Outgoing Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney made housing a top priority during his two terms in office, declaring a citywide housing crisis and pledging to fund the construction of thousands of new affordable residences.
At the final Richmond City Council meeting of 2024, housing was once again a key topic.
Council unanimously approved a slate of ordinances redirecting millions of dollars in reclaimed or previously unallocated funds — from the federal American Rescue Plan Act — to fund affordable housing initiatives across the city.
Reclaimed projects include a Southside development left unfinished for a year
Brady Square has sat unfinished near the intersection of Richmond Highway and Bellemeade Road since December 2023 amid payment disputes between Massachusetts-based developer Dakota Partners and local subcontractors. WRIC reported in May that workers were owed over $1 million in unpaid wages.
“It’s a damn shame that those apartments have been sitting unfinished for over a year,” said Councilor Reva Trammell, who represents the area where the development is located.
More than $3.2 million of the reclaimed money will fund 136 new affordable rental units in multifamily developments and nearly 70 new single-family residences across Richmond, as well as over $150,000 in support for shelters, according to documents filed with the city.
The $500,000 reclaimed from Brady Square was allocated to Housing Families First, a local organization that helps families experiencing homelessness find permanent housing.
Also on the agenda
Council signed off on a resolution declaring 250 East German School Rd. a “revitalization area,” which allows the site’s developer to secure financing and tax credits from Virginia Housing to build 236 new affordable housing units. The council approved city grants for that and six other projects in September.
The JXN project is also set to receive $950,000 from the state Department of Historic Resources for the Skipwith-Roper Homecoming initiative and a special use permit for a community center anchored by a recreation of the Skipwith-Roper Cottage.
DHR is also providing $500,000 of funding for The Valentine’s ongoing capital campaign, and $300,000 of national opioid settlement money is going to a pilot program in medication-assisted treatment.
And in a resolution outlining the city’s legislative priorities for the 2025 General Assembly session, council asked Richmond’s delegation at the Virginia State Capitol to support — among other requests — a state constitutional amendment to give localities more power to create property tax exemptions that would help keep homes affordable for long-term owner-residents amid gentrification and rising property values.
Outgoing councilor goodbyes
Monday was the last meeting for Council President Kristen Nye, Vice President Ann-Frances Lambert and Councilor Andreas Addison.
Lambert was defeated in November’s election by 3rd District School Board representative Kenya Gibson, while Addison chose to run for mayor and Nye opted not to seek re-election. (Addison and Nye will be succeeded by Andrew “Gumby” Breton and Sarah Abubaker, respectively.)
Before beginning business for the evening, council staff showed a photo montage of the departing councilors. Returning councilors offered heartfelt messages to Addison (who was not in attendance), Lambert and Nye.
“Family is family,” said 6th District Councilor Ellen Robertson. “We will always be family, so this is not goodbye.”
“Everyone brings something to this body,” Nye said. “We have all worked together in collaboration with the administration; I feel like we’ve really changed the direction of this city.”
She added: “I’m really proud of what we’ve invested in our infrastructure. Roads are boring, but we have fewer potholes than we did eight years ago, and our parks system has never been this well-funded.”
Del. Mike Jones (D–Richmond) who previously represented the 9th Council District, also made an unannounced appearance to present a House of Delegates resolution honoring Nye — who lives in his General Assembly district.
It was also the last meeting for Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders, the conduit between council and the mayor’s office for the last four years. Saunders announced over the weekend that he would step down when Stoney leaves office Dec. 31, rather than staying on an interim basis while Mayor-elect Danny Avula conducts a nationwide search for a replacement.
Saunders addressed the council at the end of the meeting to offer his thanks for their support and collaboration, without which “there’s nothing I can do to be successful in my job.”
“For the rest of our lives here in the city of Richmond, if you drive around the city, you're going to see the fruits of our labor these past four years," he said. "We'll have four new community centers thanks to this collaboration, two new fire stations, the Diamond District.”
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2025.
