WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — It's a proposal that's getting tons of reaction in Williamsburg.
There's a plan to convert 48 hotel units at the Econo Lodge on Parkway Drive into 42 adaptive housing units.
Adaptive housing is defined as “primarily efficiency and one-bedroom units with adequate cooking facilities created from all or part of an existing hotel/motel, and used for providing non-permanent, affordable and flexible-term housing" for individuals and families who may not have access to traditional housing alternatives existing in the City of Williamsburg.
In 2015, the city adopted a Planned Development Housing District to allow adaptive housing. Right now, the ordinance allows up to 150 adaptive housing units in the city with no more than 100 in an individual facility.
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend to City Council that the request to rezone be approved because it's consistent with the city's comprehensive plan and the extra 42 homes help fill affordable housing needs in the city.
Scott Beskid lives at Parkway Townes at Williamsburg right next door. He has several concerns including parking and property value.
“Are they going to maintain the value in this neighborhood here in these homes that are new,” Beskid said. “I don't know where they will put another 43 cars when 20 cars are out there at night.”
There's a public hearing on this matter next Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Stryker Center.
You can read more here.