The Gateway 6 District th
Newsletter
September 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
It’s September! School is in session and Council is back in full swing! As summer finally winds down, we are shifting our focus on the priority tasks at hand and as always, we have a lot of work to do!
Are we excited about our Zoning Code Refresh Tour! We have the information to register for this informative ride
Housing development in the City is gaining momentum There are several developers working diligently to bring affordable housing to the City of Richmond, and to the 6 District th
Moreover, areas in the 6 District like Six Points and Bellemeade are becoming hubs for affordable housing with significant gains in the Highland Park area th
The Shockoe Hill African Burial Ground is gaining revived attention to memorialize an estimated 22,000 enslaved and free African buried there. The design concepts are fascinating!
Capital Improvement Projects are making the old new again in Richmond. There’s construction of the new Mayo Bridge, the Brown’s Island improvement plan, and the multimodal safety and streetscape improvements for Hull Street and Maury Street in the District’s southside Richmond has a lot going on!
National Night Out this year did not disappoint with a great turnout Check out the photos!
Enjoy this month’s newsletter!
In this issue:
City News
What’s City Council Doing? Gateway Happenings
Around the District Stay In Touch
BusTour!Thepurposeofthistouristogiveafirsthandvisionofthefuture zoningchangesandhowtheyalignwiththecomprehensiveRichmond300 masterzoningplanasitrelatestotheGateway.
Onthistour,youwilllearnhowthisZoningCodeRefreshplanwillcreate moreattractive,harmoniouscommunitiesintheCityofRichmond.There willbetwotoursandyoumustregistertoparticipate.Thefirsttourwill covertheNorthsideofthedistrict.ThesecondtourwillcovertheSouthside ofthedistrictintheafternoon.Whenregistering,pleaseindicatewhichtour youwillbeattendingandyoumayonlyregisterforone.Herearethedetails:
Gateway6thDistrictZoningCodeRefreshBusTour
Date:September27,2025
NorthsideTourTime:8:30am–12:00pm Pickuplocation:RichmondConventionCenter
AtthecornerofFifth&MarshallStreets
SouthsideTourTime12:30pm–4:00pm Pickuplocation:BellemeadeCommunityCenter 1800LynhavenAvenue
Toregisterforthisevent,clickoneofthefollowinglinks: NorthsideTour:https://bit.ly/4g0OQGR SouthsideTour:https://bit.ly/4ndiRpw
Seatsarelimitedso,registersoon!
Image Courtesy of Greater Richmond Transit Company
MakingStrideswithAffordableHousing
Developers in the City of Richmond are forging ahead with various affordable housing development projects, particularly in the Gateway Key incentive programs such as the Affordable Housing Performance Grant, the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the RRHA Bond Program as well as other programs have been established and put in place to incentivize developers to be intricately active in partnership with City leadership in preserving and providing safe, affordable housing for residents. There are currently 25 active developments takingadvantageoftheseincentiveplans. Thesepartnershipshavepavedthe waytoincreaseaffordablehousinginventorytoover3,000units,whentheyall commencethroughcompletion.
OneofthesepartnersisEnterpriseCommunityPartners,whichconstructedthe 66 unit Highland Terrace Apartment in the Six Points area of Highland Park Additionally, Green Park Apartments is one of their newest development projects, also in Highland Park, providing an additional 43 units and is scheduledtoopenin2026.
Better Housing Coalition is working in the City of Richmond and regionally providing housing and transforming blighted properties while preserving housingaffordability. Usingamixed-income,mixed-usemodel,thisnon-profit hasclaimtothedevelopmentofabout1,700unitstoincludehousingdedicated toseniorsandsingle-familyhomesforfirsttimehomebuyers.
Finally,CommonwealthCatholicCharitiesHousingCorporationisafaith-based developer in partnership with local businesses and organizations and is scheduledtobreakgroundthismonthonGreenwayVillage Thisdevelopment willadd56affordableunitstotherentalinventory.
Weareindeedmakingstridestowardourgoalsofaffordablehousing!
er Housing Coalition & Commonwealth Catholic Charities, respectively
It’s a narrative that was almost completely eradicated about an atrocity for which the truth needed to be told. With extensive archaeological discovery, the narrative can be revered with dignity. At the corner of 5 and Hospital Streets across the way in the shadows of Hebrew Cemetery is the Shockoe Hill African Burial Ground Memorial This is a site of historical significance because it is here, in the numerous shafts where the remains of many enslaved, free, and ancestral Africans lay, waiting to be properly memorialized by way of the Shockoe Project. th
The Shockoe Project is forging ahead in a collaborative effort to share this narrative, to establish a dedicated site to tell the story behind this chapter in history. The future of the site will yield The National Slavery Museum, a landmark to serve at the focal point of the project. In addition to the museum, a sound sculpture, and repurposed billboard, and the former gas station converted to sacred space
“We cannot heal the deep wounds inflicted during the era of racial terrorism until we tell the truth about it.”
