Construction begins on $20M Norfolk apartment complex

Ashton Apartment Homes to be built on former American Cigar Co. site

Published November 18, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Ashton Apartment Homes rendering courtesy S.L. Nusbaum

Construction began late last week on a $20 million apartment complex at the site of the former American Cigar Co. in Norfolk, according to S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co.

The 118-unit complex (including one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans) will be located at 1140 and 1148 E. Princess Anne Road in Norfolk’s Bruce’s Park neighborhood. The Ashton Apartment Homes name is derived from a cigar brand.

“Our Bruce’s Park neighborhood has always been concerned with the future of this historical site of the Old Tobacco Factory built in 1903,” said Bruce’s Park Civic League President Barbara Dolgia in a statement. “Many of us have family connections with the African American women who worked in the factory in a role known as ‘stemmers’ — those that removed the stem from the tobacco leaves in order to manufacture cigars. We are so pleased that we were able to work with the developers to build new quality housing that would be constructed in a way to honor this special history.”

The complex was designed by Richmond-based Timmons Group, Virginia Beach-based Details Interior Design, Virginia Beach-based TS3 Architects PC, Norfolk-based Siska Aurand Landscape Architects Inc. and Virginia Beach-based Speight, Marshall, Francis. Morgan Keller Construction is serving as the general contractor.

“The need for additional quality housing in this market continues to be in high demand, and we are pleased to be part of the solution here,” Aaron Wyatt, S.L. Nusbaum senior vice president and co-director of multifamily housing, said in a statement. “We take pride in being able to maintain the historical integrity of this land with a new community that our future residents will be proud to call their home.”

Leasing is set to begin in late summer 2021 and construction is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2021. S.L. Nusbaum worked with TowneBank and the Virginia Housing Development Authority to secure financing for the development.