In addition to representatives from all 6 localities within the TJPDC region, the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership pulls in experts and stakeholders from the private and non-profit sectors, as well as residents from communities served. This collaboration strengthens the partnership, ensuring that discussion reflects the housing work happening regionally. Over the past year, TJPDC staff have collected organization profiles from RHP members to spotlight in our newsletter. We believe that the diversity of experiences, localities, and perspectives that RHP members bring are essential to our work toward a more accessible and affordable regional housing market, so we have compiled each of these profiles into one place to show the voices that are part of this work.
Spotlights are edited for clarity.
Non-Profits
The Piedmont Community Land Trust, or PCLT, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization created in 2008. It was the first Community Land Trust established in the state of Virginia and serves Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. The PCLT is designed to create homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate-income families who may otherwise not be able to afford to purchase a home in the Charlottesville housing market — families who make 80% or less of the Area Median Income. To do so, the community land trust purchases the land and holds it in trust while the homeowner purchases the improvements on the land (the home). PCLT and the homeowner enter into a 90-year ground lease that details the responsibilities of both parties. Removing the cost of the land for the homeowner often reduces the monthly payments by 20–40%. This model has led to 55 permanently affordable units in the region to date, including multiple units that have been resold and stayed affordable with no additional subsidies.
Through partnerships with private developers, the PCLT has been able to expand on their offerings to reach a greater number of families in the region. Developer partnerships led to 11 more homes available to purchase at an affordable price in 2025 and are expected to bring 18 more this year. This strategy ensures that affordable homeownership is available across the region. The PCLT is dedicated to the long-term success of its homebuyers by providing financial and homeownership counseling and post-purchase support and assistance. Through a continuing partnership with the Piedmont Housing Alliance’s Financial Opportunity Center, the PCLT works to get people pre-qualified for homeownership and prepared to stay in homes once the opportunity arises. Nearly 100 potential homebuyers have begun the counseling process.
The PCLT is working to maintain the character, vibrancy, and diversity of Charlottesville and the surrounding communities by bridging the gap between the area’s increasingly high property values and the moderate incomes of many of the people who live and work there — people who are vital to the community’s future. The goal of the PCLT is to balance the interests of present homeowners with the long-term goals of the community to provide permanently affordable housing for future generations.
To learn more and see recent success stories, visit https://piedmontclt.org/.
The Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) is the only local nonprofit that is entirely governed by low-income people. Founded in 1998, PHAR‘s mission is to educate and empower residents of Housing Authority neighborhoods to protect and improve their own communities through collective action.
PHAR focuses on racial and economic equity and improving opportunities for residents through the following core programs:
- Resident participation in redevelopment of Housing Authority neighborhoods to expand the number of deeply affordable homes and improve the quality of life by adding air conditioning, community space, higher quality construction and eradicating mold.
- Leadership Development for Youth and Adults: PHAR’s nationally acclaimed Internship Program provides extensive paid experience for adult residents to learn about local history, government, how federal programs work and more. Their knowledge is then put into action through civic participation, ensuring residents’ voices are heard when policy-makers consider important issues. PHAR’s new youth program provides education and hands-on experience during the summer months, and ensures young people’s visions are shared with public officials.
- Research Ethics: for over six years, PHAR’s Residents for Respectful Research (R3) initiative has analyzed, and responded to proposed research that will impact low-income people.
To learn more about PHAR or make a donation, visit their website.
Since 1983, Piedmont Housing Alliance has been the premier nonprofit workforce and senior housing organization in the greater Charlottesville region. Through community-focused affordable housing development, resident services, and financial education programs, the organization helps individuals and families build stability and long-term opportunity. A key part of this work is the Financial Opportunity Center, which provides one-on-one financial coaching, employment support, and resources that help residents increase income, reduce debt, and build lasting financial security.
Over the last 43 years, Piedmont Housing Alliance’s continuum of services has contributed to 1,000+ homebuyers buying their first home; supported thousands more through financial coaching services; backed the financing and construction of 150+ affordable single-family homes; financed the preservation, construction, and rehabilitation of nearly 1,000 workforce and senior rental homes; and they currently manage nearly 700 workforce and senior rental homes.
One exciting current project is their collaborative redevelopment of 501 Cherry Avenue in downtown Charlottesville. This project transforms a vacant lot into a vibrant mixed-use development featuring 71 new affordable rental homes, headquarters for a youth‑focused music nonprofit, and a community-scale grocery store. The project was made possible by a unique partnership between commercial developer Woodard Properties, the local neighborhood association, and Piedmont Housing Alliance.
Want to learn more about their work? Check out their latest Impact Report, or reach out to their team with questions!
The Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS® (CAAR) Foundation is a relatively new non-profit organization that leverages the resources of the Charlottesville-area REALTOR® community and our partners to make a meaningful impact on our region’s affordable housing crisis. The CAAR Foundation is engaged in four programmatic focus areas: Funding, Volunteer Engagement, Awareness-Raising/Education, and Policy Advocacy.
