About 200 townhomes have been built in Winchester

About 200 townhomes have been built in Winchester Greens, a project for low to moderate income residents south of Richmond, Virginia, being developed by the Richmond Better Housing Coalition (RBHC). Winchester Greens is like a little bit of downtown Richmond in the suburbs. The townhomes are all rental, some at market rate, but most are available to residents with Section 8 public housing vouchers. The project will also have single family starter homes for sale, senior housing (which is under construction), community buildings, and a mixed-use town center grouped around a square near a busy highway. The townhomes mostly have brick facades, although some are HardiPlank (painted two colors, light blue and white). Vinyl is used in the sides and back — but not on corners where the sides face streets. The different materials and colors, in addition to Victorian, craftsman, and classical porches, give the townhomes variety. The porches are small, but nicely detailed. The greens throughout the project are well-proportioned. The modified street grid and interestingly shaped civic spaces give the project variety. The interior of the blocks are all divided into fenced, private back yards. The streets and public spaces are well supervised by tightly placed units — offering security for residents. All of the parking is on the street. The units are 935 to 1,100 square feet, renting for $700- plus/month at the market rate, although many of the poorest residents with vouchers pay next to nothing. The hard costs of construction are in the mid-50s per square foot, according to the RBHC.