Student Housing Plan for UVA@Wise

A proposal to develop college student housing along Coeburn Mountain Road has cleared its final hurdle.
"We were glad that it was approved," says Wise resident Caynor Smith Jr., an investor in the group aiming to build multi-family housing beside the Wise County Christian School. "We're very, very excited."
"It's an investment in the community," Smith said, and meets a need for University of Virginia's College at Wise.
The investors have received a "tremendous amount" of positive feedback from the community and college officials, Smith said Friday. UVa-Wise has identified time and again the need for student housing, he said.
"I've had an overwhelming amount of people, and citizens in the town, who come up to me and who say they hope it gets off the ground and gets started," Smith said.
The board of supervisors Thursday approved the conditional zoning request from Wise-based MidSouth Development for the housing project.
The vote was 6-1, with District Two Supervisor Bob Adkins abstaining. Adkins has claimed a "personal" conflict because he has friendships with and serves as church deacon to parties on both sides of the issue.
District One Supervisor Ronnie Shortt voted no.
"I just have some reservations about the project," Shortt said after Thursday's meeting. That included a concern about whether MidSouth had a sound business plan. Shortt weighed both the benefits of new housing and public concerns about the project. "I just felt like 'no' was the vote for me."
It's nothing personal, Shortt stressed. "I wish them the very best."
The proposal has drawn fire from some nearby residents, who worry about increased traffic and whether the project has the makings of low-rent housing or assisted housing through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Some residents have said they'd be fine with the proposal if it was a UVa-Wise project, rather than a money-making plan by a group of private investors.
MORE DISCUSSION
MidSouth Development plans to establish multi-family residential housing on 4.79 acres located at 9635 Coeburn Mountain Road and zoned R-1 single-family residential. The land is currently owned by the Christian school and will be purchased by MidSouth.
The idea of placing student housing at this site was conceived about a year ago, says Dan Fast, a Wise lawyer representing MidSouth. The land is flat and just up the road from UVa-Wise, he said.
Many UVa-Wise students currently live in mobile homes or dilapidated houses, Fast noted, saying there's a shortage of student housing and housing in general.
The developers hope to use a townhouse style of housing, looking similar in nature to the Lost Creek apartments along U.S. 23 above Norton. While he mentioned 80 units, Fast has said some of that space will be needed for an office and to store equipment.
MidSouth had an eye on student housing from the moment the project was conceived, Fast told supervisors Thursday. "I need to kill this ugly rumor that we're going to bring in HUD housing."
MidSouth has no intentions of offering subsidized housing, Fast said, unless a college student uses scholarship money to live there. "That's the only type of subsidy I can imagine."
Fast mentioned charging $400 to $500 per student, meaning an entire apartment might go for $1,000 to $1,500. "That's a lot of money," he said.
Why is the project considered suspect because MidSouth hasn't partnered with UVa-Wise? Fast asked. "There's nothing wrong with making money. There's nothing wrong with doing it yourself."
"I am confident that when we are done and you drive by (that site), you're going to see something you like," Fast said.
Smith, of 243 Valley St., told supervisors he supports Fast and that he needed to respond to rumors and "false statements" concerning MidSouth's housing project. MidSouth plans to build a complex that will be used - hopefully fully used - by college students, said Smith, who also serves on Wise Town Council.
Why do this project and not make money? Smith asked. "If the college was building this complex today, they'd make money," he said. "When was the American dream lost? When was prosperity removed from the American dream?"
Smith said he was compelled to respond to allegations that MidSouth was planning low-rent housing for the site. "I felt I needed to set the record straight," Smith said by telephone Friday.
Smith doesn't want a Taj Mahal, just a student housing development that leaves parents feeling "comfortable and secure" when they drive away, leaving their children behind to live there. The parents will know their children are living in a place that's maintained, new and safe, he says.
It will be a new facility, with new wiring and plumbing, Smith said, and won't be substandard housing.
Smith noted many residents who once opposed Wise's development of a new town hall and swimming pool now see those projects as beneficial. Residents say the town hall is beautiful and improved that section of Wise. And an argument could be made that the swimming pool has improved nearby property values, he said.
Smith hopes the same for MidSouth's project - increased property values and community pride in the new housing development.

[imported_Counts]

UVA-Wise really seems to be taking off growth wise if this keeps up Wise could be a real collage town

[7_32]

not if the town doesn't get some form of entertainment....

You're right. They want it to be a big college town, but there's not much here to attract people to stay for 4 years!