April 2, 2026

Specialized Private Day High School Serving Neurodivergent Students Chooses Gayton Crossing For New Richmond Location

RICHMOND, VA (April 2, 2026) – Vivos Academy, a specialized private day school serving neurodivergent students has selected Gayton Crossing for a new location in Richmond’s West End. According to Danielle Damico, the school’s founder, the school plans to begin operations at the 160,000 square foot shopping center located at 9782 Gayton Road this spring. Vivos Academy signed a lease for 2,507 square feet of space with Continental Realty Corporation (CRC), a Baltimore-based real estate investment and management company which acquired the asset in 2024. Kristin Perry, Senior Leasing Manager, Retail Leasing for CRC, together with Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer’s Alicia Brown, Nicki Jassy, and Annie O’Connor represented the landlord, and SL Nusbaum’s Adam Shor represented the tenant in this transaction.

“Vivos Academy brings an important educational resource to Gayton Crossing by offering neurodivergent students a supportive setting focused on academics, vocational readiness, and independent living skills,” said Kristina O’Keefe, Senior Vice President, Retail Operations at CRC. “Their approach adds meaningful value to the Richmond community. This addition strengthens the center by expanding the range of services available to area families and creating another way for the community to connect with Gayton Crossing. It also reflects CRC’s commitment to thoughtfully curating tenant mixes that meet local needs while continuing to grow in strong, high-demand markets.”

The Vivos Academy program blends structured academics with hands-on learning opportunities, including career exploration, job readiness training, and community-based instruction. Onsite, the school will feature a mock apartment designed to help students practice independent living skills such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, organization, personal care routines, and managing daily responsibilities in a realistic home-style environment. Several licensed master-level special education teachers and specialized assistants will support the needs of 16-20 students.

“Gayton Crossing is central to where many of our students live and we maintain an excellent relationship with the Henrico County School System,” explained Damico, who was formerly Executive Director of Spiritos School, a special education school in Powhatan. “Choosing a location in a mixed-use center was a strategic decision, as it will provide opportunities for our students to navigate public spaces, interact with local businesses, make purchases and work on vocational readiness skills. Being embedded in a vibrant, community gathering spot supports the transitional and focus on independence that we build into our programs.”

More than 100,000 people reside within a five-mile radius of Gayton Crossing, including more than 75,000 households with an average household income exceeding $135,000. In addition, the daytime population within this same radius is nearly 235,000.

The median home value in Richmond’s West End is $520,000, and the existing residential pipeline is expected to add more than 1,500 homes within a five-mile radius of Gayton Crossing. Household incomes are projected to increase by more than 11 percent within a three-mile radius over the next five years.

Founded in 1960, Continental Realty Corporation is a vertically integrated, privately held commercial real estate and investment company specializing in the acquisition and operation of retail and multifamily properties. CRC owns and manages a diversified, national portfolio of more than eight million square feet of retail space and over 10,000 apartment homes across 15 states, with a total value of more than $4.5 billion. Guided by a commitment to excellence and long-term value creation, CRC combines market insight, disciplined investment strategies, and a people-first approach to deliver exceptional results for investors, residents, and communities.

For additional information, visit www.crcrealty.com.