News
Highland Inn Receives Virginia 250 Grant
Governor Youngkin announced last week that the Virginia Department of Historic Resources awarded the Blue Grass Resource Center a $1.75 Million Virginia 250 Preservation Fund grant to support the renovation and reopening of the historic Highland Inn. The inn was one of 35 preservation projects in Virginia awarded in preparation for the 2026 anniversary of the America Revolution and the Declaration of Independence.
Located on Main Street in Monterey, the Highland Inn is listed on the Virginia and national historic register. In 2021, Phase 1 of the revitalization effort successfully stabilized and restored the Inn’s exterior. Phase II will restore the Inn’s interior, completing the final step necessary to reopen the hotel and restaurant.
Regional Housing Webinar Set for February 26
Join the CSPDC on February 26, 2025, at 11 AM for an insightful webinar on the newly released Regional Housing Study. Featuring expert speakers from Virginia Housing, the Virginia Center for Housing Research, and HousingForward Virginia, this session will explore key findings and proposed solutions to address housing challenges in our localities.
CSPDC Releases Regional Housing Study
The CSPDC recently published a housing study for its five-county region. The Regional Housing Study is the culmination of a major collaborative effort among CSPDC staff, local governments, housing stakeholders and consultants, and includes analysis of local and regional trends as well as solutions to the unique housing supply and affordability issues that its member localities are facing.
Funded by a grant from Virginia Housing, the study was developed by industry experts at Virginia Tech’s Center for Housing Research and HousingForward Virginia. The Regional Housing Study is a detailed analysis tailored to the region and its distinct housing markets. The study team worked closely with local staff and regional stakeholders and engaged in extensive outreach to develop solutions to market challenges that align with local goals and build on existing plans and interests.
CSPDC Chairman and Lexington Mayor Frank Friedman highlighted the critical need for accessible housing in the region and the role the housing study could play in supporting localities, stating, “Ensuring a steady supply of housing, including workforce, affordable, and market rate housing inventory remains a top priority for localities across our region. The release of the CSPDC Housing Study offers County, City, and Town staff reliable insights into housing challenges, viable solutions, and actionable steps toward implementation. This study will undoubtedly become a vital resource in our region’s ongoing efforts to ensure housing stability and continued growth.”
“The release of CSPDC’s Housing Study marks an important milestone for the Commonwealth’s largest planning district, providing localities with a strong foundation to address the region’s diverse housing needs,” said Virginia Housing Director of Strategic Housing Chris Thompson. “Virginia Housing is proud to support this important regional initiative.”
To read the study, visit CSPDC Housing Study | CSPDC Connects: Planning Together
Planning Together with CSPDC Connect
CSPDC is excited to announce the launch of our new community engagement platform, CSPDC Connect, which is designed to foster more meaningful and accessible public participation across the Central Shenandoah region.
This innovative digital platform will serve as our hub for community engagement, providing updates on projects, studies, and other CSPDC activities and making participation easy for community members. With multilingual capabilities, our new platform will help ensure the feedback is representative of the diverse community we serve.
CSPDC Connect will be used across all CSPDC’s service areas, from transportation to housing to economic and community development to disaster mitigation and preparedness. It will also support the efforts of the Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) and Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (HRMPO), which CSPDC staffs and manages.
SAWMPO will be the first to utilize this new platform with the launch of Phase Two of the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) update on February 18. This project will invite community feedback on a proposed list of projects, highlighting the importance of public input in shaping regional transportation priorities. You’ll find information about how you can participate in the engagement process on our Social Pinpoint project site – Subscribe now to receive an email when the Phase Two survey is live.
Through features such as project updates, short videos, and interactive tools, community members can use CSPDC Connect to stay informed and see the direct impact of getting involved.
We invite everyone to explore the new platform and join us in shaping the future of the Central Shenandoah region. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to engage with the projects that matter to you.
Commuter Assistance Program Strategic Plan Adopted
CSPDC RideShare staff have completed the Commuter Assistance Program Strategic Plan (CAPSP) and the Board of Commissioners formally adopted the plan at their February 3 meeting. The CAPSP is a Department of Rail and Public Transportation requirement for all state-funded Commuter Assistance Programs and must be completed every five years. This year, the Strategic Plan was developed with technical assistance from Launch! Consulting, and in collaboration with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.
The Strategic Plan outlines objectives, operations, and performance measures, and will serve as a guidebook for the program until 2030. The Commuter Assistance (RideShare) Program works to connect individuals in the Central Shenandoah region to the alternative transportation options available to them for their commuting needs.