Work on the Aaron Mills Apartments is nearly complete, and the first group of senior residents has already begun settling into their new homes. Last week, Vice Mayor Kathy Lawson, Council Member Julian Mei, Interim City Manager Rob Fincher, and several City staff members toured the building and met with representatives from Landmark Development.

Located on Aaron Street, the project will provide 52 apartments for residents aged 55 and older. The building includes 34 one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units. Monthly rent will range from $542 to $650 for a one-bedroom apartment, and from $675 to $800 for a two-bedroom unit.

The focus of the development has always centered on accessibility and long-term affordability for seniors. The building was constructed with energy-efficient materials and systems in order to help limit utility expenses for residents.

The apartments are built on the former American Furniture site, which burned in 2014. In 2018, the City and Landmark Development began discussing how the site could be reused. Those conversations eventually led to the idea of transforming the property into housing for seniors.

Because the site qualified as a brownfield, the City sought assistance through the Virginia Brownfields Assistance Fund, a competitive grant offered jointly through the Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. That award supplied roughly $500,000 to remediate the property and prepare it for redevelopment.

While the construction process encountered long delays due to COVID-related cost increases, the City and its development partners continued moving the project forward.

The first group of residents began moving into Aaron Mills in early November, as all units had already been leased. 

 Residents interested in learning more about the Aaron Mills Apartments, including availability and eligibility, can find contact information on the Aaron Mills Application.