VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – October 13, 2020 – On Friday, October 9th, employee volunteers from Lawson and resident volunteers from The Retreat at Harbor Pointe Apartments joined forces to remove 69 bags of trash and other bulk items totaling over 2,700 pounds of debris from the Elizabeth River waterfront.
The volunteer event is part of Lawson’s ongoing efforts to improve the riverfront at The Retreat at Harbor Pointe Apartments. During development Lawson installed pile foundations and 800 wick drains to reduce moisture content in the soil and raised the site out of the 100-year flood plain with six-to-nine feet of fill. Lawson then installed 28 oyster castles to provide habitat and help to naturally cleanse the river, and planted salt-tolerant native plants and trees on the shoreline.
The cleanup effort was supported by Keep Norfolk Beautiful who provided supplies and loaner tools. HD Supply provided a generous donation of supplies and First Aid kits for the volunteers.
Some of the interesting items removed from the river include a marine VHF radio, toy fire truck, an amazing collection of shoes, and a section of what appears to be someone’s mosaic tile porch. The porch is now a part of the riprap protecting the shoreline from erosion. Most prevalent were plastic items and trash that ended up in the river and washed up on the shore.
Lawson President and CEO Carl Hardee said, “We’re grateful for the efforts of the volunteers who have taken the time to make an investment in the community and conservation of our waterways. We look forward to continued improvements and positive impacts.”
The Retreat at Harbor Pointe Apartments is a brand-new EarthCraft certified energy-efficient 246-unit affordable apartment community providing luxury riverfront living accommodations to low-income families, including units set aside for residents with physical disabilities. Shattering most people’s preconceived notions of affordable housing, The Retreat spans six acres of Elizabeth River waterfront adjacent to the Campostella Bridge and boasts Class-A features like a resort style swimming pool with river views, modern fitness center, community clubhouse, and an elevated walking trail. Apartments include granite countertops, water conserving fixtures, and energy-efficient appliances, with many offering views of the river and downtown Norfolk skyline. The cleanup effort was greatly successful, and the results were immediately apparent.
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, visit www.lawsoncompanies.com.