The Harrisonburg City Council has granted unanimous approval to rezone the Frazier Quarry to allow a joint venture partnership between Bushrod Investments and Birchwood Capital Partners to initiate site plan approval on Quarry Heights in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Maryland-based development companies intend to seek site plan approval to obtain permits to build the residential community that is designed to support approximately 950 units, with townhomes, single-family homes and apartments planned in six distinct neighborhoods.
The early $220 million development is projected to generate nearly 2,000 construction jobs, a construction output of nearly $240 million, create $3.3 million in annual property tax revenue, and inject nearly $60 million in annual spending by residents into the local economy. “Quarry Heights is a Master Planned Community that represents a unique opportunity for the citizens of Harrisonburg,” explained David Gildea, Principal of Bushrod Investments. He added, “Quarry Heights will offer a better kind of urbanism, and seamlessly integrate into the fabric of the existing community and city. Situated on among the highest point in the city, Quarry Heights will create stunning views of the hills that surround the Shenandoah Valley and, at its heart, will be a central focal feature consisting of a picturesque 35-acre lake.”
Overview of Quarry Heights development
Quarry Heights will contain six separate neighborhoods – West Ridge Summit, Lakeside, Waterman Village, Quarry Lake East, Brickstone, and Quarry Flats - featuring a wide diversity of housing types: This includes 20- and 24- foot garage townhomes, 28-foot garage active adult villa homes, single-family homes, and a multifamily component consisting of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment units. No homebuilders have been identified to date, although the development team indicates that approximately 10 groups have expressed interest in Quarry Heights.
"The design of this carefully curated residential program was based on existing housing types in the Harrisonburg area and perceived demand in the future, as well as input from the CityCouncil, the Planning Commission and staff,” stated David Strouse, President and CEO, Birchwood Capital Partners. “The overarching goal was to offer homebuyers a range of choices to meet their particular home size and price point needs, as well as create an attractive and synergistic environment that complements adjacent neighborhoods.”
Two clubhouses will be constructed in the northern and southern sections of Quarry Heights, one to serve the needs of community residents and the other exclusively for use by the multifamily community. Each will be equipped with a mixture of spaces suitable for event and resident programming, including fitness centers, flex rooms and kitchens in the interior, with Olympic-size outdoor pools, multi-purpose courts, and play equipment on the exterior. The clubhouses will be interconnected by the pathway system."
Quarry Heights is designed as an eco-friendly, walkable, and bikeable community that will be an attractive place for residents of all ages,” Strouse added. “Among the community highlights are its approximately two miles of trails that connect to the Friendly City Trail, creating a wonderful hike/bike infrastructure within the city. This feature will not only enhance the quality of life for its residents but also contribute positively to the overall vibrancy and sustainability of Harrisonburg.”
The amenity package also includes several pocket parks positioned throughout the neighborhood sections to provide access to the quarry pathway, which is designed to create resident gathering and socializing places overlooking the focal point of the Quarry.
Emphasis on sustainability initiatives
In response to increased awareness and desirability of sustainability, the development team has incorporated several green initiatives, including the installation of solar panels on both clubhouse roofs and the placement of EV charging stations around the community, as well as making the entire community bike and pedestrian friendly to de-emphasize the use of automobiles.
Repurposing quarry sites into secondary uses benefiting the community
Originally known as Betts Quarry upon its establishment in 1915 and later renamed The Frazier Quarry in 1946, the family-owned site was used to mine crushed stone for new construction projects throughout the central Virginia region. The repurposing of the site will be highlighted by the creation of a 35-acre lake, serving as the major amenity and focal point of the development, with housing units encircling this feature. In addition, the site reconfiguration will provide stormwater management support to the region, with engineering designed to alleviate existing flooding issues on and around nearby roads.
Across the country and around the world, quarries have found new lives from enterprising companies which have transformed the sites to data centers, hotels and even an amusement park, although most secondary uses have been for residential development. Former quarry sites lend themselves extremely well for residential uses, based on the presence of large tracts of land for development, proximity to major highways, and the pit itself, which is typically transformed into a centerpiece water feature.
“Transforming a quarry at the end of its useful life into a community that will fill a critical need for housing in the Harrisonburg area and add significant taxes to the benefit of the entire community is smart growth at its finest,” added Gildea. “Our plan will rejuvenate the former site, restore its beauty, and repurpose it into an asset that can be used and enjoyed by many generations.”
