The deal to develop Crossroads Colonnade, a major retail project involving Liberty University, is still on, but will be delayed until the nation’s economy rebounds, officials say.
LU is planning to sell 184 acres near its campus to AIG Baker, a commercial developer based in Alabama. Most of the envisioned 900,000 square feet of retail would be in Campbell County, but about 18 acres of it would be in Lynchburg.
The full Crossroads plan encompasses 212 acres and includes residential construction, although no contracts have been announced for that element yet.
The retail project’s postponement will likely push the groundbreaking to next year. It was previously hoped construction could begin sometime this year.
Last year, as part of the Crossroads plan, Lynchburg City Council agreed to rezone 3.6 acres previously designated as conservation property.
In exchange, LU agreed to convert another 3.6 acres of university land to conservation status.
The school has since identified the property it’s willing to rezone and will bring its proposal to the planning commission today.
The suggested acres are split between two properties on Carroll Avenue and the Dearing Street area, respectively.
The Carroll Avenue site, located near Lynchburg City Stadium and the house where LU’s annual Scaremare event is set up, would provide 1.29 acres of the required land.
The Dearing Street portion, located on an island in the James River in the Rivermont Avenue area, would supply 2.33 acres.
City staff proposed placing land-use restrictions on the property to ensure it would be preserved in perpetuity. LU declined to volunteer any such conditions, according to a planning commission memo, saying it has not yet determined a use for those presently vacant lots.
By-right uses of conservation land in Lynchburg include agricultural endeavors and telecommunications towers.
City staff has recommended the LU rezoning be approved. The planning commission meets today at 4 p.m. in City Hall, 900 Church St.
Commissioners will also meet Thursday at the same time to hold a special work session on the proposed big-box ordinance, which would place new restrictions on future large-scale commercial developments.
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