Developer gets preliminary approval for Janney–Marshall project

A Fredericksburg developer received preliminary approvals needed from City Council on Tuesday to revitalize a historic building near the downtown train station.

City Council granted developer John Janney initial approvals that will facilitate the renovation of the Janney–Marshall building at 401-409 Princess Anne. The matter is expected to be back before Council on September 24 for final approvals.

Janney purchased the roughly 25,000-square-foot building earlier this year and plans to renovate the 19th-century structure into a mixed-use property with 2,100 square feet of commercial space and 12 apartments. He intends to keep the exterior look essentially the same.

The Janney–Marshall building is one of several projects under way or planned in the train station area. Down the street at 306-312 Frederick St., Jon Van Zandt and Mike Adams are renovating a former coffee warehouse into the mixed-use Lofts at Frederick Street project. Simply Home plans to renovate the former “cold storage” property at 316-318 Charles St.