> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.richmonder.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Sept. 23 Newsletter: Mystery million - URL: https://www.richmonder.org/sept-23-newsletter-mystery-mil/ - Published: 2026-09-23T10:00:41.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-23T10:00:40.000Z - Description: Henrico tries to spruce up the area around the airport by buying vacant properties, the city launches its newest budget cycle, and it's all about found art at the Branch Museum. - Author: Michael Phillips - Tags: Newsletter **Weather:** Scattered showers move out, and fall moves in, this time for good. High of 65. **On this date** in 1993, a developer exercises an option to buy the Hotel John Marshall. A brief reopening later in the decade followed, before it closed again in 2004. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/vcu-Richmonder-0312-0319-032625-900x150px--1-.jpg)](https://www.vcu.edu/uncommon/?utm%5Fsource=therichmonder&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=positivestories&utm%5Fid=valocal&utm%5Fterm=instate&utm%5Fcontent=prospecting) **Today's newsletter sponsored by** [**Virginia Commonwealth University**](https://www.vcu.edu/uncommon/?utm%5Fsource=therichmonder&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=positivestories&utm%5Fid=valocal&utm%5Fterm=instate&utm%5Fcontent=prospecting)**.** As a top 20% global university, Virginia Commonwealth University is an unparalleled powerhouse of innovation and creative problem solving. VCU attacks challenges as opportunities. It's truly a university unlike any you’ve ever seen. --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/image-23.png)](https://www.richmonder.org/the-mystery-million-anonymous-donors-gift-may-help-chesterfield-brace-for-projected-midlothian-growth/) ### The mystery million: Anonymous donor’s gift may help Chesterfield brace for projected Midlothian growth At a community meeting last week, Chesterfield officials made a surprising reveal — an anonymousdonor has offered $1 million to the county. While no checks have been signed yet, officials want to put it toward a 40-acre, $10.5 million property on Coalfield Road for future development of Midlothian High School. One of the owners of the property has been attempting to sell it for years, and welcomed the development. “I don’t care what the county does with the property at this point. Either buy it or let us sell it to somebody else,” he said. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/the-mystery-million-anonymous-donors-gift-may-help-chesterfield-brace-for-projected-midlothian-growth/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/image-22.png)](https://www.richmonder.org/these-buildings-have-become-infamous-henrico-buys-vacant-properties-near-airport-with-intent-to-redevelop/) ### 'These buildings have become infamous': Henrico buys vacant properties near airport with intent to redevelop The county has closed on the former All Day Inn, purchasing the site for $3 million, and will close next week on the former Bowl America, purchasing it for $2.9 million. Tyrone Nelson, who represents the Varina District, said Henrico will be cracking down on blight in the area. "We believe with this jump-start, we hope that other property owners and investors will see similar opportunities up and down the corridor," he said. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/these-buildings-have-become-infamous-henrico-buys-vacant-properties-near-airport-with-intent-to-redevelop/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/image-25.png)](https://www.richmonder.org/richmonds-2028-budget-process-begins-with-a-focus-on-affordability-workforce-investment-and-collaboration/) ### Richmond’s 2028 budget process begins with a focus on affordability, workforce investment and collaboration At a kickoff event, Mayor Danny Avula said officials plan to commit 2.5% of real estate tax revenue to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, a year ahead of the legal requirement, and pointed to the state of public housing and infrastructure as concerns that must be addressed in next spring's budget. 🤑 The mayor also stressed the need to ensure residents can afford to stay in the city by tackling the cost of living. With assessments expected to rise significantly, Avula offered his previously suggested one-cent reduction of the real estate tax, in addition to the tax deferral program approved by the City Council, as potential solutions for homeowners facing higher prices. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/richmonds-2028-budget-process-begins-with-a-focus-on-affordability-workforce-investment-and-collaboration/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/image-24.png)](https://www.richmonder.org/branch-museum-celebrates-two-creators-who-turn-trash-into-art-treasures/) ### Branch Museum celebrates two creators who turn trash into art treasures Born and raised into a sharecropping family in rural Alabama at the beginning of the Great Depression, Thornton Dial experienced both Jim Crow segregation and the civil rights movement. Influenced by Martin Luther King Jr., Dial used “found art” to confront issues of racial oppression. Tomorrow, he'll share the spotlight with Sanford Kogan in the Branch Museum of Design's newest exhibit, “Becoming.” The exhibit brings together two artists who transform discarded materials into something entirely new. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/branch-museum-celebrates-two-creators-who-turn-trash-into-art-treasures/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/Midlo-v-Freeman_9.3_TheRichmonder_JTH-11.JPG)](https://www.richmonder.org/high-school-football-we/) ### High school football games of the week Petersburg and Colonial Heights highlight a thrilling Friday of action, and **Rob Witham** calls it "the most-anticipated game in Colonial Heights in years" as both teams are off to strong starts. 🏴‍☠️ In other action, Atlee takes on Hanover in a series that has featured plenty of fireworks in recent years. Meanwhile, John Marshall plans a return after not having enough players to field a roster last week due to injuries. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/high-school-football-we/) --- ### Today's sponsor: [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/210513_595_aj900--1-.jpg)](https://news.vcu.edu/article/how-vcu-and-the-community-work-together-to-bring-about-positive-change?utm%5Fsource=therichmonder&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=positivestories&utm%5Fid=valocal&utm%5Fterm=instate&utm%5Fcontent=prospecting) ### **How VCU and the community work together to bring about positive change** “Community engagement is the pathway through which we connect the work that we do at an academic institution to real community impact, to making a difference,” said Maghboeba Mosavel, Ph.D., VCU vice provost, [**community engagement**](https://community.vcu.edu/). “We do this through engagement with our partners and communities and through the relationships embedded in that engagement.” “VCU brings research, students, expertise and resources into our partnerships,” she said. “Our communities also bring tremendous knowledge, strengths, resources and opportunities that benefit VCU and our students.” [Read more](https://news.vcu.edu/article/how-vcu-and-the-community-work-together-to-bring-about-positive-change?utm%5Fsource=therichmonder&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=positivestories&utm%5Fid=valocal&utm%5Fterm=instate&utm%5Fcontent=prospecting). --- ### In other news - [**Richmond's video store revival is here**](https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/09/22/chesterfield-dvd-blu-ray-rentals-blue-rose-richmond) (Axios Richmond) - Three have opened recently, renting or selling DVDs and other video formats. - [**CarMax lays off 145 corporate employees, nearly half of them based in Richmond area**](https://richmondbizsense.com/2026/09/21/carmax-lays-off-145-corporate-employees-nearly-half-of-them-based-in-richmond-area/) (Richmond BizSense) - About 60 of the affected employees worked in the technology department. - [**State suggests changes, finds no violations after some Richmond residents lost water pressure for 36 hours**](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/richmond/state-suggests-changes-finds-no-violations-after-some-richmond-residents-lost-water-pressure-for-36-hours) (CBS 6) - The report concluded no boil water advisory was ever necessary, and the city did not violate any waterworks regulations in the incident. The report also recommended improvements to how the city communicates with the public. --- ### The editor's desk So many great items in our [**silent auction to support local news**](https://www.richmonder.org/bid-on-unique-richmond-experiences-and-support-local-news/)! Get your bids in by Friday at 7 p.m.! *Michael Phillips, founder* *mphillips@richmonder.org* --- Sent this by a friend? [**Sign up for our free thrice-weekly newsletter here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/sign-up-for-the-richmonders-free-newsletter/) Do you enjoy The Richmonder? [**Join us as a donor**](https://www.richmonder.org/contribute-to-the-richmonder/) and we'll send you a hat or mug!