For years Park & Shop was the closest place for Mary Washington students to shop. A sometimes-risky trek across U.S. 1 led them to the ’60s-style strip mall that offered the necessities of college life. Today, the UMW Foundation owns the property, and a pedestrian bridge makes crossing the highway a breeze. Now named Eagle Village, the area is being redeveloped into a mixed-use retail district with grocery and specialty stores, restaurants, student housing, office space, and a 93-room Hyatt Place hotel. The UMW Foundation bought the 23-acre property in 2007 at the request of the Board of Visitors, said Jeff Rountree ’91, foundation CEO. It was a rare chance to buy land next to campus, and it provided room to build premium student housing. Eagle Landing, a five-story apartment-style building, was constructed on the site that once housed a Roses discount store, and before that a Montgomery Ward. Eagle Landing opened in 2010, with 156 apartments. Beside it is the … [Read more...]