Multi-use buildout could take two years; developer may close in September
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, July 25 — A Washington, D.C.-based developer executed a contract on June 10 for the right to purchase the three-story, brick structure at 15 Campbell Ave., formally the site of a local art gallery for more than two decades. A 90-day “study period” will be ending shortly after Labor Day. If plans proceed, the building’s nearly 34,000 square feet will be renovated and converted to apartments, co-work space, a restaurant, gym and music venue, according to plans presented to the Luray Council during its work session on Monday.
“We’re really excited about the project, and we’re really excited about Luray,” Braden Herman, a representative of Hub Development LLC, told council members.
At the end of 2022, the Warehouse Art Gallery vacated the 11,000-plus square feet they had occupied on the “street level” of the building for more than 21 years. The Gallery’s 1,000-plus exhibits relocated to two new sites — the fine arts gallery near the corner of Main and Broad, and the Blue Ridge Artists building on Route 211 west of Luray. Linda Nash, who purchased the building in 2011, prompted the move by her decision to renovate and develop the property. As initial renovations got underway, Nash passed away in 2023. Her children are now working with the D.C. developer on potentially closing the sale in about the next 45 days. The property is listed at $1,495,000.
Built in 1932, the developer plans to utilize all three levels of the structure, with a proposed total of 20 single-bedroom apartments split between the top floor and the “street level”. The street level will also contain co-work space that can be rented, as well as a gym and storage locker for tenants. The bottom floor would potentially house an “everyday” restaurant (geared more for residents, rather than tourists), a commercial kitchen that can be rented out, a music venue and entertainment space that could extend out into the small lawn in the rear of the building.
“We get giddy about redoing these old buildings, but there are challenges,” Mayor Jerry Dofflemyer said during Monday’s work session.
At this point, there seems to be only one key concern, of both the developer and the council — parking. Herman has been visiting Luray “every week since March 18” studying the issues around the development and has offered the council “any help we can provide” to create additional parking in the downtown area near the project. Currently, the project has access to 19 parking spots. While no specific number of required spots has been identified by either the developer or the Town, it seems 19 will not be enough.
“I have a real concern of how that could work with 20 spaces [for just the apartments] … before we even think about the restaurant,” Councilman Jason Pettit said during Monday’s work session. “As much as I would like to see what you’re talking about come to reality… I have to consider the impact.”
Town Manager Bryan Chrisman mentioned two areas where the Town is working to development additional parking, including a lot behind the Post Office and another lot along North Broad Street. Both the developer and council members mentioned the potential to lease parking spaces from neighboring property owners, and at least one council member talked about potentially loosening parking requirements in the Town Code.
“I thought this property would sit there for years,” Councilman Ligon Webb said, referring to the building’s 18-month vacancy since the art gallery relocated. “I’m willing to look at anything to make it work. It would be a sin to tell them to go away over parking.”
The Luray Planning Commission will be discussing the proposal at its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
During its July 8 regular meeting, the Luray Council took the following actions:
• Approved a special use permit, 4-2, to operate a lodging house at 197 Baker Drive in the Planned Neighborhood Development (PND) zoning district of the Luray Landing development. The application was submitted by Wilberto Castro Diaz of Stafford. There were no speakers at the council’s public hearing, and the Luray Planning Commission recommended approval, 6-1, at its June 12 meeting.
• Unanimously approved a $1,500 contribution toward a regional transportation study being conducted by Valley Regional Transit. Half of the $50,000 cost of the study is being covered by the state, while the remainder is being supported by local government agencies and regional corporate contributions.
• Unanimously approved a proclamation to recognize Recovery Month in September, with a local event planned on Sept. 21. Local coordinator Taylor Alger gave a presentation to the council on the problem of addiction in our community and efforts being made to fight it.
• Unanimously voted to send a report from Councilman Ligon Webb about the potential addition of a Village Residential zoning district to the Luray Planning Commission for review. The concept capitalizes on more dense residential living in smaller, but better laid out “communities” that utilize small, one bedroom homes. Webb spent 11 years as town planner in Luray before becoming the planning director in Madison County for several years, and most recently becoming the Director of Planning in Powhatan County near Richmond. His 11-page report outlines the benefits of making better, more attractive neighborhoods on smaller parcels of land; recognizes the growing trend toward smaller homes; and offers an additional affordable housing option in a strained market.
For more information about the Town of Luray,
visit https://www.townofluray.com/
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I understand the heirs wanting to make money. I’ll be willing to bet that any apartments will be priced to shut locals out of the market. This spot would have made a spectacular site for the Performing Arts Center, instead of the Brutalist nightmare that serves as its current location. A parking lot across from the greenway with shuttle to the site would accommodate visitor parking, but residents of high end apartments would expect closer alternatives, which could catapult the town into a frenzy of badly planned urban renewal that gave us the Brutalist nightmare in the first place. The Town will have to wrestle with how to please the new developer at the expense of our citizens.
Very impressed by this development idea. Hopefully the town doesn’t let parking stop it from happening. There’s plenty of ways to make it work. We need more of this.
“Performing Arts” could find a new home in this new development. That way, the dumb looking, out of sync former bank building being repurposed for something it wasn’t designed for, could be knocked down and replaced with something else. That something else could be a two level parking garage with a bigger footprint than what’s there now, and offices, etc on levels above that. All conveniently in the center of town, with an exterior that looks like it’s been there since the 1920s.
It’s great that someone is willing to buy the old art warehouse and make it into apartments. Why would anyone be angry about this? Expensive, cheap, we just need more housing, period.
Deborah Lauritzen, if you mean someone needs to build housing for poor people, then ask the government. Can’t make private investors subsidize housing. Construction isn’t cheap. Plenty of good jobs around here for anyone who wants to show up and doesn’t do drugs.
Town of Luray, please help make this development happen for our downtown!
Not to worry, the short term rental frenzy has massively over built in our County.
Vacancy rates are soaring.
There will soon be lots of housing stock available for long term rental or purchase.
Cheaply too, as the bubble bursts.
Speaking of vacancy rates, there’s the Rebecca Graves Performing Arts Center which is occupied very infrequently yet hogs a lot of parking spaces in the center of town 24/7/365. Where does the Luray Parks Assoc get off by doing that? The whole thing is just a bunch of latte swilling quasi intellectuals with their wrists cocked backwards with pinkie finger extended trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.