Contact: Chris Edwards, Director of Mission Advancement cedwards@supportworkshousing.org | (804) 788-6825 ext. 307
Albemarle, Va. (November 7, 2024) — SupportWorks Housing hosted a ceremonial ground-breaking on Wednesday, October 30 for Vista 29, a $26m 80-unit affordable housing development.
Vista 29 in Albemarle County will be a mixed-income, supportive housing community for homeless and low-income individuals from Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville. Sixty-two units will have rental subsidies for homeless adults and the remaining units will be available for individuals earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). SupportWorks will offer on-site support services to residents.
The apartment community will contain 77 studio apartments and 3 one-bedroom apartments. Each unit will be approximately 350 square feet and will feature a kitchenette with full-size appliances and a full bathroom. At least twelve units will be completely accessible for people with disabilities. The building will have an extensive security system and off-street parking. In addition to apartments, the building will contain a community room, a computer room, a fitness room, laundry facilities, a front desk, and staff offices for on-site property management and support services staff. The front desk will be staffed sixteen hours per day with a night monitor on duty at night. The development will be EarthCraft certified for resource and energy efficiency and will feature solar photovoltaic panels.
SupportWorks board member and Albemarle County Chief Human Services Officer Kaki Dimock welcomed attendees to the ceremony,
“During the pandemic, a team began meeting virtually to discuss the redevelopment of the existing Red Carpet Inn,” Dimock said. “It’s been a long time coming, and we are excited to have arrived at this moment.”
Albemarle County Supervisor Nick Gallaway and Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders each provided remarks about the impact of the development on the community.
“Vista 29 is perched high above Route 29. The development’s name acknowledges the location of the apartments while speaking to the change in the residents’ lives and outlook once they have stable housing and access to services,” said Supervisor Gallaway.
City Manager Sanders praised the collaboration around the project. “We are excited about the opportunity for the City to join in more regional impact. We have to tackle big problems together. I appreciate the chance to bring the City into this conversation. We’re just scratching the surface,” Sanders said.
SupportWorks Executive Director Allison Bogdanovic concluded the ceremony, thanking donors, partners, and attendees for their support.
Total development costs are approximately $26 million, with funding provided by local, state, and federal funds as well as private funds. Construction will begin next month with completion in September 2026.
Martin Horn, Inc. will serve as the general contractor and SupportWorks will manage the property after construction is complete.
Vista 29 is part of a larger, multi-phased redevelopment project comprised of up to 140 affordable residential units within two multi-family buildings, with a two-story commercial building fronting Route 29. The creative redevelopment of the former Red Carpet Inn site is a partnership between SupportWorks Housing, the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (formerly TJACH), and Piedmont Housing Alliance, along with critical acquisition funding from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation – an unprecedented investment in affordable housing by a community foundation.
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SupportWorks was awarded Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in the 2023 and 2024 Accessible Supportive Housing pool. Additional financing includes a Virginia Housing REACH loan; Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) HOME, National Housing Trust Fund, Virginia Housing Trust Fund, and Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency (HIEE); locality funds; congressionally directed spending funds; and private foundations.
SupportWorks Housing was founded in 1988 and has provided permanent housing with supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness in Virginia for over 35 years. SupportWorks currently serves over 1,600 individuals and families in the Richmond, Charlottesville, and Hampton Roads regions. Vista 29 will be SupportWorks’ second property in the Charlottesville region, joining The Crossings at Fourth and Preston, and 11th 60+ unit property overall in Virginia.
SupportWorks follows the “Housing First” approach and uses the supportive housing model. Housing First is an evidence-based, low-barrier approach to homeless services that prioritizes access to housing without restrictions, such as sobriety or minimum income requirements. The supportive housing model combines permanent, affordable housing with access to individualized support services. Services include the following: connecting clients to primary healthcare; helping them secure income, insurance, and benefits; providing case management, counseling, and skills training; assisting with mental or physical health recovery; and helping individuals overcome substance use disorder.
SupportWorks’ supportive housing programs are primarily designed to serve individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and individuals with documented disabilities experiencing long-term or recurring homelessness. 97% of individuals served at The Crossings at Fourth and Preston in 2023 did not return to homelessness.