Former law office on Barristers Row to become downtown Staunton apartments

Lyra Bordelon, Staunton News Leader
Updated ·2 min read

Update: Oliver Dahl responded to The News Leader with more information.

STAUNTON — Seven new apartments are coming to downtown Staunton behind the current Augusta County Courthouse.

According to the permits in the window, contractors are installing seven sets of bathrooms, efficiency kitchens and electrical service. Seven “short term dwelling units” will then be available in downtown Staunton.

The building is owned by Barristers Row Staunton LLC. Oliver Dahl of Barristers Row Staunton LLC told The News Leader the apartments would be similar to AirBnb short-term rentals, though not through AirBnB, with stays ranging from overnight to a few months.

"Barristers Row is going to be a boutique mini hotel and will all be short term rentals," Dahl told The News Leader. "The current timeline is to be open by the end of June."

In June 2022, Dahl requested and was granted special use permits for street level apartments at 1, 5, 7, 9, and 11 Court Place by the Staunton Planning Commission.

“The properties are located at the intersection of Barristers Row (which is a public street) and South Augusta Street,” reads the Planning Commission agenda packet. “The building was purposely constructed as a law office and served that function for 177 years. Barristers Row was originally platted as an alley but was formally adopted as a public street in 2009.”

The building on Barristers Row across the street from the Augusta County Courthouse.
The building on Barristers Row across the street from the Augusta County Courthouse.

According to the minutes, City Planner Tim Hartless explained that these properties were in the commercial district (B-2 zoning) and would not typically be allowed to have residential housing with living and sleeping quarters on the ground or basement levels, but Barristers Row is “an extremely narrow street and is unsuitable for any significant traffic or on-street parking,” making it difficult to host a business in these locations.

Some planning commission members expressed concern about parking in the area, and “Mr. Dahl addressed these concerns by stating that walking would likely be the primary form of transportation for those using the property, or they would be picked up and dropped off on the street.”

Hartless also noted that the street is frequently blocked to traffic by Augusta County Sheriff personnel loading and unloading prisoners for court appearances.

Fraizer Associates and Sharp 9 are responsible for the architecture work, with Mathers Construction Co. on construction. After the project is complete, Be Still Getaways will manage the properties.

The building on Barristers Row across the street from the Augusta County Courthouse.
The building on Barristers Row across the street from the Augusta County Courthouse.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Former law office on Barristers Row getting renovated to apartments