Planning commission backs conveyance of city surplus land to Eden Village for tiny‑home community; council to negotiate terms

The Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council authorize a nominal conveyance of city‑owned land at 1501 and portions of 1601 Bridal (Fendall) Avenue to Eden Village of Richmond Inc., a local affiliate of the Eden Village model of tiny‑home communities, to facilitate construction of permanent affordable housing for people exiting homelessness.

Steve Artis, senior policy adviser to the chief administrative officer, told commissioners the proposal would convey roughly 3.05 acres (1501 Bridal) and up to 2.62 acres (1601 Bridal) for a nominal price of $100. The property is surplus and largely vacant, assessed at about $299,000; Eden Village is seeking federal grant support and needed a specific parcel to meet a May 22 application deadline for a Federal Home Loan Bank grant of up to $1.2 million. Artis said the project is anticipated to be more than $5 million and that Eden Village would be responsible for all site mitigation and development costs.

Eden Village founder Kathy (Kathy Ritter) described the model as a licensed community of roughly 30 tiny homes (about 400 square feet each) with a community center providing wraparound services, on‑site case management and a gated entry system. “We’re not a shelter. It’s permanent housing for the homeless,” she said, describing support services, community teams assigned to residents, and low monthly rents in the model.

Councilmember Gibson asked about ambiguous language in the draft ordinance and whether the sale would include enforceable reverter or specific income targeting. Artis and legal counsel clarified the conveyance ordinance directs the administration to negotiate a sale “for the purpose of facilitating the construction of permanent affordable housing for homeless and low to moderate income individuals and associated parking.” Artis said terms and enforcement (including reverter language, project timelines and affordability targets) would be built into a sales agreement and would come back to the commission and council as part of the special‑use permit and development approvals. He described a draft nonbinding term sheet and said the city would include timelines (for example, four years to start development and five years to complete) and reversion clauses in a final agreement if council requests them.

Public comment included multiple speakers supporting the project, who said the model provides on‑site services and a permanent housing pathway for people living in encampments and tents. After discussion and clarification by legal counsel about the scope of the conveyance ordinance, the commission voted to forward the conveyance to City Council with a recommendation for approval.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting: the draft project contemplated roughly 30–40 tiny homes aimed primarily at people exiting homelessness (many units targeted at 30% area median income), with up to 12 additional units possibly targeted at higher AMI bands; Eden Village must secure outside financing and grants and would be responsible for site mitigation costs; a conveyance would be followed by a separate special‑use permit and development agreement to set enforceable terms.