High rise construction slated to start in spring
Posted on January 14, 2008
Construction is scheduled to begin this spring for the Shoppes and Residences at 865 East, an apartment building and shopping center at Devon Lane and Port Republic Road.
“This is [the] first of its kind…higher-end, nicer-style housing,” said Jaime Porter, director of marketing for 865 East. “[We are] trying to outdo the competition and go a little better and above that.”
The apartment building will be the first of its kind in Harrisonburg, according to Porter. The city rezoned the area to R-5 zoning, allowing for multi-units to be built on top of one another. Porter said the city is running out of land and there is nowhere to go but up.
The Shoppes and Residences at 865 East will provide 274 spaces marketed primarily toward college students and provide 15,500 square feet of retail space. The seven-story building will have stores such as a copy center and restaurant on the first floor, with residences on the remaining six floors.
“We are trying to make a mix of student-friendly businesses and we are open to ideas for retail stores,” Porter said.
There will be 96 apartments ranging from one- to four-bedroom units, with the majority being three and four-bedroom units. Amenities will include a sundeck on the roof with multiple hot tubs, a possible exercise room in the basement, balconies with each unit, high-speed elevators and possible granite countertops.
With JMU’s steadily increasing enrollment, more off-campus housing will become necessary in coming years.
“[865 East is] going to help with housing and help the students in a proximity that will be very much appreciated,” said Alex Adjei, coordinator of Off-Campus Life
In addition to luxurious amenities, Porter said the building will be constructed out of noncombustible materials, such as concrete and steel, and will have a sprinkler system in every room. Porter hopes parents will feel secure if their children live in 865 East, rather than an apartment that is made of wood and other highly flammable materials.
“The fire department has trucks tall enough to reach the highest floor,” Porter said.
In addition to fire security, Porter also said that residents will have carded access and a gated-resident-only parking lot with security cameras. The retail stores will only be open from the outside and there will not be an open lobby for anyone to walk into.
While the City Council voted 4-1 to greenlight the project, Councilman Tim Byrd voted against the construction. Byrd said the project could lead to an increase in traffic. He felt that more investigation into the traffic increase was necessary before moving forward with construction.
To manage the traffic problems, Porter said a turn lane will be added on Devon Lane and a right-turn-only entrance and exit will be added to Port Republic. In addition, she said that a bus stop already exists and secure bike racks will be available for residents.
Rent has not yet been set, but students should expect higher-than-average rates, Porter said. Marketing and sales for 865 East will begin this fall and it is expected to open in August 2009.
