Toms Brook Apartments: An Adaptive Reuse of a Historic School Building

Jan 3

Toms Brook School Apartments

The Toms Brook Apartments are located just Northwest of Shenendoah National Park in Toms Brook, Virginia. In 2010, we partnered with People Incorporated of Virginia to help restore this historic school building into affordable homes for individuals and families. VCDC invested over $1.6 million in the restoration of Toms Brook Apartments, which includes Low-Income Housing Tax credit equity from our Housing Equity Fund XV and Federal Historic Equity.

The Toms Brook school was once considered the heart of the Toms Brook community after opening as a K-12 facility in 1935 and has been a foundational connection between the town and former students to this day. Over the years, as surrounding areas developed more schools, the Toms Brook school dwindled to elementary classes only until it eventually closed in 1991. The building gradually fell into a decayed state that no longer served the community – it was being vandalized, had broken windows, and the ceiling was falling.

Our partners at People Inc. saved the Toms Brook School after purchasing it in 2011 and beginning the process of adapting the building into 14 affordable housing apartments. Now, the building contains one- and two-bedroom apartments, creating high-quality, accessible and affordable homes for up to 30 individuals.

Toms Brook Apartments spans two stories, with available units designed for individuals with disabilities. Each apartment is fully equipped with a washer and dryer unit, full kitchen, resident-controlled heating and cooling systems, and on-site trash services. The apartments are also EarthCraft certified, which means that all apartments are built with the best possible air quality, insulation, and overall health a safety measures to minimize exposure to pollutants and maintain efficient energy use. One of the best features of the Toms Brook Apartments is the restored auditorium, which now serves as a community space for all residents to host events, meetings, and more.

We are so proud to have assisted with restoring this lively community and provide affordable homes to individuals in Shenandoah County, and we are glad that other community members can look back at their former school fondly as a vital part of the town.