> ## 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. 3 Newsletter: Home assessments rise again - URL: https://www.richmonder.org/sept-3-newsletter-home-assessments-rise-again/ - Published: 2025-09-03T10:00:46.000Z - Updated: 2025-09-03T10:00:50.000Z - Description: Plus, a meeting on Gilpin Court redevelopment turns testy as residents ask for 1-to-1 replacement on the same site, and City Council approves paying a wrongfully incarcerated man, but not before debate on a recently discovered pool of money. - Author: Michael Phillips - Tags: Newsletter **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. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2025/08/vcu-Richmonder-Impact-900x150px.jpg)](https://www.vcu.edu/uncommon/) **Today's newsletter sponsored by** [**Virginia Commonwealth University**](https://www.vcu.edu/uncommon/)**:** 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/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-02-at-3.25.10---PM-1.png)](https://www.richmonder.org/new-property-assessments-are-out-see-which-neighborhoods-increased-in-value-the-most/) ### 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.**](https://www.richmonder.org/new-property-assessments-are-out-see-which-neighborhoods-increased-in-value-the-most/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2025/09/25F61AE3-0802-4F1B-9663-3482AADE5AAC-1.jpeg)](https://www.richmonder.org/gilpin-court-redevelopment-meeting-turns-testy-as-residents-express-skepticism-about-redevelopment-plan/) ### 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.” 🏘️ The redevelopment plan calls for 450 displaced units to be replaced on-site, but the other 331 would be replaced with units owned by landlords around the city, in the interest of not concentrating poverty. 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.**](https://www.richmonder.org/gilpin-court-redevelopment-meeting-turns-testy-as-residents-express-skepticism-about-redevelopment-plan/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2025/09/DSCF8651-1.JPG)](https://www.richmonder.org/council-advances-plan-to-pay-wrongfully-convicted-man-after-fierce-debate-on-financial-policies/) ### 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**](https://www.richmonder.org/council-advances-plan-to-pay-wrongfully-convicted-man-after-fierce-debate-on-financial-policies/)**.** **Catch up from Friday:** [**How Richmond’s tax sale fund swelled to $9M, with no clear use for the money**](https://www.richmonder.org/how-richmonds-tax-sale-fund-swelled-to-9m-with-no-clear-use-for-the-money/) --- ### Today's sponsor: [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2025/08/240916_025_aj_hmr_ar1920x1080.jpg)](https://www.vcuhealth.org/news/vcu-liver-institute-brings-world-class-research-directly-to-patients-with-advanced-care/) ### VCU liver institute brings world-class research directly to patients with advanced care Linking research to patient care, the VCU Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health creates innovative ways to tackle liver disease in Virginia and beyond. About a third of people in the United States have some form of liver disease making it the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S. That’s why the [Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health](https://liverinstitute.medschool.vcu.edu/) at Virginia Commonwealth University was set up nearly four years ago – to find new ways to prevent, treat or reverse liver disease. [**Read more.**](https://www.vcuhealth.org/news/vcu-liver-institute-brings-world-class-research-directly-to-patients-with-advanced-care/) --- ### In other news - [**Proposed redesign for Lakeside would trade car traffic for bike lanes in attempt to attract more business**](https://www.henricocitizen.com/proposed-redesign-for-lakeside-would-trade-car-traffic-for-bike-lanes-in-attempt-to-attract-more-business/?ref=henrico-newsflash-newsletter) (Henrico Citizen) - [**Vicky Hester, owner of Babes of Carytown, has died: 'RVA has lost a legend'**](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/vicky-hester-obit-sept-2-2025) (CBS 6) - [**VCU to delay opening athletics village as it works on other deals**](https://richmond.com/news/local/education/higher-education/article%5F8ab54ee1-3b79-4916-8d0a-4e407782b737.html) (Times-Dispatch) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2025/08/25in25logo--2--1--1--1.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/the-richmonder-presents-25-in-25/) Catch up on our 25 in '25 series here, and don't miss the final installment on Friday. --- ### 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* --- Sent this by a friend? 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