Now Open — a mixed-use development and community space in Washington, Virginia
The new Food Pantry is approximately 4,500 square feet of floor space, ample parking, and a board/community meeting room.
The guiding principles of the Rush River Commons project are rooted in environmental sustainability, community support, and responsible development.
The residential cluster of Rush River Commons is designed to provide 18 attractive and affordable rental units ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms.
The housing component of the project is crucial, particularly in addressing the needs of seniors, disabled individuals, and other residents facing challenges in finding affordable housing options.
The project aligns with the Town of Washington’s comprehensive plan, which emphasizes creating a diverse housing environment with mixed-income levels to foster a strong sense of community.
To ensure environmental protection for the project, various measures have been incorporated into the development plan. These include stormwater management plans that adhere to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regulations, the preservation of wetlands, the implementation of water quantity and quality controls, erosion and sediment control measures, and forest preservation. The project also commits to using IDA Dark Sky Friendly lighting standards, preserving natural resources on-site, and maintaining commonly held property for ongoing environmental stewardship.
The Rappahannock Food Pantry owns the building at Rush River Commons, and leases the land. The construction of the new building was funded through the “One Rappahannock“ capital campaign.
The campaign was chaired by John Fox Sullivan and John Anderson, who upon learning that the Food Pantry would not be able to renew its lease in its previous location, began a community-wide support campaign to raise funds for the new building.
Source: Rappahannock News
Noel Laing, Former President, Rappahannock Food Pantry – Source: Rappahannock News
Noel Laing, former President of the Rappahannock Food Pantry, credits Rush River Commons and Chuck Akre for “enabling us to get a central location with the building we want, with the entrance and exits that we need within our budget. If it hadn’t been for that, we would have been in serious trouble, because in order to do all of that on our own…the cost would have probably been double.”
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Victoria retired in November 2022 after 30 years of working in Capture Management for large Government contractors. She has experience with various clients, including DHS, FEMA, FBI, and the Army. She was also a founding partner of Staub-Peterson Leadership Consultants, now known as EQIQ Leadership.
She lives on the same farm she grew up on in Amissville with three dogs, and one cat.
She is an active member of Trinity Church, serving on the vestry.
She has a BS in Nursing and worked as a psychiatric nurse for over 10 years.
Ms. Kardis was born in Rappahannock County and graduated from Rappahannock High School. Through a local scholarship she attended Lord Fairfax Community College and then George Mason University. Pursuing her lifelong dream, she graduated with a Nursing degree and then completed her Masters Program at GMU. She spent 40 years as a nurse, first starting at George Washington University Hospital and then moving to Inova Fairfax Hospital where she held various
Clinical Nurse Specialist and Management roles in Cardiovascular Nursing.
During part of her career, she helped start the nonprofit Health Tanzania at her Church. She worked as a Mission Nurse in Tanzania aiding community health initiatives in a poor urban neighborhood and supporting a Christian school including a health program for young women. Leading Youth Mission trips to Tanzania from the Church was one of the highlights of this program for her.
Since retiring from her last job as a School Nurse in 2021 and returning to their farm in Flint Hill, Ms. Kardis has been happy to have time to volunteer and give back to her community. She has been involved in the Food Pantry since 2021, Headwaters as a Read Volunteer, and a Lay Eucharist Minister at Trinity Church.
She and her husband Phil enjoy making improvements on their farm in Flint Hill, hiking, and spending time with their pets and four children.
Shauna has 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, from serving and event planning to management and consulting. She has turned her passion for serving others into working in the nonprofit sector for the past several years. Shauna lives in Flint Hill with her family. She is working on a Master’s in Human Services focusing on community and social welfare.
Bob grew up in Maryland, earned a BArch in Architecture from Ball State University, and has been a licensed Architect since 1999. He is a Director for NEHMER, an international hospitality architectural design firm based in Rockville, MD.
Bob has been spending his “free” time helping the Sperryville Community Alliance with organizing Sperryfest, volunteering for Christmas in Little Washington event, and working with Rick Lessard on the interior design for the Rush River Commons Food Pantry and Office building.
When not working or volunteering, Bob enjoys spending time woodworking, traveling, camping, and hiking in Shenandoah National Park. Bob lives in Sperryville with his wife Kathy.
Laura Lucas joined the Rappahannock Food Pantry in June 2018 as the Assistant Pantry Manager. In July 2023, she became the Pantry Manager upon Mimi Forbes retirement.
Laura was born and raised in San Diego, California. She then lived in Illinois for several years before moving to Rappahannock County in 2018. She has 6 children, 5 of whom are still in Rappahannock County Schools.
Working at the Rappahannock Food Pantry is one of Laura’s great joys in life. Everything about it is enjoyable and rewarding. It doesn’t even feel like a job. But the people – the clients, volunteers, fellow employees, and board members – are particularly dear to her. They’re like family.
