The Charlottesville Board of Zoning Appeals deadlocked in a two-to-two vote March 19 on the question of whether The Mark — a proposed private apartment complex in Fifeville — qualifies as an off Grounds student housing project. Fifeville resident Paul Reeder filed an appeal with the BZA in January, challenging the zoning administrator’s designation of the University’s “main campus areas” which narrowly puts The Mark in close enough proximity to the University to qualify for student housing incentives. However, both City Zoning Administrator Read Brodhead and the legal firm representing the housing developer, have argued against Reeder’s appeal.
The Mark is a proposed, seven-story apartment complex in the historically-Black neighborhood of Fifeville which will be marketed towards students. LCD Acquisitions — the private developer based in Athens, Ga. — first filed preliminary plans for the 157 unit project in June, but officially submitted the project Oct. 7. If it is constructed, The Mark will be located at 202, 204 and 208 Seventh Street, roughly half a mile from the University.
Community members have expressed concern, however, that student housing projects in historically Black communities like Fifeville contribute to displacement of current residents, gentrification and blocked sunlight. Amidst these concerns, the Board of Architectural Review also voted to deny LCD a certificate of appropriateness — which it must acquire to build the project next to two historic buildings — in December. That decision will be appealed to the Charlottesville City Council in the near future. Reeder’s appeal, however, centered instead on whether The Mark should qualify as a student housing project if it is actually constructed…