Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR), a Fredericksburg-based river-conservation organization, on Tuesday received the largest corporate gift in its 40-year history. STACK Infrastructure and Amazon Web Services, which both have been developing data center campuses in the region, announced a $1 million unrestricted gift to FOR over three years to help protect and restore the Rappahannock River. FOR Executive Director Daria Christian called it an “amazing gift” that helped complete a capital campaign for the renovation of the organization’s headquarters at 3219 Fall Hill Ave., and that will also support education and restoration initiatives. Christian said FOR carefully considered whether accepting the grant would compromise the organization’s independence and mission, and ultimately decided it would not. Data centers have been criticized for their uses of water and power, but representatives with Amazon and STACK pointed out that they are investing about $700 million in upgrades to Stafford County’s Aquia Wastewater Treatment Plant and Spotsylvania County’s Massaponax Wastewater Treatment Plant. These so-called “purple pipe” investments will allow area data centers to not use potable water in their air-cooling systems.
Christian also revealed Tuesday that the organization has recently acquired an additional 20.6 acres along the Rappahannock River and canal adjacent to FOR’s Fredericksburg headquarters. The acquisition fills in a gap between FOR’s headquarters and another riverfront property the organization acquired in 2017, giving it approximately 40 acres.
Here is some other business news from around the region in the past week:
- There were 70 homes sold this past week in the Fredericksburg area, including four for more than $1 million, according to the weekly sales list from the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors (FAAR). Check back weekly for the new list.
- A rezoning request has been submitted to allow for the development of a flex-industrial campus with approximately 76,000 square feet of primarily warehouse uses on 10.5 acres on the south side of Ramoth Church Road at the intersection with Centreport Parkway just northeast of Stafford Regional Airport.
- The new Fearless Gluten Free Cafe in downtown Fredericksburg is the subject of this week’s Biz Beat Clips video.
- The guest on this week’s edition of the Biz Beat Banter podcast is Nancy Moore, longtime managing editor of The Free Lance-Star.
- A Panda Express recently opened at 1121 Courthouse Road in Stafford’s Burns Corner area. Another Panda Express is under construction at 750 Warrenton Road in Stafford.
- The Fiesta Taqueria & Pupuseria restaurant recently opened at 1075 Garrisonville Road in Stafford.
- A request has been submitted for a conditional use permit to allow for the development of two vehicle-fuel stations on 0.47 acres at 219 Kings Highway in Stafford.
- A Christian Brothers Automotive facility is proposed on 1.2 acres along the east side of Tech Parkway about 400 feet north of the Garrisonville Road intersection in Stafford. A conditional use permit and proffer amendment are required.
- Competitive Edge Baseball LLC has leased 1,333 square feet of office space at 10941 Houser Drive in Spotsylvania from ADLEE LLC, according to Coldwell Banker Commercial Elite, which helped broker the lease.
- Bieneck has leased a 1,448-square-foot office at 701 Kenmore Ave. in Fredericksburg, according to Johnson Realty Advisors, which helped broker the lease.
- House of Bloom has leased a 1,327-square-foot office at 509 Lafayette Blvd. in Fredericksburg, according to Johnson Realty Advisors, which helped broker the lease.
- Johnson Realty Advisors reports the following commercial sales in November:
- The 4,000-square-foot retail building at 3301 Shannon Park Drive in Spotsylvania sold for $1.5 million. The buyer was not disclosed.
- The 12,500-square-foot industrial building at 670 Cambridge St. in Stafford sold for $1.41 million. JRA Fund 1 LLC purchased the property from Sunny LLC. (Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer also helped broker this deal.)
Biz Beat Roundup runs every Wednesday and includes a roundup of business news from around the Fredericksburg region. Send submissions to: bill.freehling@fredericksburgfreepress.com