Case has been working as a residential developer and general contractor in the Washington D.C. area for more than forty years. After he and his wife Kathi retired to Rappahannock County he was invited to join the boards of Fauquier/Rappahannock Habitat for Humanity, the Headwater Educational Foundation, the Rappahannock Benevolent Fund and the regional Encompass (Community Supports). These nonprofit organizations are committed to working to address the dire shortage of affordable housing in Rappahannock County.
Many moons ago Case earned a Bachelor’s degree from Chapman University in Orange, CA. and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the George Washington University in Washington D.C.
In his free time, he enjoys taking care of native wild flowers and observing the rich variety of birds in his backyard. His other hobbies include studying local history and attending the many different art activities in the county.
Associate, Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd.
Thomas believes that great landscape architecture illuminates the connections between plants and people. His work incorporates an understanding and adaptation of natural systems into sustainably built and planted environments. As a self-described “painter-plantsman” Thomas fills sketchbooks with drawings and watercolors that stem from a desire to communicate the hidden side of everyday landscapes and the human experience.
Thomas received his Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Clemson University in 2010 and his Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia in 2015, where he served as a teaching assistant and received the Neel Reid Scholarship. In 2015, he was named Olmsted Scholar by the Landscape Architecture Foundation. Other formative experiences include his film production for a PBS nature television program, freelance design work for the South Carolina Botanical Garden, and studying landscape painting in the Netherlands.
Principal, Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd.
Michael Vergason has 45 years of experience in creating memorable places in public and private sectors. He founded Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd. in 1987, and as the lead design principal is deeply involved in all projects. His sketch work is an essential component of his design process, defining and enlivening the MVLA studio.
He is responsible for numerous projects that show a particular sensitivity to site and context, careful consideration of historic significance, and a distinctly contemporary vision. His ability to balance the natural characteristics of the site with the demands of its architectural program is an outgrowth of his background in both architecture and landscape architecture. He also stresses the importance of a collaborative design process with architects and clients, resulting in seamless compositions without distinction between design disciplines.
Michael received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Virginia. He has lectured at numerous institutions including the University of Virginia where he held the 2006 Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Professorship in Architecture; the University of Maryland where he was the 2007 Kea Distinguished Professor in the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation; Harvard University; and Dumbarton Oaks. Michael is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
As the site manager at Rush River Commons, Richie Burke oversees the ground operations of this very complex build. Richie’s extensive work history include beings the building official for multiple jurisdictions in Virginia, Rappahannock County EMS coordinator, and managing the Rappahannock Co. July 4th events for 40+ years. His list of professional certifications is extensive.
He was awarded the Rappahannock County Firefighter of the year, not once, but twice throughout his 41 years of service as a volunteer firefighter, and he’s been the Chief for SVFD for 26 years. He was also the Rappahannock County Citizen of the year in 2016.
The best quality Richie possesses is his ability to communicate well with others.
Architect, Lessard Collaborative, LLC
Rick Lessard has been an Architect and Managing Member of the Lessard Collaborative, LLC since 2007. He served from 2003-2007 as the Chief Operating Officer of the Lessard Group Inc., a 160 person National Architectural and Planning Firm located in Tyson Corner, Virginia.
Rick and his wife Dot have owned property in Rappahannock County since 1986 and retired here full time in 2007. Rick has served as a member of the Rappahannock County Water and Sewer Board from 2008 to 2016 and the Board Chair in 2012. Rick volunteered for the Headwaters Foundation Starfish Mentoring Program from 2007-2012. He has served on the Board of the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation from 2014-2021 and was Board Chair from 2019-2021.
Rick has served and Chaired the Architectural Advisory Council, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Architecture from 2009-2014 and served and Chaired the Executive Development Board at Catholic University of America, School of Architecture and Planning from 2003-2010. Rick has also served on the Catholic University Alumni Board of Governors from 2000-2005.
Rick is a Member Emeritus of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Council of Architectural Review Boards (NCARB) and is registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Pete Stenner moved to Rappahannock in 2012, and retired 2016. Since retiring, Pete has been volunteering with the Rappahannock Food Pantry, and currently serves as the Pantry Operations officer/Treasurer.
Prior to his retirement:
Ms. Wenger retired from Booz Allen Hamilton in June 2015 after 40 years in consulting and in technology research. She has experience with a diverse set of organizations (private sector profit and nonprofit, government, and academic). Since retiring and moving to Rappahannock County she has become involved with organizations addressing issues facing our aging population. She has been the Rapp at Home Board president since 2018.
She participates in the Rappahannock Roundtable, in Aging Together’s Regional Coalition, the Regional Coalition and its Social Isolation Working Group, with the WAVE (Washington Area Villages) network, and with the Virginia Village Collective. She is also involved with the Master Naturalist program, the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community, and the Rappahannock Garden Club.
