The projected influx of military and civilian personnel resulting from Fort Lee's expansion is drawing a record number of developers interested in building luxury apartments in the Tri-Cities area, regional officials say. At the same time, city officials across the area are ceding public land for such projects, and some say they are excited to welcome development that will attract Fort Lee newcomers to their neighborhoods.
Last week, the Hopewell City Council voted unanimously in favor of selling a historic building for a project that includes the construction of 35 to 40 luxury apartments at rental rates of $1,000 to $1,400. The city will sell the 3.7-acre James E. Mallonee School property at 1201 City Point Road for $100. The school building has been vacant since 1990.
The $8 million project will include an on-site child-care center and construction of a field house at nearby Merner Field for use by the city and school system. It also will keep the school auditorium open for public use. Hopewell received three unsolicited proposals to convert the Mallonee site into apartments, city officials said. The administration chose the plan offered by Suffolk-based Garcia Development LLC, which will work with MEB General Contractors and Commonwealth Architects.
Previous proposals for the site , including a grocery store, a public library and use by the human services department were voted down in part because some residents opposed the demolition of the school, Mayor Steven R. Taylor said.
But the Garcia proposal fit the city's vision, he said. With the influx of personnel expected because of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission decisions, Hopewell sees a need to build more apartments, Taylor said. A 1996 appraisal of the site also concluded that the best use for the school and property was multifamily housing. "A lot of the push for this [project] is because of Fort Lee," Taylor said.
The projected growth that will come with the changes at Fort Lee is seen as a natural business opportunity for developers, said Denny Morris, executive director of the Crater Planning District Commission. "Generally, the feeling was and is that the 'for sale' side is probably in good shape. But there is a shortage of qualified apartments," Morris said. "That's why we are seeing an interest by developers in regard to the construction of apartments. "Housing availability and child care are two of the most critical pieces" in local jurisdictions that will be affected by Fort Lee, Morris said.
The base expansion is expected to mean an increase of nearly 1,800 households in six nearby localities, according to a study released last month by the Crater Planning District Commission. The Fort Lee Regional Growth Management Plan anticipates 809 new households in Chesterfield County, 317 in Prince George County, 217 in Petersburg, 150 in Hopewell, 166 in Colonial Heights and 133 in Dinwiddie County.
The numbers can't be ignored, said Mickey Garcia, owner of Garcia Development. "Hopewell has a need for a broader range of housing, and it has Fort Lee coming. Fort Lee is the icing on the cake."He said his project, which includes luxury housing, is based on studies of Fort Lee and "what it is bringing to the table," he said. Garcia said he and some of his partners are looking at other private and public sites in the Tri-Cities region for possible development.
Hopewell Assistant City Manager John M. Altman Jr. said the city is exploring other opportunities for housing and retail development with several developers. The city has the 8-acre Patrick Copeland site and other parcels that are fit for retail and multifamily housing, Altman said. Fort Lee "is not only an opportunity to the city but to the region in general." Other development already under way includes a $12 million pr
Source: InRich.com