- Bryan Stevenson, Equal Justice Initiative
For more information on the project and development, visit https://theshockoeproject.com
Brown’s Island: Community as a Way of Life
The City of Richmond in collaboration with Venture Richmond is leading revitalization project of Brown’s Island in the heart of downtown Richmond. The $30 million project entails a variety of improvement components to transform this public space in the Gateway 6 District, into a popular, functional area on the city’s riverfront This plan has everything to create an attractive, versatile public space to host events and for recreation th
What will we expect to see? The project will provide a variety of public amenities such as accessible pathways, environmental enhancements, permanent standing public restrooms, and even a splash pad! Additionally, the project promises new river terraces and seating in a multi-use area with shade, along with features that preserve the island’s green spaces.
Construction is scheduled to begin later this year and will commence through 2026 During this time, Brown’s Island will remain closed to the public. Upon reopening, Richmond and the Gateway will soon have a new, improved, exciting place to play and be entertained!
Stay tuned!
Photo courtesy of Venture Richmond
Hull & Maury Streets are Seeing S.T.A.R.S.
S T A R S is an acronym for Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions The core focus of S T A R S is to assess timely and costeffective solutions to identified traffic safety and congestion challenges. That said, it is the foundation for strategic improvements for the stretch of highway between Hull Street and Maury Street on the 6 District’s southside. In 2022, construction of the roundabout at the Maury Street and I-95 interchange improved traffic flow significantly To enhance this effort, multi-modal safety and streetscape projects will work to further improve traversing along this Hull Street corridor. th
Upon completion, motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians will have safer, more efficient ways to travel along Hull Street The improvements aim to be more functional and decorative while efficiently managing traffic control, promoting safety, providing public convenience, and giving way to aesthetic enhancement.
The project has a price tag of $4,618,00 and is currently in the Rightof-Way acquisition stage with anticipated construction to start Spring of 2029 Hull Street & Maury Street are growing areas With new lighting, bike racks, benches, and greenery, the improvements will be a welcomed addition to the current and future developments along this corridor.
Photos courtesy of the City of Richmond
What’s City Council Doing?
ORD. 2025-052
To authorize the special use of the property known as 3122 2nd Avenue for the purpose of up to three single-family detached dwellings and two single-family attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.
This item to be continued to the September 16, 2025 regular meeting of the Planning Commission.
ORD.2025-
113
Toauthorizethespecialuseofthepropertyknownas32002ndAvenuefor thepurposeofuptoonesingle-familydetacheddwelling,twotwo-family detached dwellings, and four single-family attached dwellings, upon certaintermsandconditions
ThisitemtobecontinuedtotheSeptember16,2025regularmeetingof thePlanningCommission.
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.
This ordinance has been adopted.
ORD. 2025-151
To authorize the special use of the property known as 1114 Hull Street for the purpose of a six-story mixed-use building, upon certain terms and conditions.
This ordinance has been adopted
ORD. 2025-166
To amend and reordain Ord. No. 2014-226-207, adopted Nov. 10, 2014, as previously amended by Ord. No. 2017-187, adopted Oct. 9, 2017, which authorized the special use of the property known as 707 East Main Street for the purpose of the installation of one new roof sign, to authorize residential uses, upon certain terms and conditions. This ordinance will go before City Council during the September 8, 2025 meeting.
Gateway Happenings
14 Annual Hull Street Festival th
September 13, 2025 @11:00 am - 7:00 pm - 12th Street & Cowardin Avenue
Hosted by the Hull Street Merchants Association
RVA Builds
September 23, 2025 @5:00 - 8:30 pm - 1500 Main Street Station
This event will provide attendees with an opportunity to provide input on the improvements to infrastructure in the City.
Around the District. . .People, Places & Faces
Abht Out. . .
Oh yes! We had a gre ght Out is more than a party. It’s a party with a purpose of community and connection. Residents, law enforcement, and local businesses of The Gateway offered a beautiful display of unity and togetherness It’s just one way residents and law enforcement send a message that we care about our communities everyday and night. Looking forward to next year’s events!
Richmond’s Gateway
