Woda Cooper Companies recently celebrated the grand opening of Bains Pointe, a new affordable housing community located at 1100 High St. in Portsmouth. The $18.9 million investment brings 50 thoughtfully designed apartments to the heart of the city—delivering high-quality, accessible homes for Portsmouth’s workforce and families.

Bains Pointe is general-occupancy housing serving residents with incomes up to 80% of area median income (AMI). Current AMI guidelines place that at $56,400 for a one-person household and $80,560 for a four-person household. Projected rents range from approximately $400 to $1,315 depending on unit size and income restrictions. The Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority is providing project-based rental assistance for eight units.

Community Highlights

• 50 affordable apartments
  • 39 two-bedroom units
  • 11 three-bedroom units
• Spacious, open layouts, featuring:
  • Quality finishes such as luxury vinyl tile flooring
  • Generous storage
  • Energy-efficient appliances, including dishwashers
• Units and common areas built with barrier-free entrances, an elevator, and several units equipped for residents with mobility or sight/hearing challenges
• Community room with kitchenette for gatherings and events
• Supportive services office and an onsite case manager (support services provided by STOP, Inc.)
• Telehealth space
• Fitness center
• Central laundry facility plus washer/dryer hookups in every unit
• Secure outdoor amenities including a playground and covered seating areas

Supportive Services

STOP, Inc.—a designated Community Action Agency serving Eastern Virginia since 1965—will provide supportive services at Bains Pointe. STOP’s mission to reduce the effects of poverty through education, employment, housing, and health initiatives will help residents access resources that promote self-sufficiency and improved quality of life.

Honoring History & Community

Bains Pointe is named in honor of Eliza Bains, a Portsmouth hotel worker who aided enslaved people escaping on the Underground Railroad. The project was supported and endorsed by the City of Portsmouth, community leaders, and neighborhood organizations. The land for Bains Pointe was purchased from the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority, which noted the community’s role in supporting the local workforce and Portsmouth’s Innovation District.

Financial & Development Partners

• Federal LIHTC Equity (Truist): $13,401,266 (Truist also provided a $14.8M construction loan)
• First Mortgage (Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust): $3,400,000
• Virginia Housing Trust Fund, National Housing Trust Fund, CSH Grant through Valhalla Mortgage, and other equity and deferred fee sources helped complete the financing, for a total project cost of approximately $18.93 million.
• Woda Construction, Inc. served as general contractor
• D.E. Weatherby & Associates was the architect
• Civil engineering was provided by Hoggard Eure
• Woda Management & Real Estate will handle leasing and property management

Community Voices

“Bains Point is not just another housing project… It is a commitment to the future of Portsmouth and is a testament to our shared values, our dedication to progress, and our unwavering belief in the strength of the community. Affordable housing is not merely a need but a fundamental right. Every individual and every family deserves the opportunity to live in a safe, stable, and welcoming environment.”

Shannon Glover, Portsmouth Mayor

“The Bains Pointe apartment community will provide desired housing for our community’s growing workforce and will represent a significant private investment in Portsmouth’s newly established Innovation District. The Portsmouth Economic Development Authority was pleased to partner with Woda Cooper Companies on the delivery of this project and looks forward to welcoming the new residents it will bring to our city.”

Malcolm Mitchell, Chairman of the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority

“Bains Pointe benefits from strong public-private partnerships to serve Portsmouth residents in need of quality affordable and maintenance-free housing options while honoring one of Portsmouth’s historic heroes, Eliza Bains. Bains Pointe builds on the success of Woda Cooper’s Holley Pointe on Effingham Street in helping Portsmouth residents to attain and live an independent quality life.”

Bruce Watts, Vice President & Development and Chief Engagement Officer of Woda Cooper

Looking Ahead

Bains Pointe is more than new apartments—it is a community platform where affordability, accessibility, and supportive services come together to help families thrive. We are grateful to the many public and private partners whose collaboration made this project possible, and to the residents and neighbors who joined us for the grand opening celebration.

For leasing and availability information, please visit wodagroup.com/bainspointe. If you would like a press kit, photos from the grand opening, or additional details about the development and supportive services, contact our communications team.

Grand Opening Photo Gallery