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Commission recommends approval of 120-unit multifamily special-use permit at 101 Gordon Avenue
Summary
The Richmond City Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a five-story, up-to-120-unit multifamily special-use permit at 101 Gordon Avenue in the Manchester neighborhood; the motion passed with one abstention and will be forwarded to City Council.
The Richmond City Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a special-use permit to allow a multifamily building of up to 120 dwelling units at 101 Gordon Avenue in the Manchester neighborhood.
Planning staff presented the project as a 67,518-square-foot site with an existing commercial building and a large surface parking lot, noting that several R-63 zoning standards require relief and that the SUP is needed. Jonathan Brown, the planning presenter, summarized site design work to pull the building up to the street, place parking at the rear, and phase sidewalk and street-tree improvements. He said staff recommended approval and requested that a fire-access sheet prepared by Kimberly Horn (dated 04/14/2026) be included in the ordinance.
Will Allen of Harper Associates, speaking for the applicant team, described opting for an SUP to custom-fit project standards rather than rezoning and requested an amendment on façade glazing: “We are asking tonight to have that revert to the B-5 glazing requirement … and the B-5 … it's 30%,” Allen said. The applicant also proposed material minimums for façade composition, including a 25% brick minimum and 25% cementitious siding.
Eric Smith, part of the applicant team, described outreach to the Manchester Alliance and adjacent owners, meetings at Studio 23, and temporary measures (construction fencing) and proposed landscaping to address neighbors’ concerns about sightlines and solar-panel visibility. Commissioners discussed public outreach for larger projects; staff emphasized property notices and on-site signage and encouraged direct applicant engagement with neighbors.
No public speakers were recorded on the record other than the applicant team. During the roll call vote, one commissioner (Miss Knight) abstained; the motion passed and the Planning Commission will forward the recommendation and staff conditions to City Council for final action.
The ordinance package transmitted to City Council will include staff conditions and the fire-access markup referenced by staff.
