Dec. 20 Newsletter: Contractors say they've been left unpaid at affordable housing development
Weather: A frigid weekend begins. High of 46.
On this date in 1939, Henrico County officials testified in front of a state judge, seeking to nullify a recent annexation of land by Richmond. The officials cited Richmond’s high crime rate and poor schools, while Richmond assistant city attorney John P. McGuire Jr. countered that Henrico had the state’s highest accident and traffic fatality rates. After a three-year legal battle, the annexation was upheld.
Problems multiply for South Richmond affordable housing development amid lawsuits, withdrawn city support
The Brady Square project, which promised to add 264 affordable housing units in South Richmond, is stuck in a half-finished state.
The project ran into trouble in late 2023, when contractors at the site said Brady stopped paying them for materials they had supplied and work they had done, leading many to walk off the job.
- “I just wish they’d pay all the vendors and subcontractors they owe and we can all move on,” said an excavator who says he's owed $800,000. “I ain’t bashing anybody. I just want to get paid.”
The city voted to withhold a scheduled $500,000 payment while lenders discuss the fate of the project.
Read more on the next steps here.
Year-round strawberry production set to begin in Chesterfield County facility
Meadowville Technology Park in Chesterfield County is now home to a farm that will produce more than 4 million pounds of strawberries annually, grown indoors.
The site, which has a water tower that holds several million gallons, was originally pitched to semiconductor companies.
This project received $2.9 million in incentives from the governor’s office, as well as tax credits for the projected 300 jobs that will be created.
New position aims to bring together area entrepreneurs, support growth
After spending four years working to revitalize Hopewell's downtown, Heather Lyne is taking a new role as Director of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems with the 1717 Collective, working to bring together Richmond's entrepreneurial community.
"Really it’s just helping people move through the pipeline as efficiently and smoothly as possible, so that they can get off the ground or kind of figure out what they need to figure out when it comes to their business," she said.
Read more about the role, and the partnering organizations, here.
In other news:
- Virginia Police: Don't shoot at drones (NBC 12)
- City Center negotiations down to one development team, sources say (BizSense)
- Richmond Public Schools payroll mistake confuses employees (8 News)
The editor's desk
Want to come hang out, have a great breakfast and learn about the city? We're thrilled to announce our first event - The (Real) State of the City.
We've convened experts on the city and its operations to chat over breakfast at the Jefferson Hotel on Jan. 16, an event that will be capped by a Q&A with new Mayor Danny Avula. Best of all, Richmonder donors can get tickets at a discounted rate.
Tap here to purchase, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
