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onserve Holdings expanded its Northside presence in 2022 by purchasing The Sphere, a pair of four‑story buildings at 2009 Brook Road for $45 million. The complex contains 224 market‑rate apartments, roughly $201,000 per unit, and sits just east of Virginia Union University’s Hovey Field. The deal brings Conserve’s portfolio to about 2,000 units, with 327 units now on that stretch of Brook Road after last year’s $20 million purchase of the neighboring Spectrum at 2017 Brook Road.

    The transaction closed on Oct. 30, brokered by Newmark’s Garrison Gore, Charles Wentworth and Victoria Pickett. The city recently assessed the 4.5‑acre property at $42.7 million. MVP Equities, a McLean‑based private‑equity firm that built The Sphere in 2022, sold the complex off‑market. Conserve’s acquisitions director Jared Badillo explained that the firm’s proximity to the Spectrum gave the seller pause, leading to a competitive offer that was accepted.

    The Sphere is about 90 % occupied, with rents around $2.24 per square foot. Conserve plans no major renovations, only modest rent increases, tighter occupancy control, and careful management before a potential future sale.

    Additional residential development is underway a block north. In September, City Council approved Gateway North, a five‑story mixed‑use project by The Hanson Co. and The Real McCoy Cos. at 2201 N. Lombardy St. The new building will add 101 apartments and 7,000 sq ft of commercial space, replacing a former Budget Inn motel.