Town of Blacksburg would like to offer clarification regarding Delegate Hurst’s introduction of House Bill (HB) 1863 as represented in the news media this morning.  Delegate Hurst’s bill will address a significant shortage of housing in Town for long-term residents.

 

Significant student demand for off-campus housing has negatively impacted the availability of rental property for non-students and the affordability of housing in Blacksburg.  The Town Council has recently approved rezonings to provide thousands of new student housing bedrooms to meet demand but now the Town is focusing on making housing available for its long term residents. HB 1863 only applies to new housing developments, does not restrict new student housing and is contingent on The Town of Blacksburg being required to designate areas where student housing is encouraged.

 

The intent of the bill is to create space in the housing market for non-student housing.  Currently, any project with density (apartment, condominium, townhouse) built in Blacksburg runs the risk of being 100% student occupied due to the strong student housing market.  This leads to proposed projects being rejected by the community because of potential construction of student housing in the wrong location.  The proposed legislation creates a path for much needed non-student multifamily housing developments to be approved and constructed in Blacksburg.

 

The proposed measure would allow the Town of Blacksburg to accept voluntary proffered conditions from developers of new multifamily housing that would exclude undergraduate students/persons under 23.  To accept such proffers the Town must designate in its Comprehensive Plan, areas that are intended to be student housing locations as well as areas that would serve long term residents.  The Town plans to hold conversations with local builders, town residents and other interested parties in developing these plans.