HARRISONBURG, Va – Harrisonburg City Council has approved requests to rezone the former home of the Daily News-Record, opening the door for new residential housing downtown.

During Tuesday night’s meeting, the board voted unanimously to redesignate 231, 251 and 261 South Liberty Street as a mixed-use facility.

The move means that Lauf Cycling, which manufactures bicycles on site, needed to apply for a special use permit to keep operating there. The permit was also approved 5-0, but not without conditions.

Adam Fletcher, City Director of Community Development, explained that if the manufacturing operation became a nuisance, then council can revisit the issue and offer conditions.

The rezoning order requires the city to install additional parking near the site as well.