BAR takes a look at Fifeville student housing project

Under the new development code, preliminary applications with the Board of Architectural are becoming an important first step before formal plans are filed with the city’s Department of Neighborhood Development Service.

On June 17, 2025, the BAR was asked to provide comment on a proposed seven-story building planned for the Fifeville neighborhood on 7th Street WW. That size is allowed under the new rules if certain availability conditions are met.

LCD Acquisitions, a company that traces back to Landmark Properties of Georgia. They’re the same company that developed the Standard on West Main Street. They are the contract purchase of three properties including two that are individually protected under city code.

That’s because they have two historic structures on them that date back to the 19th century and are the work of a brick mason named James Hawkins. The parcel at 202 7th Street SW is not within a historic district but the developer wants to add new construction to a portion of the two protected properties.

“That new building would encroach onto the parcels that are protected,” said Jeff Werner, the city’s preservation planner. “We have to pay attention to the new building but not lose sight that the reason we’re evaluating this is because of these two brick [buildings].”

BAR Member Cheri Lewis suggested that the units could be used by the community at large.

“The obvious thing I’m thinking of is a coffee shop in one of them or maybe in both of them,” Lewis said. “You know, that would draw people in. A commercial presence would certainly be awesome.”

The BAR was generally favorable about the plan but had concerns about the relationship between the old and new. Matthews agreed to come up with an additional picture that depicts the way the historic buildings look from the new structure.

Before you go: This story was originally published in the June 23, 2025 version of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Why did it take three days to be posted here? The answer depends on two factors. One, Town Crier Productions is a one-person operation. Second, the one person makes it up as he goes along. Oh well. Hopefully you learned something anyway.