Richmond Gilpin Court residents want a say in development project

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond tenants are demanding public accountability from housing leaders on the future for Gilpin Court.

In April, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) board of commissioners voted not to transfer the Gilpin Court property to its non-profit Richmond Development Corporation (RDC) during a board meeting.

According to RRHA, transferring the property through RDC would give them more freedom to secure different types of funding the agency can’t get themselves. Thus, helping them lock in voucher money to protect tenants with the current uncertainty over federal funding.

Legal Justice Aid senior organizer Omari Al-Qadaffi said he’s spoken to tenants who feel left out of plans for redevelopment.

“They don't feel like there is much public accountability or resident inclusion with the decisions that have been made over there,” Al-Qadaffi said. “They were sold this dream of long-term inclusion and being included along every step of redevelopment. Then to have that vote come up out of nowhere where they were not informed.”

Al-Qadaffi also said residents fear the property transfer from RRHA to RDC would amount to privatization of Gilpin Court.

RRHA CEO Steven Nesmith said claims of privatization are false.

According to Nesmith, he presented what Gilpin Court would eventually look like to residents during numerous community meetings and town halls around May 2024.

“[We showed them] there would be a commercial corridor, green spaces, a boys and girls club and job training centers for our youth,” Nesmith said.

Nesmith did admit the housing agency should've done a better job keeping them updated and will do so moving forward if they eventually transfer ownership to the RDC.

“There's still work to be done,” Nesmith said. “We're going to go back to the residents, and we're going to have several town hall meetings between now and the next vote.”

Nesmith said he’s planning for another vote to transfer the Gilpin Court property in July.