A contributed perspectives piece by Aaron Garber
What is the Link?
The Link is the proposed project for the Lindsey Funeral Home site—a six-story, high-density apartment complex that will stretch sidewalk to sidewalk, featuring about 400 parking spaces. Approximately 36 of those spaces will be rented to the city for city vehicles. The project is expected to include about 265 units, which will be a mix of 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments. This could mean over 700 people living in this complex with only 400 parking spaces.
Who Will Live Here?
The way the units are designed, along with the developer’s advertising on their website (up until July 29, 2025), indicates that this complex is intended for student housing.
This complex will also include a minimum of 2,000 square feet of retail space, qualifying it for B-1C zoning.
Why do they need B-1C zoning?
– Height: It allows for the six-story structure.
– High Density: It permits packing more units into a smaller space.
– No Setback: It allows for construction right up to the sidewalk.
– Reduced Parking Requirements: It does not require enough parking spaces for all residents.
Current Zoning
The site is currently zoned R-3 Medium Density Residential. Under the current zoning, the following could be built:
– Single-family homes
– Duplexes
– Townhouses/Rowhouses
– Garden-style apartments (multi-family, but limited by density and height rules)
I want to clarify that I have NO issues with growth and redevelopment when done responsibly. I also support high-density housing, as it addresses a community need.
Why I Don’t Support the Link Project
1. Inappropriate Site for Development
First and foremost, this is the wrong site for this type of development. Lindsey Funeral Home currently offers green space and is set back from the sidewalk and street, creating a warm and welcoming entrance to our historic downtown. The Link will create a “wall” that stretches from Main to Liberty Streets, with no green space and no setback. A wall is not inviting; it feels cold and foreboding. I want everyone to enjoy our vibrant downtown, which attracts not only the residents of Harrisonburg but also visitors from surrounding areas and colleges. Building a wall at the entrance to our historic downtown could deter people from coming into the city, which would hurt local shops and restaurants.
2. Concerns with B-1C Zoning
I have fundamental problems with B-1C zoning. In this zoning category, most restrictions are set forth through proffers—voluntary commitments made by developers. While a city planner can make recommendations on proffers, they cannot require them in the zoning proposal, nor can the city council ask for them. Once zoning is approved, proffers become legally binding and enforceable. However, they can be written so vaguely that developers have significant leeway in interpretation. While I don’t fault the developer for acting in their best interest, it seems one-sided and not in the community’s best interest. The city planning commission should view B-1C zoning as a last resort, to be approved very sparingly. They need to scrutinize proposed zoning and make recommendations that serve the community. It is the city council’s job to listen to the public and weigh the proposal to make the best decision for the city they serve.
I grew up in Old Town and currently live on Paul Street; my parents still reside in Old Town. Some may accuse me of opposing this project simply because it’s in my backyard, but that’s not the case. If this same project were moved between Liberty Street and the railroad tracks, a block or two from the current site, I would not have any issues with it, aside from the concerns regarding B-1C mentioned above. My goal is to preserve the entrance to a place I consider special—our historic downtown.
Alternative Suggestion
Why not consider building a three-story apartment complex with green space and a setback, or expand the current park planned nearby to include the Lindsey property? We should strive to maintain the warm and welcoming nature of the entrance to historic downtown; we DON’T need a wall.
Aaron Garber is a fifth generation resident of Harrisonburg. He lives in old town with his wife, two children, and a very spoiled rotten dog.