The Gateway 6 District th
Newsletter
August 2025
HELLO NEIGHBORS & FRIENDS!
Welcome to our 6th district newsletter! We are thrilled to share with you the latest developments in our mission to make a positive impact in our community
Firstly, we would like to express our gratitude to all of our constituents and partners who have continued to support us during my time on City Council. Your support and dedication have allowed us to keep moving ahead to gain more successes
We will always have work to do Let’s continue to work hand in hand to make our community a stronger, more vibrant Richmond!
Ellen F Robertson
Here are the highlights of what’s happening in the Gateway 6 District! th
In terms of our recent activities, we are constantly developing numerous impactful programs that aim to build upon the work of the Gateway 6 District th
We are also excited to share we are planning a bus tour to help the community navigate the Zoning Code Refresh Tour!
The City welcomes new leadership with the vision to build Richmond into a well-run, highly-functioning City We welcome a new CAO, DCAO, and two Directors
The faith-based community in Richmond is strong. The churches, synagogues, and other places of worship are very important not only in fostering spiritual growth, but also promoting the social wellbeing of the community We congratulate
Rev F Todd Gray of Fifth Baptist Church
Schools are back in session! Make sure your children are registered at their respective school Also, be mindful to stop for school buses and children and parents in crosswalks and school personnel escorting children. And please, watch your speed!
Finally, we want to remind everyone our monthly District Meetings are held every fourth Thursday of each month We may occasionally change the date and time for special events. We’ll keep you informed. If you are able to donate your time or resources, please do not hesitate to reach out to us
Enjoy this month’s newsletter!
In this issue:
City News
What’s City Council Doing? Gateway Happenings
Around the District Stay In Touch
TheCityofRichmondAdministrationwelcomesOdieDonaldIItotheleadership roleofChiefAdministrativeOfficer(CAO). CAODonaldhailsfromtheCityof Atlanta,GeorgiawherehemostrecentlyservedasChiefofStafftoMayorAndre Dickens asakeysenioradvisoronlegislativeandpolicyissuesandasaliaison tothepublicandprivatesectors.
CAODonaldjoinstheCitywithnearly20yearsofexperiencewithmunicipal leadership and brings a proven track record of piloting successful implementations. HeistaskedwithprovidingoversightoftheCity’s$3billion dollarbudgetanddeliveryofpublicservices.
TheappointmentforCAOOdiewasconfirmedonJune9 andhebeganhis officialcapacityasCAOJuly9 . WeareexcitedtohavehimjointheCityof RichmondandworkingtandemtomakeRichmonditsbest.
Image Courtesy of Richmond BizSense
Welcome DCAO Tanikia Jackson
On August 11 , Ms Tanikia Jackson to the leadership role of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the Finance & Administration portfolio. DCAO Jackson arrives from the City of Atlanta where she served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the City of Atlanta. In her role, she will provide oversight for the departments of Budget & Strategic Planning, Citizen Service & Response, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, General Services, and Procurement. Welcome DCAO Jackson!
The City continues to grow our leadership with the appointment of Ms. Angie Rodgers to the role of Director of Economic Development. In her previous role as DCAO in Prince George’s County, Maryland and Washington, DC, she was responsible for providing oversight of 10 agencies that manage services related to neighborhood revitalization, business attraction/retention, small business support, lending/incentives, tourism, and workforce development. Director Rodgers assumes her role on August 4 . Welcome Director Rodgers! th
Ms. Letitia Shelton returns to the City as Director of Finance, effective August 6 In her previous positions, she held the leadership roles of Deputy Director of Finance and Deputy City Manager in Charlottesville, Virginia Beach and DeSoto, Texas. Her portfolio covered accounting, purchasing, risk management, debt management, payroll, and financial system service Director Shelton brings over 30 years of experience Welcome back Director Shelton!
Welcome Director Angie Rodgers
Welcome Director Letitia Shelton
What’s City Council Doing?
RES
. 2025-RO34
To direct the City Attorney to notify the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority of the requirement of Council approval prior to entering into a Master Development Agreement for the redevelopment of Gilpin Court in the city of Richmond.
ORD.
2025-113
To authorize the special use of the property known as 3200 2nd Avenue for the purpose of up to one single-family detached dwelling, two two-family detached dwellings, and four single-family attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.
ORD.
2025-187
To amend City Code §§ 26-871, concerning the establishment of annual license taxes, and 26-873, concerning exemptions to license taxes, to increase the threshold for business, professional and occupational license taxes from $250,000.00 to $500,000 00 (As Amended)
BZA. 29-2025
An application of Watchtower Homes and Construction LLC for a special exception from Sections 30-300 & 30-410.4 of the zoning ordinance for lot splits and building permits to construct three new single-family (detached) dwellings at 3007 LETCHER AVENUE (Tax Parcel Number N0000984/007), located in an R-5 (Single-Family Residential) District. The lot area, lot width, and lot coverage requirements are not met
ORD.