Over the past year, the Foundation has:
- Awarded grants to AHIP, Piedmont Housing Alliance and the Piedmont Community Land Trust (PCLT), and brokered a collaboration between the PCLT, Greenwood Homes, Virginia Housing and other partners to make new homes affordable to moderate-income homebuyers
- Launched a volunteer program, Homeownership Navigators, whereby REALTORS® will serve as mentors for aspiring first-time homebuyers referred by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville
- Collaborated with Charlottesville Tomorrow to develop the online Housing Resources Guide, and hosted a series of educational events for REALTORS® on local affordable housing challenges and opportunities
- Advocated for a robust Housing Trust Fund in Albemarle County and joined the Commonwealth Housing Coalition to support affordable housing legislation in the General Assembly
For more info on the CAAR Foundation, please visit www.CAARFoundation.org or contact Dave Norris, Executive Director, at dave@caarfoundation.org or (434) 242-5165.
At Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, bringing people together to build and rebuild homes and communities while catalyzing new pathways to safe, decent affordable housing is their mission’s work. Since their founding in 1991, the organization has grown from building one house at a time to developing vibrant, sustainable, mixed-income communities, where local families can achieve their dreams of homeownership.
One such community where this scaled approach is currently being put into practice is Southwood. This mobile home park is being transformed via a national model of resident-led redevelopment into a 1,000 unit mixed-income, mixed-use community through Asset Based Community Development (without displacement). This approach will provide a pathway for the more than 300 families living there to stay in new homes that they own or rent. When complete, Southwood will add more than 500 units of affordable housing to the local inventory.
Projects like Southwood have put Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville on the map once again as the most productive Habitat affiliate for a service area of their size throughout the US and Canada. Last year, they also purchased the Carlton Mobile Home Park sparing more than 60 families the almost certain fate of displacement through an extraordinary community effort. In partnership with the Piedmont Housing Alliance, the City of Charlottesville, Legal Aid Justice Center, and the residents themselves, Habitat was able to further expand the promise of resident-leadership and housing opportunity for Carlton families and the community.
Want to learn more about their work? Check out their latest Impact Report or reach out to their team with questions!
Since 1985, NCCDF has been working in Nelson County, championing the needs of low- to moderate-income residents through impactful community development programs. At its heart, the organization focuses on affordable housing initiatives—including homeowner rehabilitation, first-time home buying, and affordable rentals—as well as crucial infrastructure support in health, water and wastewater, recreation, education, and economic development.
Their Impact in the community speaks volumes: NCCDF has leveraged over $17 million in those years to uplift Nelson County families, including $2 million dedicated to plumbing rehabilitation and another $2 million for renovating the historic 1931 Lovingston High School. They focus on homeowner rehabs for Nelson County families, focusing on elderly families and families with disability. They also support first-time homebuyers through facilitating the construction of multiple new homes, providing access to Virginia Housing SPARC mortgage funds, and resources for financial education and grants to support home buying in Nelson. In addition, they have developed new subdivisions for rent and for purchase —Montreal Village, Wolf Run, St. James Place, and Buena Vista Duplex Apartments. They are building affordable, duplex apartments in 2025 at St. James Place to increase their supply of rentals.
To find out more information and show support please visit Nelson County Community Development Foundation.
The Fluvanna-Louisa Housing Foundation (FLHF) is a nonprofit organization serving Fluvanna and Louisa Counties for over three decades. FLHF helps income-eligible residents remain safely housed through services like essential home repairs, accessibility upgrades, affordable rentals, financial education, and septic/well repair. With 100% of donations going directly to local programming, FLHF continues to be a trusted partner in supporting housing stability.
FLHF recently secured a $1 million HUD grant for its Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP), supporting income-eligible residents aged 62+ in Fluvanna, Louisa, and Nelson counties. The program funds home modifications—from grab bars to accessible showers—to help seniors age safely in place.
FLHF will manage the program in Louisa and Fluvanna, while partnering with the Nelson County Community Development Foundation for services in Nelson. Residents must meet income limits (≤80% AMI), with applications expected to open after HUD training in April 2025.
This award follows years of successful grant-writing by local volunteers and reflects FLHF’s commitment to preserving housing stability for older adults in rural Virginia.
On May 13, 2025, FLHF also broke ground on a 25-unit affordable rental community in Louisa, set to open in mid-2026. The project includes:
- 16 one-bedroom units for seniors and individuals with disabilities (≤30% AMI)
- 9 two-bedroom units for essential workers (≤80% AMI)
The development is funded through a mix of public and private sources, including a $775,000 federal grant secured by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, and land donations from Louisa County and the William A. Cooke Foundation.
“This is the result of years of planning and community effort,” said FLHF Executive Director Kim Hyland.
To learn more or support FLHF’s work, visit FluvannaLouisaHousing.org.