She was previously vice chair of the board of the Child Care and Learning Center, grants manager of the Virginia Native Plant Society, and a member of the Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services Aging Services Advisory Council.
Since moving to the county she has focused her leisure time learning ballet and watercolor painting.
John Beardsley is an author, curator, and educator with extensive experience in contemporary art and design. Trained as an art historian, he received an A.B. from Harvard and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. He taught history in the department of landscape architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design from 1998 to 2013, and was director of Garden and Landscape Studies at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C. from 2008-19. He is currently curator of the Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize for the Cultural Landscape Foundation, Washington, D.C.
He has written frequently on contemporary art, including the books James Castle: Memory Palace (2021), Earthworks and Beyond: Contemporary Art in the Landscape (fourth edition, 2006), and Gardens of Revelation: Environments by Visionary Artists (1995), as well as many titles on landscape design. Among his exhibitions are “Black Folk Art in America” (Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1982); “Hispanic Art in the United States” (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1987), both with Jane Livingston; and “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend” (Museum of Fine Arts Houston, 2002), with Jane Livingston and Alvia Wardlaw. He lives in Flint Hill.
Jessica grew up in New York, earned a B.S. in Accounting from George Mason University, an M.B.A. from George Washington University, and has been a licensed CPA since 1999. She has been a resident of Rappahannock County since 2013 and lives with her family, and a beloved variety of dogs, horses and cats, in Flint Hill, VA.
Outside of tax season, Jessica spends time running, hiking, gardening and most recently, learning to golf. She enjoys serving the community in which she lives.
Jessica is active on the Dept. of Social Services Board, currently serving as its Chair, and is on the Board of both the Rappahannock Food Pantry and the Rappahannock Benevolent Fund.
Gail Crooks is currently serving as the Director of the Rappahannock County Department of Social Services. She has been working in social services for 12 years but prior to moving into a full-time role in social services, spent 19 years in local government administration, primarily in budget and operations analysis roles, supporting multiple facets of local government operations and community engagement.
Gail is fully committed to serving Rappahannock County and each person who is a part of that community. While she lives outside the county, she says it gives her a daily opportunity to see beauty fresh each day in her travels between work and home.
Gail is thankful for God’s abundant grace and faithfulness through many, and sometimes mighty, storms. She enjoys walks with her husband and their dog, a good Agatha Christie mystery, and time with her children and grandchildren.
Principal, Global Office Development Leader, Design Director
Duncan serves as a Global Office Developer Practice Leader for Gensler’s 49 offices across the globe and as a Design Director for architecture in the Washington, D.C. office. In a career spanning more than three decades, he has designed office, residential and mixed-use projects for a variety of institutional and commercial clients in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, Europe, Asia and Australia.
He has earned recognition from the AIA, NAIOP, ULI and Arlington County, among others, for award-winning work. Duncan’s passion for high-performance buildings and sustainable design has led to LEED® certification for many of his projects, including five at the Platinum level.
He’s been a featured speaker at conferences for the Urban Land Institute, the AIA Academy of Architecture for Justice and Bisnow Washington, D.C.
Duncan earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Bath in England and is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
HRH Holdings is a real estate investment and development firm out of Annapolis, Maryland. Tim Hoerner IV has twelve years of industry experience and in both residential and commercial development. Outside of work, Tim enjoys spending time with his family, working out and traveling.
Stephen Plescow, P.E., President of St. Mawes, LLC has more than forty years’ experience in real estate development, civil engineering, land planning, zoning, entitlements, project, and construction management. Stephen formed St. Mawes, LLC in 2008 and has successfully provided his clients with professional services on challenging and complex projects. Prior to St. Mawes, Stephen held senior management roles with national homebuilders, WCI Communities, Centex, and Toll Brothers as well as international resort developers Intrawest Corporation.
Holding a professional engineering license in Virginia and Michigan, his recent domestic work has been primarily in the Washington D.C. metropolitan market area, but he also has national experience with completed projects in over twenty states.
Internationally, St. Mawes completed multiple U.S. Air Force housing projects in Japan at Yokota AFB, Misawa AFB, Kadena AFB and Camp McTureous Marine Base on Okinawa. St. Mawes also completed an assignment for a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Research and Enforcement facility in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Stephen has expertise in the formation and management of project teams, master planning and securing complex zoning approvals and engineering entitlements. He also has extensive experience in the initial evaluation of properties for development potential and engineering feasibility analysis.
Experience in the planning and development of major resort and master planned communities includes Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia, Governor’s Land at Two Rivers in Williamsburg, Virginia, The Old North State Club in Uwharrie, North Carolina and Belmont Country Club, Leesburg, Virginia.
Stephen also has experience in the development of golf courses and supporting facilities and has worked with major golf course architects including Tom Fazio, Greg Norman, Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer, and Rees Jones.
Stephen earned his Civil Engineering degree with minors in Architecture and Urban Planning from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Richmond.
