Local developer planning 400-unit lower-income apartment project on the Southside

lynx cottrell siteplan

A site plan of the proposed development. (City documents)

One of the area’s most prolific affordable housing developers is looking to go big in the Southside.

Lynx Ventures is planning to build a 400-unit apartment project geared to lower-income residents at 3609-3616 Cottrell Road and 4611-4705 Walmsley Blvd. 

The phased project would rise on about 11 acres of undeveloped land near the intersection of Walmsley and Broad Rock boulevards. Lynx principal John Gregory said the units will be available to those earning between 50 and 70 percent of the area median income. 

Headquartered in Manchester, Lynx is one of the busier developers in South Richmond, particularly with income-based projects such as Noon Hioaks, which will have more than 200 units north of Chippenham and Midlothian Turnpike.

John Gregory

John Gregory

The Cottrell development will also carry Lynx’s “Noon” brand, which Gregory said includes a quality of build that doesn’t look different from market-rate apartments. 

“We’re trying to change the narrative around affordable housing, and make somewhere that people are proud to live,” Gregory said. “(The apartments) don’t look any different from any of the market rate properties that are going up in terms of finishes and amenities.”

Both buildings of Noon Cottrell will reach four stories, with the first phase counting around 230 units and 170 in the second. It’ll be supported by a 410-space parking lot, and amenities would include a courtyard, gym and pool.

Baskervill is the development’s architect and Gregory said they haven’t yet selected a general contractor. VHB is the engineer, Waterstreet Studio is the landscape architect and Nyfeler Associates is the surveyor. 

lynx cottrell drawing

Conceptual drawings of Noon Cottrell.

Lynx bought 9.5 of the 11 acres it needs for the development in a pair of deals this year totaling $2.3 million. It has the last 1.5 acre parcel at 4705 Walmsley Blvd. under contract. 

Lynx is pursuing a special-use permit to allow the development, and Hirschler’s Brian Jackson is representing the company in that process. Gregory said they’re hoping to break ground in mid-2025. 

In the meantime, the developer has plenty else going on in Southside to keep it busy. In addition to the nearly complete Noon Hioaks, Lynx is also building a 255-unit affordable housing development at the site of the former Oak Grove Elementary School. That development, which goes by Noon Ingram, is getting ready to have roofs put on, and the firm is also planning a final phase of its New Manchester Flats development on East Fourth Street. 

lynx cottrell siteplan

A site plan of the proposed development. (City documents)

One of the area’s most prolific affordable housing developers is looking to go big in the Southside.

Lynx Ventures is planning to build a 400-unit apartment project geared to lower-income residents at 3609-3616 Cottrell Road and 4611-4705 Walmsley Blvd. 

The phased project would rise on about 11 acres of undeveloped land near the intersection of Walmsley and Broad Rock boulevards. Lynx principal John Gregory said the units will be available to those earning between 50 and 70 percent of the area median income. 

Headquartered in Manchester, Lynx is one of the busier developers in South Richmond, particularly with income-based projects such as Noon Hioaks, which will have more than 200 units north of Chippenham and Midlothian Turnpike.

John Gregory

John Gregory

The Cottrell development will also carry Lynx’s “Noon” brand, which Gregory said includes a quality of build that doesn’t look different from market-rate apartments. 

“We’re trying to change the narrative around affordable housing, and make somewhere that people are proud to live,” Gregory said. “(The apartments) don’t look any different from any of the market rate properties that are going up in terms of finishes and amenities.”

Both buildings of Noon Cottrell will reach four stories, with the first phase counting around 230 units and 170 in the second. It’ll be supported by a 410-space parking lot, and amenities would include a courtyard, gym and pool.

Baskervill is the development’s architect and Gregory said they haven’t yet selected a general contractor. VHB is the engineer, Waterstreet Studio is the landscape architect and Nyfeler Associates is the surveyor. 

lynx cottrell drawing

Conceptual drawings of Noon Cottrell.

Lynx bought 9.5 of the 11 acres it needs for the development in a pair of deals this year totaling $2.3 million. It has the last 1.5 acre parcel at 4705 Walmsley Blvd. under contract. 

Lynx is pursuing a special-use permit to allow the development, and Hirschler’s Brian Jackson is representing the company in that process. Gregory said they’re hoping to break ground in mid-2025. 

In the meantime, the developer has plenty else going on in Southside to keep it busy. In addition to the nearly complete Noon Hioaks, Lynx is also building a 255-unit affordable housing development at the site of the former Oak Grove Elementary School. That development, which goes by Noon Ingram, is getting ready to have roofs put on, and the firm is also planning a final phase of its New Manchester Flats development on East Fourth Street. 

This story is for our paid subscribers only. Please become one of the thousands of BizSense Pro readers today!

Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!

For more informaiton, head over to your profile.

Profile


SUBSCRIBE NOW

 — 

 — 

 — 

TERMS OF SERVICE:

ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING [email protected].

ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]




Return to Homepage

POSTED IN Commercial Real Estate

Editor's Picks

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

11 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Will Teeples
Will Teeples
8 days ago

The more affordable housing the better.

Peter James
Peter James
8 days ago
Reply to  Will Teeples

Amen to that, Will!

Brett Themore
Brett Themore
8 days ago
Reply to  Will Teeples

The state should make sure they are being offered equitably across the metro region, especially in areas that abound with plentiful jobs and opportunity for advancement. Unfortunately, being market driven, these are being located in already depressed areas, repeating the overconcentration of poverty seen in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. This overconcentration limits the interest of market rate commercial investment, i.e. more food deserts. Even better, Do away with these mega low income blocks, and fund say 5%, 10% of all new developments over, say 10 units to be subsidized.

Michael Morgan-Dodson
Michael Morgan-Dodson
8 days ago
Reply to  Will Teeples

Yes we need more affordable options but even the article provides in its locations of other sites, almost all projects are in Southside (and many clustered around Richmond Hwy) and in the City limits too. Very, very few in Chesterfield or Henrico and even fewer in the larger ex-urbs communities. What is affordable housing only a city problem???

Bruce Collier
Bruce Collier
8 days ago

It seems to be a southside company.They’re in Manchester.It’s probably also a thing of costs and availibility of suitable sites.

Brett Themore
Brett Themore
7 days ago
Reply to  Bruce Collier

I strongly disagree. I can name many sites in the surrounding counties that are more than available and are being developed in the same manor, just not income based development. It’s pure NIMBY or worse from those districts.

Brett Themore
Brett Themore
7 days ago

It’s NIMBY. Income based developments are continually shot down in the counties.

Polgar Concertado
Polgar Concertado
6 days ago
Reply to  Brett Themore

Genuinely curious. Are you aware of any specific examples?

Lonzo Harris
Lonzo Harris
8 days ago

I have so much respect for someone his age to have so many projects going on at one time,how in the world does he Secure funding for so many projects at one time.

Lisa Barker
Lisa Barker
8 days ago

‘Looks like market rate housing’….the new construction in the west end has been likened to shipping crates. Masses of them. Hoping for better.

Brett Themore
Brett Themore
7 days ago
Reply to  Lisa Barker

These look particularly bad, however are in line with this developer and income based housing in the area.