Council puts Henrico parcel sale on hold, asks staff to consider public bid process

Richmond City Council voted to continue action on ordinance 2025-1-80, involving the proposed conveyance of a nearly nine-tenths–of–an–acre parcel in Henrico County, and asked the administration to put the property out for public solicitation of bids.

Tyrese Johnson addressed council during the public-hearing period and said the parcel — identified in council papers as 8790 Strath Road in Henrico County — was advertised as underpriced and that interested buyers should be given a fair chance to submit higher offers. Sharon Ebert, deputy chief administrative officer for planning and economic development, said the parcel had been acquired years ago by the Department of Utilities and that the current offer was unsolicited. Staff told council the offered price was slightly higher than the assessed value but acknowledged assessed and market values can differ.

Council members asked staff about consistent city practice for surplus property dispositions. Councilman Britton (transcript: Breton) moved to continue the item to allow the city to solicit bids; Councilmember Aperbacher seconded the motion. Councilmembers who spoke during the discussion urged consistency in the disposal process and recommended that the city routinely put surplus parcels out to bid so the city “gets what we can get out of this property.”

The motion to continue ordinance 2025-1-80 passed; the clerk set the continued hearing for Monday, Nov. 10, and the administration said it could put a notice for solicitation of bids and receive responses within a 60-day window.

Councilmembers emphasized they want a consistent policy for surplus property sales and asked the administration to return with suggested process changes so the same criteria are applied citywide.