After more than a year of public feuding, City Council is poised to back a deal that would break Richmond's standoff with its housing authority over the future of Gilpin Court.

Why it matters: A resolution introduced this week moves forward a plan to redevelop the city's oldest public housing complex after political fighting left Gilpin's 2,000-plus residents in limbo.

The big picture: Since last spring, RRHA's push to privatize Gilpin sparked a fight with City Council, which accused the agency of violating state law.

• Mayor Avula also refused to support redevelopment unless RRHA agreed to certain conditions.

The latest: The Monday resolution — which Council could approve later this month — sets a Sept. 1 deadline for the city and RRHA to sign a memorandum of understanding.

• The final MOU draft, also released Monday, includes Avula's initial demands: a tenants' bill of rights, a resident-involved oversight committee that meets monthly and one-for-one replacement of all 781 Gilpin units.
• It estimates that Gilpin, a "major component" of the plan to reshape Jackson Ward, will likely take at least 10 years to redevelop.

The Gilpin tenants group didn't respond to Axios, but the agreement's provisions mirror demands it made this spring.

Zoom in: The MOU also says:

• The city will oversee relocation support. A "People Plan Manager" to lead that work starts next week, Avula spokesperson Mira Signer tells Axios.
• RRHA must provide monthly redevelopment updates.
• If city funds are used, newly hired reconstruction workers must be Richmond residents.

Yes, but: Either side can end the deal by giving written notice.

Meanwhile, RRHA has filed plans for the first redevelopment-related construction at Gilpin: a 56-unit apartment complex, reports BizSense.

• RRHA CEO Steve Nesmith said it reflects the authority's plan to build replacement housing before demolishing existing homes.
• The $24.5 million project is targeting construction for early 2027, with move-ins in late 2028.

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Richmonders' budgets are about to take more hits as new utility rate increases go into effect this month.

Why it matters: If you live in metro Richmond and use electricity and/or water, you're affected.

State of play: Dominion Energy notified customers yesterday that the fuel charge on their bill rose, effective July 1.

• The increase was tied to Dominion's rising fuel costs, the company said in its notice.
• Customers should expect to pay about $8 more a month on average for "a typical home using 1,000 kilowatt-hours," per Dominion.

Between the lines: Dominion considers a typical home to be a two-bedroom apartment or a modest one-story house, spokesperson Craig Carper previously told Axios.

Meanwhile, the utility increases that localties approved in the spring also took effect on July 1.

• Chesterfield's water and sewer fees increased by 4.2%, or about $2.94 more a month.
• Henrico's rose by 5%, or an estimated average of $7.70 every two months.
• Hanover: 6.5%, or $4.68 bimonthly.
• And Richmond's utility rates went up by 6.6%, or about $13.84 .

The bottom line: It just got more expensive to live in Richmond.

Go deeper

👀 Unclear language in the state's newly passed budget, which included making recreational marijuana sales legal next year, may have actually made it legal now. (Virginian-Pilot)

• That's according to Williamsburg's top prosecutor and the former president of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys who reviewed the bill.
• The Virginia Division of Legislative Services disagrees with his assessment.

😷 A French logistics company, ID Logistics, is investing $83 million in a new hazardous materials distribution facility in Henrico, which is expected to create 1,000 jobs in the region. (Virginia Business)

🚰 The city says it's still having issues with its new utility billing software and hopes to have all of the problems resolved by July 31. (News release)

• DPU also outlined in its news release the five of the most common issues its customers are seeing, how they could be affected and what, if anything, locals should do in the meantime.

🚑 The Avula administration said it can't meet City Council's 30-day deadline to transfer medical 911 back to the Richmond Ambulance Authority because key officials are on vacation. (The Richmonder)

• Since 2024, the city's internal emergency communications department has had 911 medical calls routed to it before transferring them to RAA.

The weather this weekend won't have us feeling like we're in the bowels of hell, so let's spend it outside, yeah?

Thursday

🦪 Acacia Midtown in Libbie Mill has a patio party with $1.25 oysters, $5 cocktails and mini lobster rolls. 5-8:30pm. Free admission.

Friday

🍅 Celebrate Hanover's famously giant fruit at the Hanover Tomato Festival at Pole Green Park. 5-9pm. Free.

🛶 Canoe along Chesterfield's Swift Creek Lake. 6-8pm. Register in advance. $10.

💃🏻 Watch the sunset on the Graduate rooftop with a salsa dance party. 6-9pm. $5.

Saturday

🤫 Head to a silent party at Barvina Lounge. 10pm-2am. $14.33.

Sunday

🇻🇪 Go to a Venezuela earthquake relief concert at Gallery5. 6-9pm. Free admission.

🏟️ The Strokes play Allianz Amphitheater. 7pm. Resale tickets start at $129.

Full list, including cuddling with kittens

Lucy Dacus just dropped a new self-directed music video for her latest song "Planting Tomatoes."

Why it matters: The video was shot entirely in Richmond and features some of the singer's favorite local spots.

State of play: Dacus released "Planting Tomatoes" as a standalone single in April, an "ode to the stuff of living," she said in interviews, including growing things — like Hanover tomatoes.

• So it shouldn't be a surprise that the Mechanicsville native shot her new video in RVA, home of the Hanover tomato.

Zoom in: The video opens with Dacus in the James at Pony Pasture and includes scenes at Hollywood Cemetery, Dogwood Dell and homesteading community Earth Folk Collective.

• Also featured: Her dad, friends and SPARC students.

What's next: There will be a special screening of the video on July 30 at The Byrd.

• The event is sold out, but there's a waitlist.

Tell a Dacus fan