Gosnold Apartments II

In January 2023, Virginia Supportive Housing announced plans for a renovation and expansion of Gosnold Apartments in Norfolk.

Project Plans

The renovation and expansion of Gosnold Apartments will include the new construction of 41 studio units for a total of 100 units. 59 of the existing 60 units will be fully renovated and all fixtures, finishes, and equipment will be replaced. Each unit will be approximately 375 square feet and feature a kitchenette with full size appliances and a full bathroom. Units will be fully furnished with a bed, nightstand, dresser, table, and two chairs. The expansion will increase the number of fully accessible units from nine to fifteen as well as add two units for individuals with sensory impairments.

Upon completion the building will have an elevator, an extensive security system, a community room, two exterior courtyards, a computer room, laundry facilities, a front desk, and staff offices for on-site property management and supportive services staff. The front desk is staffed 16 hours a day and a night monitor is on call in the evenings. The renovation of Gosnold will meet a higher energy efficiency rating than typical code-built apartments. The existing 49 space parking lot will be improved with signage and an access-control system.

Gosnold Apartments residents will be temporarily relocated during construction and welcomed back to the building upon construction completion. VSH property management and supportive services staff will be available to assist residents at the relocation site. VSH will pay for all relocation expenses.

The renovation and expansion of Gosnold will cost approximately $20 million and will be funded through a wide variety of financing sources including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Virginia Housing funds, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) funds, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta AHP funds, local funds, private foundations, and individual donors. The project architect is VIA design architects. Construction is expected to begin in 2024 with construction completion anticipated in summer 2025.

Gosnold II in Context

There is significant need for the 40 units of permanent supportive housing that the project will add to the region. The January 2022 Point-In-Time Count conducted by the Southeastern Virginia Homeless Coalition counted over 700 individuals experiencing homelessness, 469 of whom resided in Norfolk. Of those 700, 157 were considered chronically homeless; 124 resided in Norfolk.

Virginia Supportive Housing opened Gosnold Apartments in 2006 as Virginia’s first regional permanent supportive housing community. Gosnold Apartments, located in Norfolk, involved the adaptive reuse of an RC Bottling plant into 60 studio apartments for formerly homeless single adults from the Hampton Roads region. All residents earn 50% or less of the Area Median Income and pay no more than 30% of their income in rent. Gosnold Apartments is permanent rental housing; residents sign leases, pay a monthly rent, and are provided with on-site supportive services by VSH staff. VSH’s evidenced-based supportive housing model works: more than 98% of individuals we serve do not return to homelessness.