Why tensions are rising over Richmond's Gilpin Court
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Gilpin Court in 1956 (left) and 1998. Photos: The Library of Virginia and Douglas Graham / Congressional Quarterly / Getty Images
Richmond's oldest public housing complex is at the center of a growing battle between City Council and the group overseeing it.
Why it matters: The fight over Gilpin Court revives questions over how Richmond can redevelop aging neighborhoods without displacing residents.
Catch up quick: Tensions began in April when the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) proposed privatizing Gilpin — a move its CEO, Steven Nesmith, said would improve financing options for redeveloping the 80-year-old complex.
- Opponents feared it'd turn Gilpin into market-rate homes instead and push people out.
- The board overseeing RRHA rejected the privatization proposal, but Nesmith reintroduced it last month for a September vote.
- That was after the authority signed an agreement with a New Orleans-based developer, HRI Communities, in May to redevelop the complex.
The latest: Now, City Council members are alleging that RRHA broke state law.
- Council unanimously passed a resolution last week saying RRHA had needed its approval before signing that redevelopment agreement for Gilpin.
- But the plan can't move forward without the board's vote to transfer Gilpin to a private entity.
What they're saying: RRHA says the law doesn't apply to properties it already owns, The Richmonder reports.
- "Given that this has never been an issue, it is puzzling why it is being raised now," RRHA spokesperson Angela Fountain told The Richmonder.
- Fountain also told Axios that its governing Board of Commissioners gave Nesmith the authority to enter into an agreement like this in 2023.
The other side: "We are not trying to stop redevelopment," 5th District Council member Stephanie Lynch said in a recent meeting.
- "We are trying to delay displacement, because that is what will happen if we were to allow this to move forward."
The intrigue: Some of RRHA's tactics are also raising questions. Last month, the RTD reported that RRHA had hired a firm that offered Gilpin Court residents $20 to attend a June City Council meeting in support of privatization.
- Nesmith pitched it as ramping up community engagement, but some residents told RTD they felt manipulated.
- Fountain told Axios that "RRHA did not directly pay, compensate or coach any residents" about the redevelopment issue.
Zoom out: Gilpin is the latest in decades of efforts to reshape Richmond's public housing, which are often met with criticism over displacement and transparency. This includes:
- Creighton Court, which is undergoing a multiphase redevelopment into a mixed-income neighborhood.
- Mosby, whose revitalization is in early planning.
- And Whitcomb, which is in limbo.
What's next: Fountain told Axios that RRHA's legal counsel reached out to the City Attorney's Office last week to "ensure continued transparency" but hasn't heard back yet.