Richmond Relaxes Regulations On Building Homeless Shelters
Richmond City Council approved zoning changes Monday that will allow homeless shelters to be built throughout more of the city. (Photo: Crixell Matthews/VPM News)
Richmond City Council approved an ordinance Monday that would allow for homeless shelters to be built “by right” throughout more parts of the city.
Right now, when someone wants to open a homeless shelter or transitional housing they have to go through a special permitting process. Even if they pass that hurdle, Richmond City Council can also block the development. Allowing these types of emergency and supportive housing “by right” would eliminate those barriers.
Northside apartments, Arthur Ashe Boulevard rezoning move forward
March 3, 2021 6
An aerial view of the Wesco Distribution site, which Thalhimer Realty Partners purchased for $3.7 million in 2019, facing south. Arthur Ashe Boulevard is to the left. (
City documents)
Dozens of new income-based apartments near Highland Park and a potential redevelopment site on Arthur Ashe Boulevard both got an initial greenlight at City Hall on Monday.
Richmond’s Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a special-use permit for Commonwealth Catholic Charities’ planned 56-unit residential project at 1031 and 1101 Fourqurean Lane.
The commission also recommended approval of Thalhimer Realty Partners’ rezoning request for 2902 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. from M-2 Heavy Industrial to TOD-1 Transit-Oriented Nodal District.