Council approves sale of school‑board parcels to City Central LLC for Southside mixed‑use redevelopment

The Richmond City Council approved a package of ordinances authorizing acceptance of a quitclaim deed from the school board and the sale of two city parcels on Commerce Road to City Central LLC to support a large mixed‑use Southside redevelopment.

Angie Rogers, Director of the Department of Economic Development, told council staff had worked for months with the Richmond Public Schools facilities staff to secure the necessary surplus and relocation assurances that allowed the city to present the conveyance and sale together. Rogers described the broader redevelopment as “one of the largest” Southside projects in years, with planning materials indicating more than 3,000 multifamily rental units and nearly 1,000 for‑sale units across the larger development area, plus grocery and civic amenities and affordable units embedded in the proposal.

Rogers said the school‑owned parcels required coordination because state law gives schools certain title considerations; the city worked through the schools’ facilities committee and the school board to obtain the necessary surplus resolution. Council members asked questions about compliance with the city’s surplus and disposition code; Councilwoman Kenya Gibson urged care, saying past conveyances had shortchanged school coffers and that she would withhold support unless the process protected school interests.

Council voted to adopt the three ordinances (20‑26‑122, 20‑26‑123, 20‑26‑124), with a recorded roll call showing one dissenting vote from Councilwoman Gibson and approvals from the remaining members.

What’s next: the sales and conveyance proceed consistent with the ordinances; the larger mixed‑use project will go through subsequent planning and permitting steps, and staff said the city will return with an inventory and disposition process later in the year to standardize surplus procedures.