Andy Garrett, president of The Garrett Companies, presented an update on Fredericksburg Park, his planned mixed-use development for about 28 acres at Route 3 and Lafayette Boulevard, across from the Lee Drive entrance of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
Speaking at the quarterly Economic Development Breakfast on March 8, 2017, Garrett said he is working with the city to get all approvals in place.
“We’ve made some modifications, including smaller lots and additional green space,” he said.
His updated plan includes 80 single-family homes to be built in the Telegraph Hill subdivision, about 45 townhomes, about 295 apartments, and 75,000 square feet of retail space.
The single-family homes are under contract to NBR. NBR has also submitted an application to build the townhomes. Garrett said he’s been approached by a number of multi-family builders, but has yet to select one.
The original plan included about 350,000 square feet of retail space, but that’s been scaled back.
A zoning change requires the company to build a roundabout on Lafayette Boulevard at Lee Drive. When the company moved it back from National Park Service land, putting it completely on their property, it reduced the space available for retail, Garrett said.
During a public hearing in August 2012, battlefield preservationists urged Fredericksburg City Council to vote against the subdivision plat for Telegraph Hill, saying the project would adversely impact the Lee Drive entrance of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park Fredericksburg Battlefield.
“It’s been quite a while getting through the process with the city,” Garrett said. “We’re hopeful this year we’re able to get permits to get started.”
Garrett said he’s spoken with a number of potential retail users, including Rite Aid and CVS, and with grocery store chains Lidl, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Giant, Mom’s Organic, and Trader Joe’s. “I’d love to be the one to finally bring Trader Joe’s to Fredericksburg, but they require more residential rooftops,” he said. “They really gravitate toward high density population.”
He’s also contacted Wawa and Sheetz, but they’re not interested because Sheetz opened a new location just up the road at 2807 Lafayette Blvd. in 2013
Garrett said the apartments will average 850 to 950-square-feet, and most will be one and two bedroom efficiencies. Rents will be at about $1.70 a square foot.
“As fast as the city will approve our plans, we’ll be ready to go,” he said.
City Council will schedule a public hearing on the project.
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110 Townhouses Proposed Across from Fredericksburg National Cemetery
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