CPDC moves forward with new senior apartments in Richmond

The Community Preservation and Development Corp. (CPDC), based in Silver Spring, Md., said Tuesday that it will begin development of the former Brookland Park Senior Apartments, an adaptive reuse project in Richmond that will provide 77 new affordable senior apartments.

The targeted completion date for the project is July 2016, with the Highland Park development expected to be up and running by next fall.

Phase one of the plan involves relocating 77 residents from Richmond’s Frederic A. Fay Towers to the new Highland Park Senior Apartments. CPDC, which owns more than 4,500 affordable apartments in 25 communities, was selected last year through a competitive bidding process sponsored by the Richmond Redevelopment Housing Authority (RRHA) to redevelop Fay Towers under a federal rental assistance program that allows public housing authorities to create public-private efforts to replace outdated buildings.

In addition to the 77 units, CPDC is working with RRHA to finalize the development plan for the remaining 123 units that will be included as part of the Fay Towers redevelopment.

CPDC acquired the new site for Highland Park Senior Apartments, formerly Brookland Park Plaza Apartments and originally Highland Park Public School, in November 2013.

“CPDC brings decades of expertise not only in redeveloping housing that serves as a catalyst to reinvigorate entire neighborhoods—but also in tailored solutions for senior residents.  Our goal is to engage and connect low-income senior residents to the services they need: transportation, quality healthcare, and access to local organizations offering senior services,” J. Michael Pitchford, CPDC’s president and CEO, said in a statement.