Richmond City Council Update: Housing, Planning, and How Richmond’s Handling the Shutdown
- Voice !t Staff
- Nov 7
- 4 min read
Richmond’s latest City Council and Planning Commission meetings covered everything from housing developments and long-term city growth to state legislative priorities and the impact of the ongoing federal government shutdown. Together, these discussions reveal how decisions made at every level, from local to national, shape daily life in our city: affecting the homes we live in, the schools our children attend, and the services we rely on.
New Housing Projects on the Way
At a special meeting on November 3, 2025, Richmond City Council introduced three major housing projects:
Rady Flats (6th District): Up to $40 million in funding for about 288 apartments on Rady Street.
Joyfield (9th District): Up to $45 million for 234 new apartments on East German School Road.
101 W. Commerce Road (6th District): Up to $9 million for 77 new homes.
All three projects would be financed through the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. They will be considered at the November 10 City Council meeting.
Why this matters: These developments expand housing access and add hundreds of new homes across Richmond, addressing the city’s growing need for affordable and diverse housing options. What kind of Richmond do we want to build as new developments rise across our neighborhoods?
What’s Happening in Planning and Development
That same day, the Richmond Planning Commission met to review upcoming projects and long-term growth plans. Several proposed developments including new housing on Hawthorne Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, and Tuxedo Boulevard were postponed to December meetings.
Meanwhile, the Commission recommended for approval several new developments and public space projects, including:
EV Charging Stations on Arthur Ashe Boulevard.
New homes on Fairfax Avenue, Redd Street, Cottrell Road, and Franklin Street.
Renovation of Reconciliation Plaza (1400 E. Main St.).
Concept approval for the Shockoe Project North Memorial (1554 E. Broad St.).
A bridge replacement over the Manchester Canal on Hull Street.
Why this matters: These decisions shape how Richmond grows: balancing housing, transportation, and cultural identity. What story will these changes tell about the city we’re becoming?
What Richmond Is Asking the State For
Richmond’s 2026 Legislative Agenda outlines the city’s priorities for the upcoming General Assembly session. It includes requests, funding needs, and policy positions that will affect everything from housing and education to water systems and public safety.
Key Legislative and Budget Requests
Affordable Housing: Update the state’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to align with federal standards and strengthen housing programs.
Long-Term Homeownership (LOOP): Complete a study on helping residents stay in their homes for the long term.
School Construction: Seek authority for a local voter-approved sales tax increase to fund school repairs and modernization.
Water Treatment Plant: Request $40 million per year for upgrades as part of a $1.3 billion, 10-year plan.
Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) System: Seek $400 million in state funds to meet the 2035 clean water deadline, with $100 million requested in both FY27 and FY28.
Policy Priorities
Richmond is advocating for several state-level policy changes, including:
Local authority to create mandatory inclusionary zoning for affordable housing.
Expansion of the Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot (VERP).
Anti–Rent Gouging measures to limit extreme rent increases.
Reforms to K–12 education funding, addressing the state’s $3 billion underfunding gap.
Protection of local control over land use.
Increased local police aid (HB 599 funding).
Create a commercial marketplace for adult-use cannabis.
Authority to regulate cannabis and vape store locations near schools.
Inclusion of affordable housing in local economic development tools, such as issuing bonds.
Expanded use of speed cameras for safety near schools and day care centers.
Why this matters: These priorities highlight Richmond’s efforts to strengthen housing stability, invest in education, modernize infrastructure, and maintain local decision-making power. How do these requests reflect the kind of future Richmond wants to secure for the next generation?
How the Federal Shutdown Hits Richmond
At a November 3 committee meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II briefed City Council on how the ongoing federal government shutdown is affecting Richmond’s services and residents.
For more info and ways you can help: go.rva.gov/snap and go.rva.gov/shutdown
The Scope of the Impact
$1.1 billion in federal program funding is at risk if delays continue.
Of the city’s 130 federally funded programs: 19 could shut down, 98 may run at reduced capacity, and only 13 will remain fully operational.
The Department of Social Services (DSS) and Housing and Community Development (HCD) face the most immediate risk.
SNAP benefits: The federal government will cover only 50% of November’s payments, impacting 38,000 residents, including nearly half of Richmond Public Schools students.
The city may lose up to $3.6 million per month in federal reimbursements for DSS programs.
HCD could lose nearly $560,000 monthly in reimbursements for local agencies and staff.
The city has paused 29 new hires, activated bridge funding, and deferred nonessential spending.
Richmond is contributing $100,000 to support food distribution.
The state has launched the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program, providing weekly payments equal to 25% of monthly SNAP benefits.
Why this matters: The federal shutdown threatens vital programs that keep families fed, housed, and supported. It’s a reminder of how interconnected local stability is with national decision-making. What happens when the systems meant to sustain communities start to falter?
The Bottom Line
Between new housing projects, major infrastructure plans, and the strain of a federal shutdown, Richmond City Council faces decisions that touch every corner of the city. Each meeting helps define what kind of city Richmond will be in the years ahead.
Staying informed keeps us connected to the choices shaping our community. What vision of Richmond do you want to see realized?
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