Old Prison Becomes Dreamy Apartments, Sells Out in a Month!

Quick Smiles:

• Old prison transformed into stunning apartments, selling out in just a month.
• Liberty Crest Apartments offer a bright and inviting living space.
• Community amenities include a gym, yoga studio, and more.

In a remarkable transformation story from Virginia, an old prison has found new life as a vibrant apartment complex. The Lorton Reformatory, which dates back to the early 1900s under Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, has been reimagined into the Liberty Crest Apartments.

The journey from a site with a troubled past to a sought-after residential area began when Fairfax County purchased the 2,343-acre property for $4 million in 2002, a year after the prison had closed its doors.

The Alexander Company, known for its expertise in adaptive reuse projects, joined the initiative in 2008. Their vision culminated in 2017 with the opening of the Liberty Crest Apartments, following an impressive $64 million renovation.

“Everyone’s very proud of what we did here, and we are very pleased with the results,” expressed David Vos, development project manager with The Alexander Company. This transformation involved creating 165 units, with 44 dedicated to those earning less than 50% of the median household income in the area.

The complex offers a mix of 84 one-bedroom and 81 two-bedroom units, with rents ranging from $1,370 to $2,700 monthly. The original design of the Lorton Reformatory, with its handsome Virginia clay bricks and ample lighting, provided an ideal foundation for this residential conversion.

In the average two-bedroom unit, each room boasts a window, though some are positioned high on the walls, a nod to the building’s past. Despite its history, the apartments have become a desirable place to call home, complemented by amenities like shopping, a pool, and green spaces.

The complex also features a dentist’s office, restaurants, a gym, a yoga studio, a community center, and a preschool, making it a comprehensive living environment. The Liberty Crest Apartments have maintained full occupancy since their debut, proving that even spaces with challenging histories can be reborn into places of warmth and community.

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