First look at RACC's new Fan adoption center
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RACC's new shelter at 2310 W. Cary St. Image: Courtesy of Campfire & Co.
Richmond Animal Care & Control just shared renderings of its animal adoption center in the works in the Fan.
Why it matters: The one-time Jeep dealership and artist studios property will give the city shelter more space for cat and dog adoptions — and for animals in need.
Driving the news: RACC's 10,000-square-foot adoption center at 2310 W. Cary St. is in addition to its Chamberlayne Avenue headquarters.
- The shelter was long-since in dire need of more space, especially to meet the post-pandemic surge in animal surrenders, shelter director Christie Chipps Peters told City Council in fall 2024.
- Council approved the $2 million RACC was seeking to purchase the Cary Street space, which was a fraction of what Chesterfield and Henrico proposed spending on new shelter facilities there, Peters noted at the meeting.
- The city will also cover the estimated $1.5 million cost to ready the Cary Street space for RACC, Peters told Axios.
Zoom in: The new center, just down the road from Fresca on Addison and around the corner from Lamplighter, will be decked out in a pink facade.
- It'll also have a cat hangout room where folks can come and meet some kitties.
- Plus: a dedicated dog adoption space — so there's no fighting like cats and dogs.
What they're saying: "WE LOVE IT SO MUCH," Peters said in a statement to Axios.
What's next: The city will bid out construction soon and the new center should be up and running by this time next year, Peters said.
- If you want a closer look, RACC is offering tours on select Monday evenings this summer.