Harrisonburg Planning Commission Approves Link Apartments Proposal

The mixed-use development faces next step of City Council review.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:50am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Harrisonburg City Planning Commission voted 6-1 to send a proposal for the Link Apartments, a mixed-use development with up to 250 units and 555 bedrooms, as well as 5,000 square feet of retail space, to the City Council for further consideration. The proposal faced mixed public reaction, with some residents expressing support for increased housing supply and alignment with the city's downtown development plan, while others raised concerns about the project's scale, character, and impact on affordable housing and traffic.

Why it matters

The Link Apartments proposal represents a significant development project for downtown Harrisonburg, which has seen ongoing debates around balancing growth, preserving the city's character, and addressing housing affordability. The Planning Commission's approval moves the project forward, but it will still require City Council approval before moving to the next stage.

The details

The updated Link Apartments proposal calls for a multistory, mixed-use building with up to 250 residential units and 555 bedrooms, as well as 5,000 square feet of retail space. Developers presented the revised plans to the Planning Commission, stating they had incorporated feedback from previous public meetings. During the meeting, residents expressed both support for the project's potential to increase housing supply and alignment with the city's downtown development plan, as well as concerns about the project's scale, impact on the character of downtown, and effects on affordable housing and traffic.

  • The Harrisonburg City Planning Commission voted on the Link Apartments proposal on March 12, 2026.

The players

Link Apartments

A proposed mixed-use development project in downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia, featuring up to 250 residential units and 555 bedrooms, as well as 5,000 square feet of retail space.

Harrisonburg City Planning Commission

The local government body responsible for reviewing and approving land use and development proposals in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Jordan Leaman

A Harrisonburg resident who expressed support for the Link Apartments proposal, citing the need for increased housing supply and alignment with the city's downtown development plan.

Todd Alexander

A Harrisonburg resident who urged the Planning Commission to reject the Link Apartments proposal, expressing concerns about the project's scale, character, and impact on the city.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I am here to express my support for the rezoning of the parcels of the current Lindsey Funeral Home location, for all of the reasons the Planning Commission has heard, including increasing the housing supply in an already tight rental market, promoting mixed-use development that will increase pedestrian and bicycle transportation, and the general alignment of the proposed development of the Harrisonburg Downtown 2040 plan.”

— Jordan Leaman, Harrisonburg Resident

“The proposed rezoning threatens this balance by shifting land use designations and will open up the door to what you see tonight, large developments out of scale, out of character, and out of step with what made our city so special.”

— Todd Alexander, Harrisonburg Resident

What’s next

The Link Apartments proposal will now move to the Harrisonburg City Council for further review and consideration.

The takeaway

The Link Apartments proposal highlights the ongoing tensions in Harrisonburg between accommodating growth and development, while preserving the city's character and addressing concerns around affordable housing and infrastructure impacts. The Planning Commission's approval moves the project forward, but it will still require City Council approval before proceeding.