Behind the Liberty Crest Apartments in Lorton, Virginia, a story of adaptive reuse and community transformation serves as encouragement for this step towards change. Encompassing a staggering 2,324 acres, it reimagined the land where the Lorton Reformatory used to be located, a prison that effectively met its penal purpose from its opening in 1910 until its closing in 2001. That reimagined space welcomed its first residents in June 2017, with 165 residential units—44 of those affordable—now occupying the previously cavernous facility.
This colorful story of this site, past and present. Fairfax County purchased the abandoned farm property for $4.2 million in 2002, aiming to revitalize the area while preserving its storied past. Greenville’s decision to repurpose the old prison into housing is an example of a mounting positive trend. Increasingly, we’re making historic places part of modern life.
David Vos, a board member of Alexander Company, passionately advocated for the importance of saving our history. He underscored how these changes are central to that mission. He noted that “the Lorton Reformatory was a good set of buildings to be converted into residential because it was a reform-era prison.” As you can see, the Lorton Reformatory is quite different from most jails and prisons. Rather than featuring forbidding concrete creations, it is filled with vibrance, light, and personality. This singular architectural magnificence made it easy to transform it into seductive, desirable flats.
The Liberty Crest Apartments feature unique amenities catered towards the overall well-being of residents. Each unit features its own washer and dryer. The complex features a yoga studio, fitness center, community pool, and two family-friendly playgrounds. Monthly rent for these units varies from $1,372 to $2,700, drawing tenants from a wide demographic.
The transformation was not without its challenges. Vos admitted that community reactions were mixed. Many welcomed the project, but some raised alarms about the prison’s turbulent past. He stated, “The reaction from the community varied quite a bit. A lot of people really felt it was important to preserve that history. There were people that really focused on the later years of the prison when prisoners were mistreated.”
Although this was some lukewarm reception, Vos has always been an advocate for the project itself. He asserted, “From our standpoint, we really felt that it’s important to preserve history so you can learn from the past so that you don’t make those mistakes again in the future.” This sentiment is at the core of the developers’ aspiration to respect the site’s legacy while delivering forward-looking housing solutions.
Indeed, the name “Liberty” was intentionally chosen. It represents the full breadth of the project’s mission to liberate these buildings from their recent, ominous, dark past. Vos pointed out that even as residents enjoy their new homes, “there’s a number of reminders as you walk around the campus that remind you of the fact that this used to be a reformatory or prison.”
Liberty Crest only opened a few months ago, but their entire stock is currently leased up. This extraordinary demand is evidenced by the obvious desire of people to live here. In fact, this success has led Alexander Company to seek additional development on the site. On the side, the firm is transforming a nearby former power plant into ten new live-work apartments. This expansion will add much-needed housing options to local residents.