a member of the ARB. “Midtown is a very important part of our city that really needs your help. I like the concept.”
