Commission approves 9‑unit Project Homes building at 815–821 Mosby Street with conditions

The Richmond Commission of Architectural Review on April 2025 approved a three‑story, nine‑unit multifamily building at 815–821 Mosby Street in the Union Hill historic district, subject to staff conditions requiring final site regrading plans, material samples and screening of mechanical equipment and parking.

Staff presented the April submission, noting the applicant had revised the project after a February conceptual review. Alex (staff member, Commission of Architectural Review) said the updated plans add front stoops and a sidewalk parallel to the public right of way, extend the first‑floor brick farther toward the rear, lower the relationship between the third‑floor window hoods and the cornice, and propose regrading that would reduce the building's apparent height by roughly 10 feet.

Will Gillette (Baker Development Resources, applicant representative) told the commission the dwelling will be built by Project Homes, will include nine units and is partially funded by a grant from Virginia Housing; Urban Hope was named as the anticipated property manager and service partner. Gillette described design changes made after prior reviews: adding front stairs to the three first‑floor units, adding vertically aligned windows on the north elevation, correcting an earlier height typo (plans are intended to show a maximum around 180 feet as displayed), and providing additional HVAC and parking screening details.

Several commissioners pressed the applicant on how the finished building will relate to the Mosby House (809 Mosby) and to the Mosby Street streetscape. Commissioners asked for a site regrading plan and final spot elevations so staff can confirm the building's final measured height and enforce the approved limit. Commissioners also discussed the configuration of front entrances and whether the new stoops would create “desire paths” through proposed landscaping. Alex said ADA compliance and final ramp details can be approved administratively, but the commission asked those details to be provided before permits are issued.

In public comment, Nancy Lampert (Union Hill resident) urged the commission to ensure the project does not overwhelm the neighborhood and to make the building feel compatible with Union Hill’s existing scale and porches.

Motion and outcome: A motion to approve the project with staff recommendations carried. The commission adopted a set of staff conditions requiring submission of a final site regrading plan, use of historically appropriate materials for any new retaining walls (brick, concrete or paver block), adequate vegetation screening for the parking area, and final material samples for staff approval.

The applicant was told to provide the required documentation for staff review and to coordinate with staff on final ADA ramp details before building permits are issued.