Collegiate Times

Image: 2012-09-03 22:35:37

The horizon looks good for Terrace View — though not necessarily for its residents with cars.

Blacksburg’s second-largest apartment complex has proposed a development plan to add 163 bedrooms. However, the plan, which will see Terrace View expand by a rate of nearly 10 percent, does not presently include any additions to the complex’s parking spaces.

Specifically, the development will add a bedroom to 140 townhouses and will convert 23 apartment’s storage rooms into bedrooms. The growth is consistent with Blacksburg’s goals for multi-residential growth that avoids sprawl and also fits into the town’s current zoning guidelines. But, the complex and the town disagree on the issue of parking. 

Iconic Development LLC, one of two real estate companies that acquired Terrace View in May 2011, conducted a study among residents which indicates not all of the existing parking is presently used. However, based on town codes, the addition of parking spaces would be necessary because of the additional residential spaces.

Iconic will ask for a recommendation to designate the complex a planned-unit development, also known as a PUD. Having Terrace View made into a PUD would allow development to proceed without being subjugated to the current zoning requirements for parking.

A preliminary community meeting was held Aug. 31 with Iconic’s project manager Jeff Danford in attendance. Iconic produced a study on the use of parking at Terrace View Apartments. According to the study, residents presently use about three-fourths of a parking space per bedroom. The study did not include the 120 spots lining the complex’s streets.

Terrace View resident Anthony Delano agrees with the assertion that resident parking is fine, but he says that visitor parking is a different story.

“Parking for residents isn’t that big of a deal,” the junior human nutrition, foods and exercise major said. “When it comes to visitors, that’s when it starts getting hairy. It always gets jam-packed on the weekends for visitors.”

Delano suggested it would be beneficial to add another parking lot with half of the spots dedicated to visitors and the other half for residents.

Iconic’s proposal for a PUD zoning change will go before the planning commission during its meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Blacksburg Municipal Building. If no objections are raised, the Town Council will publicly vote on the issue on Oct. 9.

Danford recently headed eco-friendly renovation plans for Terrace View, which saw new designs, such as granite countertops, designer cabinets and lighting, upgraded appliances and stained concrete flooring, installed in several apartments.

Iconic’s current development will include a new bus stop, improvements to existing bus stop shelters, additional bike racks and a new sidewalk along Progress Street. Also, a new community garden will be constructed. 

A version of this article appeared in the Sep 4 issue of the Collegiate Times.