Rush River Commons proposes residential, commercial buildings — will Washington approve? | Realestate
“This is supposed to be a common area to bring people together.”
It is now in the hands of Washington officials to decide whether or not to approve plans for Phase 1 of the Rush River Commons, a project that promises to become the first mixed-use development of its kind in Rappahannock County.
This artist rendering of the proposed Rush River Commons development shows the completed project. Phase 1 includes the construction of a residential cluster along Leggett Lane (lower right corner) and a commercial cluster overlooking Warren Avenue (center left).
As unlikely as it is, the decision could be made on Sunday afternoon, when councilors and planners are expected to meet to discuss the RRC’s application for a special permit. If Washington’s city council and planning committee vote to give the permit, they would give the go-ahead for a transformation the city has not seen since the Rappahannock County’s courthouse was built in 1834.
Rush River Commons, formerly named Black Kettle Commons after the shabby Black Kettle Motel on the proposed site, is the brainchild of Mount Prospect-resident Chuck Akre. As a prominent investor who has made his fortune in asset management, Akre has said on numerous occasions that the project – which he plans to finance himself – is his gift to the Rappahannock community. “The uniqueness of this place … is that it serves the community at large, which means that not just the residents of the city but all residents of the county,” he said in a December interview with the Rappahannock News.
BK, LLC is applying for a special use permit for the 5.1 acre portion of the property that is already within the city limits, as shown in this diagram.
The site, an 11-acre property off Route 211, borders the Washington-County border. Akre’s limited liability company, BK, LLC originally attempted to adjust the boundary so that the property could be completely within the city limits, as the entire property could be connected to Washington’s water and sewer lines. However, earlier this month the project planners decided to take a different path. Currently, BK, LLC is only focused on Phase 1 – a plan to develop the 5.1 hectares that are already in the city.
On these five acres, BK, LLC proposes the construction of two commercial buildings overlooking Warren Avenue and three residential buildings accessible from Leggett Lane. One of the commercial buildings would accommodate the Rappahannock Food Pantry and the other is “intended as commercial office space with a small retail component,” according to the application. With regard to the “residential cluster” planned around a central parking area, the application explains: “The building closest to Leggett Lane will be a townhouse-style structure with units two to three stories high. The other two buildings will be stacked apartments that are two stories high. “
The thorough 30-page application provides the results of impact assessments for various historical and natural resources, including the wetland that was once an artificial pond – planners have promised minimal impact. The application also stipulates that the lighting “complies with IDA Dark Sky Friendly lighting standards” and that the design of all structures complies with the ordinance on the city’s historic district.
“There are many steps we have to go through, but we’ve done a tremendous amount of work with engineers and hydrologists,” Akre said in a press release in early May. “[The project] is a very important endeavor. We have 11 identified wetlands on the property that will be preserved. It will all be very sensitive to the landscape. “
“The uniqueness of this place … is that it serves the entire community, which means that not just the residents of the city, but all residents of the county,” said owner Chuck Akre in December.
In addition, versatility is built into the plan. A provision in the application, if approved, would cover a variety of potential businesses such as artisans and craftsmen, a coffee shop, coworking space, farmers markets, makerspaces, medical clinics, museums, offices, parking lots and public parking lots, as well as temporary and permanent exhibitions and galleries.
“There are always a few people who don’t like something you suggest, but I’d say we’ve had very positive responses from people in and outside the city of Washington about Phase 1 of the project,” said Betsy Dietel, Akres Right Hand in the project. “I think the more we can start showing visual images of what it will look like and having conversations with people about the scale, the more support there will be.
“This is a new experience for people and I think we’ll learn a lot in the next few weeks when we talk about project development,” Dietel continued. “We’ll have working sessions from Sunday, but I think this should be a common area to bring people together.”
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