Who knew life behind bars could look so good? A surprising solution to the US housing crisis.
Prison may seem like the last place anyone would want to live, but a renovated lockup in Virginia boasts a waiting list.
After sitting vacant and crumbling for years, the Lorton Reformatory prison complex underwent an HGTV-worthy makeover into Liberty Crest Apartments, with 165 one- and two-bedroom units renting for $1,372–$2,700 per month. Although bars remain on the windows to preserve this penitentiary’s dark past, the interiors are light-filled and loft-like, surrounded by lush courtyards, a pristine swimming pool, plus a commercial area nearby full of restaurants, retail shops, a yoga studio, and even a preschool and playground.
This remarkable transformation comes courtesy of the Alexander Company, which specializes in urban development and historic preservation, and is a prime example of “adaptive reuse,” the practice of breathing new life into old buildings by giving them a new purpose. Here’s how development project manager David Vos tackled this unique renovation, and why it could be the key to solving America’s housing shortage.
