Enterprise Community Development, Inc. closed on the purchase of the former Mizpah Presbyterian Church and the Nehemiah House Community Center located in the 1200 block of Brookland Park Blvd. in the Highland Park neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. Enterprise Community Development will redevelop the site into the Brookland Park Apartments, featuring 66 new, affordable apartments for individuals and families built to U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Homes and Enterprise Green Communities standards.
Once complete, the four-story Brookland Park Apartments will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments serving families from 40% to 60% AMI.
Brookland Park Apartments’ unique design celebrates the history of the Gothic Revival-style church currently located on the site, incorporating and preserving a section of brick. Units will have washer and dryer hookups, electric split HVAC systems, LVT flooring, and EnergyStar energy efficient appliances and lighting. Seven units will be designed to Universal Design Standards, including two for vision- and hearing-impaired residents. Community amenities include a fitness center, community room, community retail flex space, an outdoor plaza and on-site parking. In addition to working towards an Enterprise Green Communities certification, Enterprise Community Development seeks to make the apartments DOE Zero Energy Ready Home-certified, signifying a high-performance home that is so energy efficient that a renewable energy system could offset most or all the home’s annual energy use. Each DOE Zero Energy Ready Home meets rigorous efficiency and performance criteria found in the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements.
Brookland Park Apartments is located in the Highland Park neighborhood of Richmond, immediately west of Six Points, an area that has seen major public investment over the last decade and a community of opportunity offering access to public transportation, ample options for shopping, youth programs and public amenities including the Northside branch of Richmond Public Library, Hotchkiss Field Community Center and Anne Hardy Park. Redevelopment of the nearby Bank of America building at Six Points promises to bring a pharmacy and additional health care amenities to the neighborhood in addition to the Bon Secours Northside Medical Center that currently serves the community.
“We believe the development of Brookland Park Apartments continues to drive investment in the Highland Park community,” said Matt Engel, Senior Director of Real Estate development for Enterprise Community Development. “We hope this has a ripple effect that brings more residential and retail development into this wonderful neighborhood.”
Support for the project comes from Richmond City Council Vice President Ellen F. Robertson (District 6) and City of Richmond Housing & Community Development. The total development cost for project is $21MM. Financing for the project comes from 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, a tax-exempt loan issued by Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority, a construction loan from Truist Bank, Virginia Housing Trust Funds and Virginia HOME funds, City of Richmond Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and a grant from Bank of America.
“This is exciting news. The project is truly a public/private partnership, which assists in providing new affordable housing units in the City of Richmond,” said Sherrill Hampton, director of City of Richmond Housing & Community Development.
Torti Gallas + Partners is the project architect and UrbanCore Construction is the general contractor. Once complete, Enterprise Residential will provide property management and residential services.
Brookland Park Apartments builds on Enterprise Community Development’s long-term commitment to providing high-quality affordable housing in Richmond. Enterprise Community Development has developed more than 200 new homes in Richmond including a three-phase project to rehouse residents of the Fay Towers. Those redevelopments include Highland Park Senior Apartments located across the street from the Brookland Park Apartments site, The Van De Vyver Apartment Homes and The Rosa Senior Apartments in Jackson Ward and, most recently, Baker Senior Apartments in Gilpin.