2025-144
To authorize the special use of the property known as 3103 2nd Avenue for the purpose of one two-family detached dwelling, upon certain terms and conditions.
ORD. 2025-151
To authorize the special use of the property known as 1114 Hull Street for the purpose of a sixstory mixed-use building, upon certain terms and conditions.
ORD. 2025-156
To rezone the properties known as 1220 Ingram Avenue and 1260 Ingram Avenue from the M-1 Light Industrial District to the TOD-1 Transit Oriented Nodal District and the B-5 Central Business District
Gateway Happenings
National Night Out
August 5, 2025 @Various Times & Locations
National Night Out is an annual community-building event held on the first Tuesday in the month of August Here is a list of events in the Gateway:
Advisory Council Kidz at Work
2411 Carmine St. 6:00 pm
Hillside Court 1500 Harwood St. 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Bellemeade Civic Association 1800 Lynhaven Ave. 6:00 pm
Stay Focused Hair Salon 1306 E Brookland Park Blvd 6:00 pm
Gilpin Tenant Council 1000 St John St 6:00 pm
Highland Park – Boaz & Ruth, YINOC 3080 Meadowbridge Rd 6:00 – 8:30 pm
City Council is in Recess. . .Sort of Richmond City Council meetings will be in recess for the month of August. During this time, Council will abstain from engaging in business meetings, to include informal, formal, and committee meetings. Even though we are taking a break from the meetings, we are still working for you and the City of Richmond. Contact the Gateway District office for assistance.
Celebrating 30 Years of Pastor, People & Praises
The City of Richmond has a strong faith-based community. Many faith-based leaders are prominently influential and are intricate to mobilizing various initiatives to make our City a better community. Reverend F. Todd Gray is one of those leaders. Rev. Gray joined Fifth Street Baptist Church in 1995 and for 30 years, he has lead the Fifth Street Baptist family in spiritual dedication Rev Gray is a fourth generation pastor and military veteran Rev Gray is married to the lovely Diane Harris Gray and together, they have three children, Tiffany, Todd II, and Shawn.
On July 13, 2025, Fifth Baptist Church celebrated Rev. Gray’s 30 years of spiritual revival, people, and praises with nothing short of an uplifting service led by his brother, Dr J Troy Gray of Chillicothe, Ohio With praise dancers, moving musical harmonies, and loving fellowship, the service left those in attendance spiritually revived. During the celebration, Rev. Gray was presented with an honorary street sign in recognition of his dedicated spiritual service to the church and Richmond community. The sign will be affixed officially at the 2800 block of Third Avenue in the fall Congratulations to Rev F Todd Gray and the Fifth Street Baptist Church family!
Let’s Hop on the Bus with Code Refresh!
We are excited to announce the Gateway 6 District Team is in the planning stages for our upcoming Zoning Code Refresh Bus Tour The purpose of this tour is to give a first hand vision of the future zoning changes and how they align with the comprehensive Richmond 300 master zoning plan. th
On this tour, you will learn how this Zoning Code Refresh plan will create more attractive, harmonious communities in the City of Richmond. It will highlight how these changes will impact such aspects as transportation, recreational facilities, utility services, and economic development - all the components related to the City of Richmond to accommodate our changing needs.
Saturday, September 27th
Information will be forthcoming soon as to the time, pick up location, run of the day, and how to register. Seats will be limited so, stay tuned for details!
Image Courtesy of Greater Richmond Transit Company
Around the District. . .People, Places &
It’s Back to School Time
It’s that time of year. Students are preparing to go back to school and some schools have already started. For RPS 200 schools, the first day back for students was Monday, July 21 For pre-school through 6 and 9 grades, the first day of school is August 18 . For 7 , and 10 through 12 grades, the first day back is August 19 . Also, if your student has not enrolled in school, the time to do so is now! Visit www rvaschools net for information or call your respective district school.
Things to Know About Back to School
A new school year can come with some very exciting things to consider, especially for a student who is new to a school. Here are just a few things to think about as we go back to school:
Make sure to get all necessary school supplies like notebooks, pens, backpacks, and any special items needed for classes.
Check dress codes and get comfortable, weather-appropriate clothes.
Review your class schedule and plan your daily routine.
Establish a good sleep routine to be rested for school days.
Eat balanced meals to stay energized and focused
Make sure any required immunizations and health forms are up to date
Be open to making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.
Back to school can be exciting but also stressful practice stress relief and self-care.
Keep in touch with teachers and parents about any concerns.
Plan how you’ll get to and from school safely
Be aware of digital etiquette and security if using devices for learning
Have a wonderful new school year!!
Richmond’s Gateway
