Landmark Asset Services Inc. (Landmark) and Pittsylvania County (County) are pleased to announce the completion of Southside Lofts, a public-private partnership that has taken a former African American high school during segregation and transformed it into modern, affordable housing for individuals, families and seniors.
A third-generation family-owned firm based in Winston-Salem, N.C., Landmark is known for taking historically significant but deteriorating structures and rehabilitating them for modern uses.
Southside Lofts is the adaptive reuse of the former Southside High School, once the only high school for black students in the southern portion of Pittsylvania County prior to integration. The school also served as the former Blairs Junior High School and Blairs Middle School. The Pittsylvania County School Board transferred the complex to the County in 2005 and it was used as a community center until 2016.
Despite its deteriorating condition, Landmark saw the building’s potential and approached the County in 2019 about turning the complex into apartments. To defray the cost of the project, Pittsylvania County donated the school building and a portion of the surrounding property to Landmark. The total cost of the rehabilitation project was more than $12.5 million.
“Southside Lofts is the result of a public-private partnership between Pittsylvania County and Landmark. The County immediately recognized the potential for the property and helped us enact our shared vision. Their generous donation of the school helped us unlock over $10 million in private equity and loans that made the project possible,” said Sam Sari, Vice President, Landmark Asset Services, Inc.
Sari continued, “Southside is a win-win, as through our collaboration we were able to take a dilapidated property that was costing the taxpayers money, and instead put it back on the tax rolls. Most importantly, we were able to provide new, modern apartments for local families.”
Listed on the National Historic Register and the Virginia Landmarks Register, Southside Lofts has 51 apartments, composed of 11 one-bedroom units, 29 two-bedroom units and 15 three-bedroom units.
“We applaud Landmark for having the vision to take a deteriorating but historic school building and turn it into a home for our citizens, while at the same time honor the significance of Southside High School to the black community. What a wonderful way to preserve the past while creating a new and exciting future,” said Robert Tucker, Banister District Supervisor, Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors.
While the property is historic, the renovations resulted in new apartments with all new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems installed in the existing building. Despite being an historic building, Southside Lofts will be energy efficient by meeting a HERS rating of 95 or below to help lower the residents’ utility bills.
At the same time, the renovations are in accord with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. This resulted in the property being listed on the National Historic Register.
Development amenities include a leasing office, a business center with computers and printer, a furnished fitness room, and a community room with kitchenette and free WiFi. Outdoor amenities will include a playground, a covered picnic shelter and several sitting areas.
The auditorium will be leased back to Pittsylvania County, which allows the Southside Alumni Association continued use, as well as being available to other groups as well. Southside Soccer Club will continue to utilize the playing fields as part of the public-private partnership.
“I would like to thank Southside Soccer Club for being great partners and neighbors, and the Southside High School Alumni Association for sharing their knowledge of the school and their continued support,” said Sari.
Mark Shields, Vice President with Southside Soccer Club, said the partnership with Landmark has been a successful one. Various concerns throughout the process were resolved, such as parking, and Landmark also built the Club a building where equipment could be stored on site.
Earlier this year, the Board sold Southside Soccer Club the playing fields for $1 so the organization can continue to provide a quality athletic program to the youth of the County.
Ed Hairston, who graduated from Southside in 1966 and is chairman of the Southside Alumni Association, applauds Landmark for retaining many of the Southside’s original features and providing an area to display school memorabilia.
“The school was so instrumental to our development from high school to college. I cherish the memories there, as the school represents many successful people who went on to do great things and that is why we want to preserve our heritage,” said Hairston.
Chatham-Blairs Supervisor Bob Warren was part of the evolution of this project from the beginning, and Southside Lofts is in his district.
“Pittsylvania County was pleased to work with Landmark Asset Services to make this vision a reality. This project took an aging and unused, but historic, building and turned it into safe, affordable, and attractive housing that fills a vital need in our community. It also provides a space for not only the Southside Alumni Association to continue meeting, but also the community. Finally, it allows Southside Soccer Club to continue its mission of providing a quality athletic program for our County’s youth,” said Warren.