Stafford County News and Notes
Katie Thisdell reports on news from Stafford County. Contact her at kthisdell@freelancestar.com or at 540/735-1975.
Professor makes case to planners for more apartments in Stafford
Stafford County needs a more balanced rental market that includes luxury apartments, a George Mason University professor said.
Steven Fuller made the case to the county’s Planning Commission on Wednesday as part of the public hearing for a two-in-one apartment project rezoning on the Celebrate Virginia Parkway.
“You wouldn’t build a project like this unless you were assured of having a customer base for it. I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of customers,” said Fuller, professor of public policy who studies growth and housing trends.
A high-end 480-apartment complex in Celebrate Virginia North, off U.S. 17, is part of a package deal proposed by the Silver Cos., with a 196-unit secured complex for use by federal agents at a growing law-enforcement training facility. (Here’s what neighbors said about the project at the first night of the public hearing last month.)
Fuller, who wrote a report last year focused on the housing needs facing Northern Virginia, said Stafford needs to add at least 10,000 units in the next decade to accommodate a changing population and growing workforce.
“An increasing share of these should be rentals,” Fuller said.
Find out what else was said at the meeting in a complete story tomorrow.
