UVA to build two new residence halls with 2,000 units on Emmet Street, Ivy Road

The University of Virginia has laid out plans for how it will work to implement a strategic initiative to require all second-year students to live in residence halls. 

“UVA is committed to helping address the housing challenges our collective community is facing and as such this development proposed 2,000 beds in apartment-style units along with associated food service venues at two potential sites,” said Michael Joy, UVA’s non-voting representative on the Charlottesville Planning Commission. 

One of the sites is at the intersection of Emmet Street and Massie Road and the other is at the intersection of Emmett and Ivy Road. Both are identified in UVA’s master plan as suitable places for residential life. 

“The University’s preference is to have the first phase of these new beds delivered for Fall 2027 occupancy,” reads a request for qualifications (RFQ) issued in late April. The deadline for requests was Wednesday and shortlisted firms will be invited to respond to a request for proposals on June 12. 

The firm Brailsford & Dunlavey will serve as the development advisor for the project. The consultant has previously worked with UVA on studies to expand housing options for undergraduate students. That work led to the construction of Bond House as well as Gaston House and Ramazani House that’s nearing completion. 

According to the RFQ, UVA has around 17,000 undergraduates and 8,300 graduate students. 

“Nearly 7,300 students live on Grounds, including approximately 4,000 first year students,” the RFQ continues. 

The RFQ is intended to fulfill the UVA strategic plan for 2030 which includes an initiative to require second-year students to live on campus, which UVA refers to as Grounds. 

The Emmet North project will be on a 16-acre site next to Lambeth Apartments on the eastern side of U.S. 29. The RFQ describes the site as being ready for development once the Afghan Kabob restaurant is demolished. 

“The site will border the University Circle neighborhood, and Proposers are encouraged to consider scale and fit within the context of the neighborhood,” reads a description in the RFQ. “The design must signal the entrance to UVA, referencing architecture and design of symbolic UVA landmarks.”

This will be the site of between 900 and 1,200 units as well as a “food-court dining program” with a coffee shop, a convenience store, and a restaurant. 

The RFQ refers to a “temporary parking area” where the University Gardens apartment complex used to exist. Those were demolished in late 2022 after being deemed to be too costly to renovate. 

The second site would be located on 2.25 acres in the Emmet Ivy Corridor. 

“The proposed site sits at the westernmost parcels closest to Copeley Road,” said Joy. 

Joy said both sites have been shown to the Lewis Mountain, University Circle, and Venable neighborhoods. 

The Emmet-Ivy Corridor is already the home of the School of Data Science and will soon be the site of the Virginia Guesthouse, the Karsh Institute of Democracy and a possible Center for the Arts. 

“The University envisions that the design and scale of the housing Project would fit within the fabric of the Emmet Ivy Corridor district,” the RFQ continues. 

The existing University Forum apartments on this site will be demolished. There are to be between 600 and 800 beds in apartment-style units in buildings between six to eight stories. 

This second site is also across Copeley Road from a private development on one acre that will be the only property on Ivy Road that the City of Charlottesville will collect property tax revenue. All of the land that UVA is building on was once owned by private companies. UVA is exempt from paying property taxes.

The Emmet North site is along the path of two city-run streetscapes that are among a number that have been plagued with delays. 

UVA responded to questions posted after the initial RFQ was published. One of them asked whether UVA or Charlottesville had jurisdiction. The response doesn’t mention the city. 

“All University projects are subject to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code,” reads UVA’s response. “The University Building Official’s office will provide applicable review and, in collaboration with the Project Manager, coordinate additional reviews and permitting applications.” 

Another question sought a definition of “apartment-style units” 

“Bedrooms should be single occupancy and be of a scale that comfortably fits furniture but encourages residents to spend time in the shared spaces in their apartment,” reads the response to question #17. “The University is primarily interested in 4-bedroom apartments but will consider alternative configurations.”

A number of one bedroom apartments are also expected to accommodate individuals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

The occupancy rate of UVA student housing was 99 percent in 2024. 

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