A community being developed in eastern Henrico will provide survivors of domestic abuse and their families a safe, affordable place to live and a range of services, including an on-site preschool, to support their recovery.
Officials gathered Monday at a 5-acre site off Airport Drive in Highland Springs to celebrate the start of construction of The Heights, a project spearheaded by YWCA Richmond that is targeted for opening in 2027.
Leaders from YWCA Richmond and community partners including Henrico County, Maggie Walker Community Land Trust and Dominion Energy marked the occasion by signing a steel beam that will become part of an elevator shaft in the residential development.
“The concept of The Heights is unique as it treats survivor housing not as a stopgap, but as a transformational, future-oriented ecosystem,” said Rupa Murthy, CEO of YWCA Richmond. “It integrates affordable housing, early childhood education and economic mobility strategies into a single, replicable model that will redefine future community offerings.”
The Heights will offer 19 affordable apartments, ranging in size from one to three bedrooms, for families recovering from domestic abuse. In addition, it will provide support services such as counseling, workforce readiness, financial coaching and case management. The model community also will include a Sprout School preschool to provide quality daycare and early childhood education for residents living in the community as well as nearby neighborhoods.
The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust will build 21 affordable townhouses at the site as a separate piece of the development.
Varina District Supervisor Tyrone E. Nelson noted the community is appropriately named for Dorothy Height, a Richmond native who became an icon of the Civil Rights Movement and the YWCA organization and who worked to address inequalities faced by women.
“I’m excited for families who are connected to the YWCA Richmond to have access to high-quality apartments and services designed to meet their needs,” Nelson said. “Today, we are leaving our names connected to a promise — a promise that Henrico County and the organizations that each of us represent will continue to stand with families, continue to invest in people and continue to build spaces where hope and promise can rise.”
