City and William & Mary Consider Land Swap
College would get property on Strawberry Plains Road bordering College Woods, Williamsburg would get portion of land next to Cedar Grove Cemetery
Recent notice from the City of Williamsburg for an upcoming public hearing indicates that the City Council will consider a land exchange deal with the College of William & Mary at its meeting on December 11, 2025 at 2pm.
The announcement indicates that Williamsburg could potentially swap over 13 acres of undeveloped land at 180 Strawberry Plains Road for a portion of college-owned land next to the city’s Cedar Grove Cemetery on S. Henry St. The property on Strawberry Plains Road abuts a wilderness reserve of more than 500 acres owned by the college, an area known as College Woods.
According to the current assessment, the city’s land on Strawberry Plains Road is worth $2.2 million. In 2024, Williamsburg negotiated a deal to sell the parcel to a local developer for less than market rate, as reported by Ben Swenson in the Daily Press. In return, the 112 townhouse development called “Landmark Village” would have included 15 units with sales price discounts meant to make the units affordable to more potential buyers.
But the proposal quickly came up against challenges from neighboring properties citing current traffic problems, as well as faculty and students who raised environmental concerns. The developer ultimately withdrew the proposal, which Swenson also covered for the Daily Press.
Should this land exchange move forward, Williamsburg could receive a portion of the college-owned land on South Henry Street bordering the city-owned Cedar Grove Cemetery in exchange for the land on Strawberry Plains Road. According to the city, the cemetery was established in 1859 and is reserved for current and former residents and city employees.
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