Sixty-three new townhouses could be coming to 3.87 acres on Fall Hill Avenue across the street from the old Mary Washington Hospital building.
The development—to be called “Mary’s Landing”—is proposed to take the place of parking lots in the 400 block of Hunter Street, Elm Street and Germania Street that have long stood largely vacant.
The buildings at 2215 Fall Hill Avenue, which is a detached single-family house, and 435 Hunter Street, an office building that houses the Rappahannock EMS Council, will be demolished as part of the development.
The Medical Arts building at 2301 Fall Hill Avenue will remain. The City’s planning director, Chuck Johnston, said there will likely be a proposal in the next few months to adapt this building into apartments.
The city’s planning office received the site plan for the development of the vacant lots from Webb and Associates last week, Johnston said. The plan was posted to the city’s website (under Development Review) on Friday after review by staff.
Johnston said that because the project is a re-subdivision of existing lots, it does not go through a public hearing process and can be approved administratively.
The property is zoned as a Creative Maker District.
The public can comment on the plan through February 20 by emailing Marne Sherman, senior development administrator, at [email protected].
The vacant lots and the buildings at 2301 Fall Hill and 435 Hunter Street have been for sale along with the old Mary Washington Hospital building at 2300 Fall Hill.
The sale of the old hospital building itself has not yet closed, according to Ben Keddie, vice president and managing broker with Coldwell Banker Commercial Elite.
Johnston said a draft concept for adapting the old hospital building into 219 “market rate” apartments and some ground level commercial space “is being discussed,” but no formal applications have been submitted.
The Medical Arts building would also be adapted into apartments.
“It is likely the density of units for both projects (the old hospital building and the Medical Arts building) would require a ‘special use’ review, with the Planning Commission making a recommendation to City Council,” Johnston said. “Both the Commission and the Council would have public hearings. I believe we will see some sort of plan in the next couple months.”
by Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
