Three mixed-use projects moving forward near VUU could transform an auto shop-dominated stretch of Lombardy
A stretch of North Lombardy Street near Virginia Union University long dominated by auto shops and underused commercial space could soon look very different.
A&Z 2 VA, Inc., an entity connected to local businessman Atallah Mahases, is moving forward with a 2023 plan to redevelop properties on both sides of the 2400 block of North Lombardy into two five-story mixed-use buildings with a combined 249 apartments.
The buildings, which would be called the North Lombardy Flats and South Lombardy Flats, would replace a now-shuttered animal hospital and a string of automotive businesses.
Jean Carlos of Hispanos Unidos, who is representing the owner in the case, said while earlier plans had focused on rezoning the properties — which are currently designated UB-2, an urban business zoning that only allows heights of three stories by right — the special use permit ended up being the better route after consultation with the city.
Under the planned citywide rezoning that is being considered, the northern property would be designated MX-5, allowing mixed use of up to five stories by right, while the southern property would be zoned MX-7.
Carlos said the developer was optimistic the plans would come to fruition and believed the project would be “beneficial to the city.”
Sarah Vogelsong
Plans show the northern building at 2412 North Lombardy would include 88 apartments above parking and retail, with a triangular public pocket park at the corner where Lombardy intersects with Overbrook Road and Seminary Avenue. The larger southern building at 2423 North Lombardy would contain 161 units with first-floor retail.
Carlos said at least half the units are intended to be for rent, and that given the close proximity to the VUU campus, they could be attractive for students.
Altogether, the plans say the buildings would provide 117 parking spaces throughout lots and on the street.
“We took consideration of every single concern from the community and also the city staff,” he said, noting in particular the inclusion of the public pocket park.
Anne Darby, president of the Edgehill Chamberlayne Court Civic Association, whose footprint includes the sites, said the group had no comment on the project.
Both projects will need to secure approval for a special use permit from the City Council to move forward. On Tuesday, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Council support them.
Farther down the street, Virginia Union University is also moving forward with its plans to redevelop the former Budget Motel site at the intersection of North Lombardy and Brook Road into a five-story, 101-unit mixed-use building that could provide student housing in addition to retail.
Grant Neely, a spokesperson for the university, said Thursday that the site plan had been approved in September and VUU was working on getting its financing lined up with the intent of breaking ground in the first quarter of 2027.
Even though nothing may be happening physically on the site now, he said, “everything’s on track there.”
The VUU project won approval for a special use permit in September 2025 and was endorsed by the civic association, which said it would be “an improvement to existing conditions on Lombardy Street.”
“Neighbors are of course concerned with new residents taking street parking spaces from existing residents, and we look forward to working with you and the City to create a parking district throughout the ECCCA boundaries to mitigate this and other new developments,” wrote Darby in an August 2025 letter to City Councilor Kenya Gibson, whose 3rd District includes the project. “Additionally, we encourage the City to improve pedestrian infrastructure in the area to keep existing and future residents safe.”
Even more development by the university nearby could be in the pipeline pending officials’ decision on plans to redevelop the site of Richmond Community Hospital a stone’s throw away on Overbrook Road. VUU pledged last month to preserve the historic building as part of the project if approved.
Contact Reporter Sarah Vogelsong at svogelsong@richmonder.org
