VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – November 13, 2020– Lawson is proud to announce that Seaside Harbor Apartments has been awarded the Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate 2020 Multifamily Commercial Housing Project Merit Award.
Judges were impressed with Seaside Harbor’s partnership with Hope House who provide supportive services to Seaside Harbor residents with developmental disabilities, and that a quarter of the units at Seaside Harbor are reserved for residents earning at or below 40% of area median income (AMI) with the remainder serving residents at or below 60% AMI. Seaside’s pedestrian-friendly environment and low environmental impact also scored high with the judges.
Lawson developed Seaside Harbor Apartments in support of the Olmstead Act, providing affordable housing and community-based services for persons with developmental disabilities. Lawson purchased and assembled two apartment communities totaling 39 units that were at the end of their useful lives in the Virginia Beach ViBe District from the non-profit seller Samaritan House. Lawson then partnered with Samaritan House in the development, which generates recurring income to provide assistance to individuals and families fleeing violence. The below-market financing and housing tax credits that made this redevelopment possible were generously provided by Virginia Housing (formerly Virginia Housing Development Authority).
Seaside Harbor was designed and built to be an inclusive community. Twenty-five percent of the apartments meet fully, permanently accessible unit requirements as set by the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard (USAF) for disabled residents, and fifteen percent of the apartments are reserved for developmentally disabled residents capable of living independently. These residents are tirelessly served by the amazing team at the Hope House Foundation. The mission is further supported by the City of Virginia Beach who recently completed a two-year improvement project to the ViBe District that includes handicap accessible ramps, sidewalks, and amenities with widened sidewalks and crosswalks on all four sides of the intersections.
Lawson Chairman Steve Lawson said, “We’re so thankful to the leadership at Samaritan House, who shared our vision of what could be accomplished with this development, and to the City of Virginia Beach and the ViBe District for their support in bringing Seaside to life. Seaside Harbor and our residents have been wholeheartedly embraced by the entire community.”
The result of Lawson’s vision is an award-winning affordable housing community just blocks from the oceanfront that provides services to an often-overlooked population and income for a non-profit organization helping families in crisis in our community. Seaside Harbor Apartments has also been recognized with the 2020 Home Builders Association of Virginia Multifamily Project of the Year Award and the 2019 National Association of Home Builders Multifamily Pillar of the Industry Award for Best Affordable Apartment Community.
About Lawson
At Lawson, we understand that what we do – and how we do it – affects the everyday lives of people we care about. Since 1972, we’ve focused on positively impacting the communities we serve, from team members and residents to investors and business partners. We manage and own nearly 6,000 apartment units and continue to grow with approximately 1,200 units in development. Our business model provides vertical integration of development, construction, property management and asset management, which enables our team of experts to add value at every stage for our partners. When you act with integrity, focus on quality and work to find creative solutions, great things are possible. It’s how we’ve done business at Lawson for over 45 years. For more information please visit www.lawsoncompanies.com.
About Samaritan House
Since 1984, Samaritan House has provided emergency and permanent housing, support services and community outreach to victims of violence and homeless families in the Hampton Roads region. We own and operate 12 emergency shelters for individuals and families fleeing violence and those at risk of losing their homes. Samaritan House utilizes a holistic approach to meet the needs of victims and their children. Our clients receive support through case management, counseling, victim advocacy, nutrition assistance, transportation, access to medical care and vocational training. We assist children and youth to establish healthy relationships so they can ultimately break the cycles of violence. For more information, visit www.samaritanhouseva.org.
About Hope House Foundation
Since 1964, Hope House Foundation has worked on the frontlines of the battle for independence, community inclusion and true citizenship for people with developmental disabilities. The organization provides services for adults exclusively in their own homes or apartments. Currently, Hope House Foundations serve more than 125 people in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. Hope House is known as an innovator and leader in the field, and in 2008, it received the American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities national award for full community inclusion. In 2012, it was named ANCOR Foundation’s Service Provider of the Year. For more information, visit www.hope-house.org.
About HRACRE
HRACRE provides a unified voice for the commercial real estate industry in Hampton Roads by educating its members on relevant issues, advocating for local, regional and statewide legislative initiatives, promoting economic development, creating an environment in which members can build relationships, and mentoring the next generation of real estate professionals. For more information, visit www.hracre.org.
