Story

Friendship Court Redevelopment Phase I (newly named Kindlewood) is a multifamily community in Charlottesville, VA, originally built in 1978 with project-based Section 8 assistance. Kindlewood is now a community that 150 families call home. During the construction process, the Harkins team relentlessly communicated with everyone involved with the project to ensure that it did not impede the residents’ day-to-day lives. Phase I of the redevelopment includes the new construction of three buildings with 106 units on the existing site. The first two buildings consist of 35 stacked townhouse-style units, while building three includes a one-level structured parking garage and four levels of a wood-framed, center corridor apartment building. Much of the exterior façade is brick veneer plus a combination of cementitious panel and lap siding with a mix of casement and double-hung windows. Amenity spaces feature a large multipurpose room, library, conference room, an in-house management suite, storage space for residents, and two fitness rooms. Outdoor amenities include a covered pavilion area, a green roof, an artificial turf area, and resident gathering spaces. Kindlewood Phase I is Enterprise Green Communities certified, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certified, and Energy Star Homes – EPA Indoor Air Plus certified. Harkins began assisting during preconstruction, playing a vital role in site logistics and coordination to ensure seamless coordination of residents, always keeping safety their main priority. After Phase I was complete, residents moved into the new buildings in preparation for phase II of the redevelopment. The project was committed to zero displacement of current residents. The project came with many challenges, including unforeseen sanitary lines and existing utilities. Once these obstacles were identified, the Harkins team worked closely with trade partners and city officials to create temporary connections to reroute the lines and utilities around the new buildings. The site itself resembled a “bowl”; during the rainy season, the water was unable to drain, turning the site into a mud pit. In collaboration with project partners, Harkins restructured the building foundations to mitigate the water risk identified on-site. Ultimately, the Harkins team and trade partners worked long weeks to ensure the project was delivered on-time before the tax credit deadline and turned over to residents. The project was completed within budget. Preparation for the redevelopment started in 2002 when the Piedmont Housing Alliance and National Housing Trust/Enterprise Preservation Corporation (NHT/E) partnered to acquire and renovate the property, preserving this important affordable housing community. From the start, the redevelopment has been focused around benefiting residents, both current and future. Phase I was the first step of providing quality affordable housing for residents that call Kindlewood home, giving them hope for new beginnings as the redevelopment continues.