Developers asking community for input
As construction of housing in the new privately-funded Rush River Commons development in the Town of Washington nears completion, the project’s engineers and designers are already looking ahead to the second phase of the development and what it will look like.
Hopefully, in the spring, tenants will begin moving into the one, two and three-bedroom rental housing that is part of phase one. Efforts are underway to find an entrepreneur to open a coffee shop or eatery — a gathering place for the community in the Leggett Lane office building that houses the Department of Social Services and nonprofit Rapp at Home. The Rappahannock Food Pantry opened in June in the adjacent building.
Phase two would bring Rush River’s total footprint to nine acres. It would also bring the development closer to U.S. Route 211. An easement with multiple trees owned by the Virginia Department of Transportation will hide the development from view, according to Rush River creator and funder Chuck Akre.
WHY IT MATTERS
In November, Rush River engineer Steve Plescow presented tentative concept drawings and renderings for phase two to the town’s Planning Commission, signaling that more concrete proposals are soon to come.
Facilities like a community center, medical office space, amphitheater and greenspace were included in the initial drawings. Plescow said the intended function is to “meet community needs.”
WHAT TO EXPECT
Developers have not announced what will be in the second phase of the development, and much work — along with town government approval — will be needed before construction begins.
The Rush River team received some pushback from the town’s Planning Commission at its last meeting, with chair Caroline Anstey calling their initial concept plans “very, very big” and sharing concerns over the ambition and footprint of the project with other commissioners.
Akre said the team is looking for ideas and input from both the town and the community as to what they want to see added to the project.
Meanwhile, a project to rehabilitate a stream that divides the two phases of the multi-use project is set to begin soon.
A presentation on phase two plans, previously scheduled for December’s town Planning Commission meeting, was rescheduled to its upcoming January meeting.
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