Council delays North Lombardi housing ordinance as developers race for state tax-credit deadline; administration to draft new tax-sale and roll-off ordinances

Richmond City Council on Wednesday continued Ordinance 2025‑173 (North Lombardi) to the Sept. 22 meeting so the district councilmember and the developer can hold additional community discussions and, staff said, to allow time to meet a forthcoming state low‑income housing tax-credit application deadline.

Madam Clerk announced on the record that Item 21, Ordinance 2025‑173 (North Lombardi), would be continued to the Sept. 22 council meeting. Councilmember Robertson told colleagues that the developer is working to secure financing through the state low‑income housing tax-credit program and that the application deadline for the state program is a tight mid‑October window (Council members referenced Oct. 12–14). Robertson said the project has been in process for close to a year and she did not want to risk losing the development opportunity.

Robertson summarized the problem this way: "The application has to be submitted with the approval... I think it's October 12…