Through close collaboration with Virginia Housing, the development team, and design partners, Helios Spy Rock brings 186 units of income-restricted housing to Henrico County. Developed using Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), the community was designed to support long-term affordability while integrating on-site renewable energy to help manage operating costs. VHB provided civil engineering, rezoning, permitting, survey, landscape architecture, lighting, and amenity design services—helping bring one of the region’s first affordable housing developments featuring a solar array from concept to reality.
Sustainability became a defining element of the project early in the planning process. During conceptual planning, the team identified an adjacent parcel that created the opportunity to incorporate a solar array to partially power the buildings. By planning for renewable energy from the start, the system became a seamless part of the overall site plan. The site’s steep topography also required thoughtful coordination, but VHB worked closely with the architect to step building elevations with the natural grade, balancing cut and fill, creating a more dynamic layout, and reducing material costs. Ongoing coordination with Virginia Housing helped make sure affordability requirements were met and funding remained on track, while VHB’s familiarity with local regulations and strong relationships with the County supported an aggressive development schedule.
“For us, this project was about creating a community people are proud to call home,” said Marshall Agee, I-64 Institutions Market Leader. “Affordable housing should feel intentional, welcoming, and build to last. By coordinating closely with our partners and integrating sustainable strategies from the start, we aimed to create a community that supports stability and opportunity for the families who call it home.”
In addition to its energy features, Helios Spy Rock includes amenities designed to support long-term resident satisfaction, including a clubhouse, fitness center, bicycle storage, gated parking, playground, and access to public transit. As communities across the region look to pair housing affordability with sustainable solutions, this project reflects what can be achieved through early planning, collaboration, and thoughtful design.
Learn more about VHB’s approach to residential design, or connect with Marshall Agee to start the conversation.
