Hope Lampley, a graduate of Virginia State University and former missionary, recently became a homeowner at Ettrick Landing, an affordable housing development in southern Chesterfield. After learning about the opportunity through a flyer from Maggie Walker Community Land Trust at her credit union, Lampley applied and was approved to purchase one of ten single-family homes designed for first-time buyers.
“I prayed over this lot and I said, ‘God, if this is going to be for me, make the house blue,’” Lampley recalled. When she returned after construction, she found that the house was indeed blue. She moved into her new three-bedroom home last December. “I’m grateful and I’m blessed,” she added. “It was God’s will for me to be here. He led me to the flyer, I believe, just like he led me to this lot.”
Ettrick Landing features single-story homes ranging from 1,300 to 1,700 square feet and targets households earning around 65% of Chesterfield’s area median income. The development received significant interest; more than 100 people inquired about purchasing a home and all ten houses were under contract within two months of completion.
“That’s really important,” said Matoaca District Supervisor Kevin Carroll during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 17. “We’ve seen the housing market across the United States explode in the last five years for a variety of different reasons. Housing has become expensive so it’s important for us to have projects like this that help people have a wonderful place to live, work and raise their families.”
The project was built on land previously occupied by Ettrick Elementary School Annex—also known as Dupuy Elementary—which had been unused since its closure in 1988. In 2019, Chesterfield County’s Board of Supervisors designated it surplus property and transferred it to Maggie Walker Community Land Trust after demolition.
Dan Cohen from Chesterfield’s Community Enhancement Department proposed using the site for affordable housing. Maggie Walker Community Land Trust collaborated with local residents through Concerned Citizens of Ettrick (CCE) to shape plans for the subdivision.
“CCE stepped up to help encourage community input in shaping how this would be designed and built,” said Dorothy Edwards from CCE. “We worked hand in hand with Maggie Walker Community Land Trust to publicize the project to as many families as possible who might be interested. We also helped explain the project to neighbors, which was a very important thing, and to the wider community.”
Maggie Walker Community Land Trust typically acquires existing homes for rehabilitation but developed Ettrick Landing from scratch—the first such effort managed by a local land bank in the United States. The organization retains ownership of each lot while selling homes above them; this model aims to keep properties permanently affordable even as real estate values increase.
“When you look around at these beautiful homes, these aren’t just structures. They are the manifestation of dreams. These homes represent the dignity and pride that comes from owning your own home,” said Dr. Mae Worthey-Thomas, CEO of Maggie Walker Community Land Trust. “I can’t help but to well up with joy, especially for the families with children who will laugh and play in the backyard.
“I can smell the aroma of Thanksgiving turkey floating through the air as our neighbors express their thankfulness for a lovely place that they can host their family and friends. I can hear the laughter of families opening Christmas gifts and cheers at Super Bowl parties. I hear the melody of the Happy Birthday song,” she added. “When you think of these special moments, it reminds us all that our mission is more than just building houses. It’s building monuments of happiness, hope, and a sense of community.”
Chesterfield County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey described Ettrick Landing as “a great case study” whose lessons could inform future developments elsewhere in Chesterfield County.
He highlighted ongoing county investments supporting Ettrick—including new facilities for schools, fire services and libraries—as well as infrastructure improvements such as roads and stormwater systems developed alongside groups like Concerned Citizens of Ettrick.
“This project is a win-win-win-win because it’s a win for the people that live here, it’s a win for Ettrick as a community, it’s a win for Chesterfield County and it’s a win, really, for the employers in this area,” Casey said.
Reflecting on her experience becoming an owner at Ettrick Landing after years believing homeownership was out of reach due to financial constraints common among social workers like herself—Lampley said: “You get to paint your walls the color you want… It’s my wall… It’s my grass… If I don’t want flowers in front of my house I don’t have to have flowers… It’s a huge difference when it’s yours.”
“And home ownership,” she continued,” once you have a home you can almost accomplish anything else… People view you as more trustworthy… It’s a feeling that I wish everybody could have.”
