Administration presents 2024 biannual real estate strategy; 28 city parcels proposed for disposition, parks asks two changes

Sharon Ebert, deputy chief administrative officer for planning and economic development, presented the administration’s proposed 2024 biannual Real Estate Strategies Plan to the standing committee and said the Office of Real Estate Strategies submitted a list of city‑owned parcels as required by city code for council consideration.

Ebert said the plan before the committee lists 28 parcels totaling approximately 55 acres with a combined assessed value she reported as about $5,427,000. She described two broad categories on the list: smaller residential parcels (21 parcels) proposed primarily for affordable housing and a second group of larger, primarily multifamily‑oriented parcels (seven parcels) being vetted for residential development possibly with commercial components. Ebert told the committee: “All of the properties are owned by the City of Richmond,” and she clarified that the plan draws assessed values from the tax assessor’s latest roll.

Ebert said some parcels had previously been held off the surplus list because earlier FEMA maps showed floodway restrictions; revised flood maps and updated reviews now make several of the previously unbuildable parcels viable for development, she said. The administration described outreach from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities seeking to retain one Whitcomb Court parcel on Sussex Street for a neighborhood park; Ebert said Parks asked that parcel be removed from the surplus list, and the administration will propose an amendment to the resolution to remove it. The administration also indicated it would add 8301 Chippenham Road to the parks consideration list based on a parks request.

Ebert said the majority of District 3 parcels are clustered near Greenwood and South Barton Heights, and that several larger brownfield parcels being proposed for affordable housing generated developer interest to use brownfield remediation incentives. She said the office expects to issue requests for proposals for large clusters intended for affordable housing if the council adopts the plan.

Council members asked for clarification of assessed values and for a follow‑up briefing from the tax assessor. Councilmember Gibson noted a sample parcel listed with an $80,000 assessed value and suggested the assessor be asked to reconcile the city roll with other valuation sources; Ebert said the values in the plan are assessor figures and that council should follow up with the tax assessor for valuation methodology. Councilmember Robertson asked how the surplus list reaches council and whether prior lists from 2022 were adopted; Ebert said the 2022 resolution never received council adoption and the administration drafted the current resolution for council consideration.

The administration said it will bring a resolution to council to adopt the biannual plan and is preparing amendments to the proposed list to remove Sussex Street for park use and to include 8301 Chippenham Road as a park candidate. No final council vote on the plan was taken during the committee briefing; Ebert said the item was scheduled for council consideration and the administration requested the opportunity to amend the list before that vote.