South First Street Phase One: Community Directed Redevelopment
VCDC is proud to welcome South First Street Phase One to our portfolio.
Jan. 2021 - Located in the heart of Charlottesville, VA, the South First Phase One project is part of a comprehensive redevelopment and expansion of public and affordable housing operated by the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA) in collaboration with the Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR).
This entire redevelopment effort has been initiated and directed by the public housing residents themselves. In 2016, under the auspices of PHAR, the HUD recognized resident assembly, residents published a blueprint for the redevelopment of public housing and an expansion of affordable housing in Charlottesville. Key elements of the resident’s blueprint have been adopted by the CRHA, which established a “resident first” orientation toward development in a “resident led” process. Through surveys, house meetings, community meetings, and public hearings, public housing residents have been drawn into the planning process and with the CRHA, have arrived at consensus for the direction of their redevelopment enterprise. Construction of Phase One is expected to be completed in the summer of 2022.
The first phase includes the substantial rehabilitation of the 105-unit Crescent Halls site (anticipated to close into VCDC’s Housing Equity Fund 22 this winter) and the new construction of the 62-unit, three-building South First Phase One complex. A second phase of redevelopment is slated to begin next year, in which the 40 year old, 58-unit public housing development will be replaced with 113 units in a combination of townhouse, duplex, and garden-style apartments.
VCDC’s Housing Equity Fund of Virginia 23 has invested nearly $6.6MM in the South First Street Phase One project. The Crescent Halls project will see a $7.7MM investment from Fund 23 later this winter. Project sponsor and developer CRHA is receiving pro-bono development consulting services from Riverbend Development, a subsidiary of Redlight Management in Charlottesville. Redlight led an unprecedented fundraising campaign to support the redevelopment of public housing which has received contributions from businesses and individuals in Charlottesville, including the Dave Matthews Band. The City of Charlottesville has also committed to providing $3MM per year over the next five years to the redevelopment of the city’s public housing.
Rendering by: Arnold Design Studio