The board of Richmond’s public housing authority voted Tuesday night to accept a plan from Mayor Danny Avula’s administration for a “joint governance” approach to the redevelopment of Gilpin Court, the city’s oldest and largest public housing community. 

“It’s a day of celebration,” said Eddie Jackson, chair of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. “I think this is the first of many giant steps toward making life better for our families and our residents.”

The resolution, which got unanimous backing from the eight commissioners present at a special meeting called to consider the proposal, approves the creation of a Joint Gilpin Transformation Working Group that would have “the authority, power, financial oversight, public accountability, and shared responsibility to implement the Gilpin Court redevelopment and the larger Jackson Ward Community Plan.” 

The vote clears the way for the city and RRHA to begin negotiating a memorandum of agreement that would nail down the details of exactly how the joint group would function. 

Avula proposed the shared governance model to the Board of Commissioners at its November meeting, arguing that the city’s and housing authority’s “destinies are linked” when it comes to the redevelopment of Gilpin. 

In a followup letter sent to the commissioners four days after the meeting, the mayor outlined two specific requests. The first was that by Dec. 17, the board provide “more complete answers” to questions he raised about the project in September, including “a full commitment to complete and detailed financial information related to the Gilpin transformation and RRHA’s broader capacity.” 

The second was that the board formally approve the shared governance approach by Dec. 31.

“Completion of these steps — clear answers to outstanding questions, full financial transparency, and agreement to a shared governance model — are the commitments we are looking for as we consider recommending substantial City funding for Gilpin Court redevelopment in upcoming General Fund and Capital Improvement Plan budgets,” Avula wrote. 

On Tuesday, RRHA CEO Steven Nesmith told the board the authority is working to comply with other asks Avula has made since September, including providing the city more detailed information about RRHA’s financial position and planned investments. 

In his November letter, Avula called full financial transparency “a bedrock requirement for moving forward with significant City funding.” 

Nesmith said the authority would provide the city with its 2025 Financial Data Schedule, information it also submits to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Board of Commissioners, as well as an exact amount of the funding it wants from the city for infrastructure and site improvements related to Gilpin as well as other redevelopment projects. 

“RRHA believes that it is important, as the mayor said, that we demonstrate financial transparency,” he said. 

Contact Reporter Sarah Vogelsong at svogelsong@richmonder.org