Richmond to turn failed casino site into park in Southside

The big picture: Last fall, City Council unanimously approved the city's $5.5 million purchase of the Philip Morris USA-owned parcel between Walmsley Boulevard and I-95, The Richmonder reported.

• Council also OK'd another $4 million to demolish a more than 40-year-old lab and office building on the site.
• Sharon Ebert, the city's deputy chief for planning and economic development, urged council to act quickly because other buyers were interested in the property.

Fun fact: The city paid slightly less than the site's nearly $5.64 million assessed value, per property records.

Zoom in: About half of the property has wetlands and ponds, which is where the park portion will go.

• For the other half, which includes the building that will be demolished later this year, the city is planning a market study "to analyze the best and highest uses" for the site.

• At a community event last year, residents who live in the area said they want to see something that brings jobs, restaurants, or a grocery store, per The Richmonder.

What's next: Park planning with community engagement will begin later this year, according to the city.

• The city also plans to extend Walmsley Boulevard westward to connect to Richmond Highway, thereby creating another critical east-west travel route.