With the rapid growth and unique challenges in our downtown area, the need for a comprehensive planning document for public infrastructure has arisen.  To meet this need, city staff, along with a committee of key stakeholders, have been working to update the Downtown Streetscape Plan. This plan will build upon the 2005 Downtown Streetscape Plan by expanding the study area and covering additional elements that are necessary to clarify the vision for downtown.

Note: The Downtown Streetscape Plan is a comprehensive plan and vision, not to be confused with the Downtown Streetscape Project that will begin next summer. The City will undergo a second beautification project in the downtown corridor, called "Downtown Streetscape Project Phase II." This project will replace and upgrade sidewalks on the west side of Main Street, from Court Square to Wolfe Street.

The Draft Downtown Streetscape Plan will go before Planning Commission in early 2014 for review and recommendation to City Council.

City Council approved establishing the district Tuesday night (Jan 28, 2014), making Harrisonburg the first city or town in the state with such a designation, said Eddie Bumbaugh, executive director of Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance.

In 2001, the city became the first locality in Virginia to create an arts and cultural district, which includes downtown. The districts will complement each other, Bumbaugh said, and separating the two will give the prop¬er amount of exposure to both.

Along with Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services, the Downtown Dining Alliance and Harrisonburg Farmers Market are among other entities in favor of the culinary designation.

The Ice Factory is one of Harrisonburg's most exciting 2014 projects.  The project features over 130,000 square feet of mixed use (commercial/residential) space offering a unique mix of both recreational and living space.

The top two floors of the Ice Factory will be 34 residential units.  These units will vary from one bedrooms to efficiencies and will feature the modern comforts people have come to expect from previous Matchbox projects such as the Livery Building, Urban Exchange, and City Exchange.  The apartments will highlight the rustic interior of their former use with concrete floors,  12' ceilings, huge windows, and dynamic columns to capture the look and feel of an industrial loft.

Ice Factory residential occupancy is slated for summer 2014 for all those who are interested.  For more information on rental availability, please contact Mary Messerley at mary@matchboxrealty.com.

Ice Factory overview

Ice Factory Phase One  (JMU, etc.)

Ice Factory Phase Two  (commercial, community, residential)

• Bizy
• Pickarious
• GroMobi
• Venture Interactive
• Drawbridge Technologies
• Approved Colleges

Brian Shull, the city's economic development director, sees it as an upward trend that's helping to further diversify Harrisonburg's economy and provide good jobs.

"It's a unique story that we have so many tech firms sort of clustering in the downtown Harrisonburg area," he said. "That really creates some neat synergy, and I think we're starting to build a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation that I think will encourage others into venturing to starting a new business."

A CULTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Dec 2013: Downtown Hotel Figures Submitted (Daily News Record)
  
• May 2013: Conference Center Details Line Up (Daily News Record)
  
• Jan 2013 - City Council asked the developer to conduct a feasibility study
• Nov 2012 - No new proposals were received.
  
• Sept 2012 - City Council discussed proposal, decided to seek competing proposals.
  

• The Campbell House, 205 Campbell Street
• The Denton House, 278 Newman Avenue
• The Matter House, 254 Franklin Street

• The Flats @ City Exchange in the City Produce Exchange, 56 West Gay Street
• Sancar Flats in the Metro-Sancar Building, 28 West Rock Street

• Court Square Theater and Moseley Architects in the Rockingham Motor Company on Court Square
• Matchbox Reality in the Hartman Dealership at 202 N. Liberty St.

Click here to buy tickets.

• Spooky tunes by DJ Neals Barkley
• Face Painting by Larkin Arts
• MedExpress "Build-Your-Own First-Aid Kit" Station
• Balloon Animals
• Storytime with The Gus Bus
• You Made It! Clay Play Station
• Caricature Drawings
• Witches Brew by Hess Orthopaedics
• Paint on Canvas
• Cupcake Decorating by The Cupcake Company
• Themed Dances by the Shenandoah Contemporary Dance Theater ("Thriller" + "Crypt Pickers")
• Carnival Games by Explore More Discovery Museum

Find out more on the HDR Blog.

The Plan Our Park Committee recently hired a team of professionals to invite the public and city officials to provide input on the proposed park concept, produce park conceptual drawings, develop park operational recommendations, and conduct a feasibility study. The study area includes not only possible park footprint options, but the impact and interrelationship with surrounding projects and properties.  [ read more ]