Private Sector
Established in 1954, UVA Community Credit Union is one of Central Virginia’s largest locally-owned financial institutions with over 76,000 members. In addition to housing, their work focuses on supporting small businesses and expanding access to credit throughout the region. For their spotlight, UVA Community Credit Union chose to highlight one of their mortgage programs:
“Help Your Hometown Heroes Get Home”
Your clients give so much to the communities you serve—now you can help give something back. The Hometown Heroes home loan program is designed to support buyers who work in education, medical care, fire and rescue, law enforcement, and the military, making homeownership more accessible for the people who keep our neighborhoods thriving.
This program offers flexible mortgage options tailored to first responders and essential workers, including no down payment, up to 100% financing, and affordable mortgage insurance. Borrowers can choose between a fixed 30-year mortgage or 5/1, 7/1, or 10/1 ARM options, giving them the ability to align their loan with both short- and long-term goals.
As a realtor, the Hometown Heroes program can help you open doors for qualified buyers who may have thought homeownership was out of reach. We’ll work closely with you and your clients to find the mortgage that best fits their needs. Together, we can help the heroes of our community find a place to call home.”
Commonwealth Contractors, Inc. is a Charlottesville-based residential builder focused on custom homes, major renovations, and historic rehabilitation throughout the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. Much of their housing work centers on reinvesting in existing housing stock through structural repairs, code and safety upgrades, and practical renovations that extend the useful life of older homes. The work is builder-led and disciplined, with clear scopes, realistic budgets, and an emphasis on durability and long-term stewardship.
Luke Roark, president of Commonwealth Contractors and the representative on the RHP, also serves as President of the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association, working directly with local municipalities on permitting timelines, inspection coordination, and regulatory clarity. That effort aligns closely with the goals of the Regional Housing Partnership by supporting predictable housing delivery, responsible development, and stronger coordination between the public and private sectors. Through both roles, he focuses on practical, buildable solutions that improve housing quality and supply while respecting community standards.
For four decades, brwarchitects has worked alongside Charlottesville’s communities, families, and institutions to address their most pressing needs through thoughtful, contextual design. Housing—plentiful, dignified, and rooted in place—has remained at the heart of that mission.
We are a local firm with a single office just steps from the Downtown Mall. Our portfolio of affordable and market-rate housing includes Charlottesville’s first dedicated supportive housing development, The Crossings; the industrially inflected Belmont Lofts; and a range of more intimate townhome and small condominium infill projects for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville. Each project reflects a creative collaboration among neighborhood advocates, civic leaders, thoughtful clients, and our experienced design team.
We are proud to support resident-led visions for the redevelopment of Southwood and South First Street, and we remain committed to strengthening community housing efforts—whether as a design partner in the redevelopment of church properties and former school sites, or as a member of the University of Virginia Affordable Housing Initiative.
Vista29, an 80-unit supportive housing development with SupportWorks Housing, is currently under construction. Our latest project, 501 Cherry Avenue, developed with Piedmont Housing Alliance and Woodard Properties, will provide 71 affordable apartments, a youth music education hub, and a community-serving grocery store. As Charlottesville continues to welcome new residents, we look forward to the ongoing creative challenge of designing meaningful spaces and gathering places for all.
Discover more of our work at brw-architects.com, and subscribe to our newsletter Building, Reading, Working.
Park Properties Management Company and Pinnacle Construction & Development Corporation are committed to expanding access to high-quality housing throughout the Commonwealth. With a shared mission to foster inclusive development and meet the evolving needs of residents, they have partnered with local governments, housing authorities, and nonprofit organizations to deliver a range of residential solutions—from affordable housing to luxury apartments and mixed-use communities.
With decades of experience and a fully integrated model, Park Properties and Pinnacle Construction offer comprehensive real estate services that encompass development, construction, financial strategy, and asset management. Their unified approach ensures every project reflects enduring quality, operational efficiency, and long-term value for clients and communities alike.
Their recent projects demonstrate a wide-ranging and thoughtful presence—from workforce housing to mixed-income residences—tailored to meet the needs of local families, seniors, and professionals.
– The Coves at Monticello – Palmyra, VA
A master-planned, income-averaging 124-unit development integrating affordable residential units with modern amenities to enhance livability and economic opportunity.
– Brookdale Apartments – Charlottesville, VA
A 96-unit development serving low- to moderate-income families in Albemarle County, built to meet LIHTC standards and local affordability benchmarks.
– The Vue Apartments – Crozet, VA
A 126-unit mixed income residential community, designed to provide countryside charm with modern amenities.
– The Lofts at Meadowcreek – Charlottesville, VA
A 65-unit mixed-income development featuring loft-style apartments with garage parking, high-end finishes, and access to public transit.
Park Properties and Pinnacle continue to lead in affordable housing development, leveraging federal programs such as LIHTC and HUD financing to deliver income-restricted rentals, senior housing, and workforce units. Their broader portfolio also includes conventional market-rate apartments, luxury residences, and commercial spaces—ensuring housing options for a wide range of income levels and lifestyle preferences.
Together, they deliver projects that reflect community priorities—strengthening neighborhoods, expanding housing equity, and enhancing quality of life across Virginia.
To learn more or explore partnership opportunities, visit goparkproperties.com or pinnacleconstructionva.com.