Norfolk Public Schools visit Market Heights Apartments

Lawson partners with Hope House Foundation

Norfolk, VA — Lawson advanced its commitment to inclusive housing and leadership growth with a Norfolk tour and new hire announcement.

Students and their families from Norfolk Public Schools recently visited Market Heights Apartments as part of the school division’s annual services expo bus tour, connecting young adults with disabilities to resources that support independent living after graduation.

Located in Norfolk’s St. Paul’s District, Market Heights Apartments is a 164-unit affordable housing community developed and managed by Lawson. The community includes accessible apartments and a unique partnership with Hope House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides wraparound services for individuals with disabilities.

Through this partnership, residents who may otherwise face barriers to living independently have access to on-site support tailored to their individual needs.

“This was a meaningful opportunity to welcome students and families into Market Heights and show what independent living can look like with the right support systems in place,” said Austin Pittman, VP of Development for Lawson. “Our partnership with Hope House Foundation allows us to go beyond housing by providing services that empower residents to live with greater independence and confidence.”

The Norfolk Public Schools tour is designed to help students and their families explore options for housing, employment, and community involvement after graduation. For many attendees, the visit to Market Heights offered a tangible vision of what the next chapter could look like.

In addition to accessible housing, the partnership ensures that residents have assistance with essential life skills, such as budgeting, transportation, healthcare coordination, and daily living activities.

In other Lawson news, Jessica Blake has been added as regional property manager. Blake brings more than a decade of experience in multifamily and commercial property management, including Low Income Housing Tax Credit ( LIHTC) communities.

Before joining Lawson, Blake served as a regional property manager at Thalhimer Multifamily overseeing large teams and a portfolio of nearly 1,000 affordable multifamily units. Blake also teaches Principles of Real Estate Management as an adjunct professor at Old Dominion University.

Blake has earned a Masters of Science in Management in Real Estate and Bachelor of Arts in English/Language Arts degrees and holds a Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation.