A look inside The Abby, new luxury apartments opening in The Museum District

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Excitement is building in Richmond’s vibrant Museum District with the announcement of a new luxury apartment complex, The Abby, that promises to enhance the area’s historic landscape with the transformation of Saint Gertrude High School. The Abby is a new luxury apartment complex in The Museum District that will soon be move-in ready and 8News is bringing you an exclusive look into what residents can expect. 8News spoke with one of the owners of SMP Properties, Eric Phipps, who gave us insight on the transformation process of The Abby, which was once known as Saint Gertrude High School. "We over the last seven years have developed, redeveloped and built from the ground up in the city of Richmond to help revitalize and improve the city throughout various neighborhoods," Eric Phipps said. Nestled in the heart of Richmond's historic Museum District, the former all-girls Catholic School campus is in the final stages of an exciting transformation. With its first building dating back to 1922, this shaded property is being repurposed into luxury condominiums, a project that began in 2022. The Abby, construction process (Courtesy of Cara Dickens) "We purchased this property, which formerly was the Saint Gertrude's Catholic School, back in January of 2022," Phipps said. "And we have since.. while keeping the historic elements of the exterior of the property, have converted from a school to 39 Class A apartment homes that we will deliver the first 22 units next week, and we'll hopefully start moving people into. The second phase will be 30 [or] 45 days behind that." The Abby is designed to blend modern living with the neighborhood’s historic charm -- the development aims to attract a diverse community while providing convenient access to many walkable amenities. The Abby, updated monument sign (Courtesy of Cara Dickens) "One of the reasons that we chose this property, the location of the museum district is amazing," Phipps continued. "We wanted this project to fit into the neighborhood, and be an integral part of the community here that the neighborhood has worked so hard to establish. Which you know, keeping the exterior of the building and the landscaping, which is beautiful and historic, was part of that plan. We're extremely proud of the end result of the project and we're excited to be a part of the Museum District." Future residents will enjoy a prime location, just a short stroll from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the iconic Monument Avenue, and a plethora of local dining and shopping options along Cary Street. "Yes, so we were able to maintain the historical components of the building including the chapel, which will be converted to an apartment home," Phipps continued. "As well as the gym, which we ended up, separating and putting two stories of different apartment homes in the gym because of the high ceilings. We converted the library, and we kept the ceiling and historical components of the library, that are actually in the apartment homes. We feel like this location in the Museum District, as walkable as it is, will attract a wide array of different residents who would like maybe purchase a home in the Museum District, but gives them an option to rent and to be able to enjoy the amenities that the Museum District offers." The Abby, interior, kitchen (Courtesy of Cara Dickens) The Abby, interior, kitchen (Courtesy of Cara Dickens) The Abby, interior, bathroom (Courtesy of Cara Dickens) The Abby, interior, kitchen (Courtesy of Cara Dickens) The Abby, exterior (Courtesy of Kendal McAuley) The Abby, exterior (Courtesy of Kendal McAuley) The Abby, exterior (Courtesy of Kendal McAuley) The Abby, interior, kitchen (Courtesy of Kendal McAuley) The Abby, exterior, balcony view (Courtesy of Kendal McAuley) The Abby, interior, kitchen (Courtesy of Kendal McAuley) The Abby, interior, kitchen (Courtesy of Kendal McAuley) While the new residences offer modern amenities, they beautifully retain the architectural charm and features of the original structures. "So, because of the history of the building and the way it was originally constructed, we were able to save a lot of the historical components -- including the floors in the gymnasium area so they will still exist, as well as the wood trim and finishes and the historical portion of the chapel," Phipps said. As Richmond continues to evolve, this project reflects the city's commitment to creating dynamic spaces that cater to both residents and visitors alike. To learn more information about The Abby, visit its website.