By Eric S. Cavallo
Virginia Licensed Contractor (Commercial Building); Board Member, Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals; Advisor to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on Single-Stair Exit Code Reform; International Code Council (ICC) Member; Founder & President, Earthly Infrastructure®
Few names in Hampton Roads residential development carry the weight of Helen Dragas. As President and CEO of The Dragas Companies, her influence has helped shape the region’s suburban landscape for decades. What distinguishes Dragas isn’t just her longevity—it’s her measured, community-centered approach to growth. Her legacy isn’t written in speculation or press releases, but in real neighborhoods, lasting craftsmanship, and homes that anchor families across Coastal Virginia.
Recognizing a Builder’s Legacy
On May 31, 2023, Earthly Infrastructure® proudly presented Helen Dragas with a Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring her enduring contributions to the built environment, her commitment to ethical development, and her legacy of leadership across Coastal Virginia
I first met Helen years ago at the Dragas Companies’ annual Christmas party while working on her Spence Crossing development in Virginia Beach. Even in a festive setting, she carried herself with the commanding presence of a public official—measured, composed, and unmistakably in charge. She didn’t just walk into a room; she owned it. There was an air of confidence and competence about her that signaled leadership at every turn. It was immediately clear she was a builder who expected more—not just from the work, but from the people around her.
Her job sites were orderly, her expectations sharp, and her team deeply aligned with the regulatory process. For someone like me, now leading Earthly Infrastructure® and advocating for greater builder accountability statewide, that early exposure to her leadership shaped my view of what responsible development looks like.
Today, Helen Dragas continues to leave her mark—not only through legacy communities but through new projects rising in Chesapeake. Crestfield at Centerville is a forthcoming neighborhood of single-family homes on generous 10,000-square-foot lots, offering thoughtfully designed floorplans priced from the mid $500,000s. Just a few miles away, Grayson Commons is set to break ground in 2025—a mixed-use development that will include two- and three-bedroom townhomes, garages, and lakefront walking trails. These projects speak to the evolution of growth in Hampton Roads: compact, livable, and grounded in long-term neighborhood value.
What makes these projects especially relevant to today’s land use conversations is their procedural integrity. The approval process for Grayson Commons included careful coordination with Chesapeake City Council, addressing infrastructure conditions like turn-lane improvements and internal road connectivity. It’s this attention to transportation impact, drainage, and design that separates Dragas from many operating in today’s increasingly crowded development space. She builds with the future in mind—socially, physically, and civically.
Outside the private sector, Helen Dragas has been a visible force in Virginia’s civic and educational institutions. She served as a member—and eventually rector—of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, helping steer one of the Commonwealth’s flagship public universities through complex governance challenges. Her board service reflects a belief that leadership in housing must also be matched by stewardship in education, governance, and policy. Few regional developers can claim such a balanced presence across public and private life.
She has also supported initiatives related to housing access, workforce development, and regional economic competitiveness—often without seeking the spotlight. In doing so, she has helped shape not only the built environment, but the broader social infrastructure that makes a city livable. Helen Dragas embodies the idea that true development is as much about people as it is about parcels—and her work continues to influence how Coastal Virginia grows, adapts, and thrives.
In a time when the word “developer” is often used without regard to licensure, liability, or policy fluency, Helen Dragas remains a model of what the title should demand. Her work respects the code. Her teams understand the stakes. And her communities are proof that quality homebuilding and responsible policy alignment are not mutually exclusive. As Virginia continues to confront growth, affordability, and regulatory reform, builders like Helen will be essential to getting it right.