STAFFORD, VA-Two multifamily developments were just approved in Stafford County and are expected to begin development within the next year. The projects--Celebrate Virginia North and Abberly at South Campus--are located in areas designated for increased density. They are aimed at a mix of prospective tenants, from short-term law enforcement training teams to as business and healthcare professionals, to younger residents who may not be ready to purchase a home.

Abberly at South Campus will consist of 288 residential units. It will be located just south of the new Stafford Hospital, and will also provide 25 acres for a community college campus. It is located in the Courthouse Area, one of four areas identified in the Stafford Redevelopment Plan. Abberly will feature two types of multifamily buildings--larger, four-story buildings with interior hallways and elevators, and six smaller buildings.

The Celebrate Virginia North Project consists of 192 units and is located just off U.S. Route 17. It is part of a 1,200 acre Master Planned Community developed by the Silver Cos. The community includes office buildings, single-family unit development and over 400,000 square feet of planned retail space.

The projects are entering a growing pipeline of multifamily projects in Stafford. Permits for multifamily homes have increased this year, after averaging just over 100 units per year since 2006.