The opening of Cool Lane Commons has done more than revive a vacant building and offer stable housing for residents in crisis. It’s also brought the region closer to ending homelessness.
Henrico County officials joined representatives of the nonprofit Virginia Supportive Housing, the City of Richmond and others today to celebrate the opening of the $24 million apartment community at 1900 Cool Lane, off Mechanicsville Turnpike.
Twenty-eight of the 86 units are reserved for individuals exiting homelessness, and all residents have incomes that are 50% or less of the area median income.
With Cool Lane Commons now open, the region needs only 350 additional units to meet its target for ending homelessness locally. Virginia Supportive Housing is creating an additional 82 units at the Rady Street Apartments, which is expected to begin construction in 2026 in Richmond’s Highland Park.
“Homelessness is solvable,” Virginia Supportive Housing Executive Director Allison Bogdanović said at today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Supportive housing – like Cool Lane Commons, like our future building on Rady Street – is the solution. We know that ending homelessness is possible because we are doing it every day with support from partners like you.”
Henrico supported the development of Cool Lane Commons with $575,000 in county and federal Community Development Block Grant funds. The project renovated the former Seven Hills Health Care Center building, which had been vacant since 2008. Cool Lane Commons opened in January and currently has 76 of its 86 units occupied through project-based vouchers from the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Henrico’s support is part of its strategy for increasing access to affordable housing, Board of Supervisors Chairman Tyrone E. Nelson said. He also noted the county’s creation of a $60 million affordable housing trust and its program that helps employees of the county’s government and public school system buy their first homes in Henrico.
“The reinvestment that we and so many other partners have made together here is … helping to address what we believe to be our tremendous need for high-quality, safe and affordable housing,” said Nelson, of the Varina District. “And that’s something that every single one of our residents deserves. Housing is essential. It supports family stability and employment, and promotes better health, and it also leads to stronger academic performance for our kids.”
Fairfield District Supervisor Roscoe D. Cooper III noted Cool Lane Commons’ sustainable design, with rooftop solar panels, as well as onsite support services and amenities for residents, including a community room, computer lab, fitness room and laundry facilities.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is how you revitalize the neighborhood and build a better future for everyone,” he said. “This is how you give to those in our community the support and resources they need to be successful as individuals on a daily basis.” For more information on Cool Lane Commons, visit virginiasupportivehousing.org/. Leasing information is available at rrha.com/
Virginia Supportive Housing and other project supporters held
a ground-breaking ceremony for Cool Lane Commons in 2022.
The former Seven Hills Health Care Center building
had been vacant since 2008.
Virginia Supportive Housing, other partners celebrate Cool Lane Commons