Sept. 3 Newsletter: Home assessments rise again
Weather: Heat and humidity begin their return. High of 81.
On this date in 1981, the city officially ends free downtown parking, with a rate of 40 cents per hour installed across the business district.
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New property assessments are out. See which neighborhoods increased in value the most.
These assessments are unique because they will be used to set taxes both this year and next, before the city resets its budget calendar in 2027.
Overall, properties rose in value by 5.74%, and property taxes will net the city an expected $523.1 million this year.
Broken down by voting precinct, four areas saw double-digit increases:
- Highland Park, in Richmond's Northside
- Fulton, behind Rocketts Landing in the East End
- The homes surrounding Mary Munford Elementary
- In Southside, along Highway 1 and Commerce Road
Read more on the assessments, and see our interactive map, here.
Gilpin Court redevelopment meeting turns testy as residents express skepticism about plan
A community meeting on the future of Gilpin Court became increasingly chaotic, as residents and organizers expressed their mistrust in RRHA leadership.
“Don’t come down here and pee on my back and tell me it’s raining,” one former Councilmember said. “That’s what these people are worried about, because that’s all Black folk have had to face.”
Another 900 units would be built on the Gilpin site, with half designated as affordable housing and half at market rate.
But the replacement units would be administered by a voucher program, which offers different tenant protections than the current housing.
Go deeper on the meeting, and the plan, here.
Council advances plan to pay wrongfully convicted man, after fierce debate on financial policies
Three Council members voted against the plan to reallocate money to pay Marvin Grimm on Tuesday night. They made it clear they weren’t against paying Grimm in principle, but objected to the use of a $9.1 million pot of money the Council had previously identified as a source of funding for affordable housing projects.
Other members noted the $9.1 million at issue went unmentioned during the budget season earlier this year, when numerous Council budget proposals were shot down due to a lack of funding. Read more on the meeting here.
Catch up from Friday: How Richmond’s tax sale fund swelled to $9M, with no clear use for the money
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In other news
- Proposed redesign for Lakeside would trade car traffic for bike lanes in attempt to attract more business (Henrico Citizen)
- Vicky Hester, owner of Babes of Carytown, has died: 'RVA has lost a legend' (CBS 6)
- VCU to delay opening athletics village as it works on other deals (Times-Dispatch)
The editor's desk
It will be nice to take a break from rising property taxes next year, though that only increases the fear of what we'll find in the envelope in 2027.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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