Williamsburg council mulls major downtown renovations to enhance area’s ‘vibrancy’

WILLIAMSBURG – The Williamsburg City Council is considering recommendations that could lead to some significant changes to the downtown area.

Among the proposed plans are the creation of a “Restaurant Row” along Scotland Street, the development of an entertainment district, the installation of a new urban grocery store and additional housing. 

During a meeting on Jan. 9, council members heard about the results of a 2018 “Downtown Vibrancy Study,” which included recommendations to implement several major projects to drive economic growth downtown.

The study was commissioned by the council in 2017 to develop a framework to enhance Downtown Williamsburg’s appeal. It was carried out by Econsult Solutions, Inc., a Philadelphia-based consultancy that focuses on urban economics.

The results of the study are taking center stage once again because the city’s 2023-2024 Goals, Initiatives and Outcomes (GIO) plan focuses on “downtown vibrancy” as a key priority.

Yuri Matsumoto, the city’s economic development director, outlined staff recommendations regarding the study, which include creating a “new premier entertainment district” around the existing Triangle Building.

The plan also calls for a mixed-use development that would feature a 30,000-square-foot grocery store, two to four stories of apartments and more parking. The city-owned Blayton Building, which was recently identified as a key location for redevelopment, is the proposed site for that project.

Additionally, the study encourages the adaptive reuse of housing along Scotland Street for conversion into restaurants, cafés and bed-and-breakfasts in what would become known as “Restaurant Row.”

Other proposed changes include:

• Enhanced street lighting to promote an “active street life” downtown after dark and enhance pedestrian safety in the area
• Pop-up parks downtown to create “unique experiences” and “special moments” for both residents and visitors
• Seasonal decor throughout the downtown area, including holiday-themed decorations, seasonal plants and string lights 
• The development of a park or green space to connect the Williamsburg Library to the Williamsburg Community Building.
• Leaning on existing partnerships with Williamsburg Downtown and AVAdventure to develop strategic programs and events to bring foot traffic to the outer edges of the downtown core

Mayor Douglas Pons said the proposals were worth consideration but noted that Williamsburg has already made significant improvements to its downtown in recent years.

The city has completed several projects designed to enhance the vibrancy of the area since 2018, including installing flower planters along Prince George Street and Duke of Gloucester Street, planting trees along vehicular and pedestrian corridors to provide shade and installing more outdoor dining on Prince George and Duke of Gloucester Street. 

Precarious Beer Hall, a beer garden downtown, also opened in 2019, a year after the downtown vibrancy study was conducted. 

“I hear from people almost weekly about how nice it is downtown,” Pons said. “There’s so much happening there, and as you drive through college corner, you can’t help but look at the downtown area and say ‘wow.'”

Pons said Armistead Avenue could be a prime location for some type of development, particularly in the space where the Bray School was previously located. 

He added that while he would support the concept of a downtown grocery store, the venture would need to be profitable for the grocer, which would require the development of more nearby housing.

“We need life and activity to support some of the other things that we want,” Pons said. “We can’t be afraid of housing and some density in the downtown area.” 

Vice Mayor Pat Dent said the addition of outdoor dining has already greatly enhanced the downtown area.

“One thing that’s positive that came from Covid is that we initiated the outdoor dining, and it’s turned out to be really instrumental in reinvigorating that area,” he said.

Council member Stacy Kern-Scheerer emphasized the importance of weighing each concept carefully before jumping in. 

“Some of these ideas are very big,” Kern-Scheerer said, referencing proposals to redevelop entire blocks downtown. “Those are big questions that we cannot – and should not – decide quickly.”