The downtown core of Williamsburg radiates from Merchant’s Square and heads west up Prince George Street. As you cross North Boundary Street, three parcels of land occupied by small, aging commercial structures that had outlived their usefulness were creating a significant gap in the area that was taking away from its charm and diminishing its vibrancy.

Fortunately, all of these parcels belonged to one owner with a vision of what he termed a “generational” building — something that he could leave to his family for generations to come. One of his mandates was to design a building that could stand the test of time and would require minimal amounts of maintenance. He also wanted that to come with the maximum level of family and community pride.

The design is a classic urban infill model. The first floor is commercial space that has been filled by two restaurants that have become staples of Williamsburg’s foodie scene. The site is across the street from William and Mary’s sorority court, so student apartments on the upper floors were a natural choice. The building includes eight, three bedroom, three bathroom apartments that were 100% leased 6 months before the building was even completed. As an added benefit, the new building now shares its elevator with the adjacent office building that formerly only had narrow stairs to the upper levels.

The project was conceived to seem like it had long been a part of Williamsburg’s downtown and will remain a part of it for generations to come.

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