A new apartment development (The Walk at Harrisonburg) is proposed to be built on the land shown above on Peach Grove Avenue.

The apartment complex is proposed to be built on two parcels... each of which is actually currently (sort of) approved for apartments...

1351 Peach Grove Avenue was rezoned in 2021 to R-5C to allow for a single apartment building with up to 460 bedrooms.

1361 Peach Grove Avenue is zoned B-2 and in 2023 an apartment complex was approved with 376 apartments in three buildings... though the special use permit that would have allowed for this particular development has expired... though in theory a residential development could still be built to comply to B-2 requirements even without the expired special use permit.

Here's the potential layout of the proposed development...

The current applicant is proposing a rezoning of both properties to include an apartment complex with the layout shown above with 205 apartments and up to 739 bedrooms.

Here's a rendering of how the development might look...

The developer, Landmark Properties, has been developing properties since 2004 and currently manages around 70,000 bedrooms of student housing all around the country.  Per their website, it seems they were the developer of The Retreat at Harrisonburg, not too far from this new proposed development...

Though... the Retreat was seemingly sold in 2021 (for $70M) to a new entity and then rebranded as Redpoint.

The developer, Landmark Properties, intends to target young professionals, undergraduate students and graduate students for this new development on Peach Grove Avenue... though it seems that 80% of the apartments would be four bedroom apartments, so it is relatively likely that it would be all or mostly college students living in the community.

You can download the full rezoning application packet here.

A variety of perspectives arose during the Planning Commission meeting...

One of the parcels is owned by the JMU Foundation... but JMU's strategic plan includes a goal of housing 60% of students on campus by 2040... and thus, City staff has concerns that purpose-built student housing may have limited adaptability if (off campus) student housing demand lessens.

This proposal for the two parcels together is actually a less dense housing proposal than how the two parcels were proposed to be developed separately.  

The site is seemingly considered both close to and far from the JMU campus.  Some comments in the rezoning hearing suggested that the property is too far from campus to be a suitable location for college student housing... while others suggested that this is a good spot for college student housing.

There seemed to be some frustration from planning commissioners that many housing development proposals continue to be for college student housing instead of for workforce housing or affordable housing.

So, will this rezoning be approved and will the new development be built?

Staff recommended denial of the rezoning because, at least in part, they do not believe additional college student housing is currently needed

At the May 13, 2026 meeting of the Planning Commission, they voted to recommend denial of the rezoning request.

    

The developer will likely still take their proposal to City Council on June 9.