Richmond public housing CEO responds to legal challenge of Gilpin Court redevelopment
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond’s public housing CEO is firing back after city council leaders claimed his housing authority broke state law over a redevelopment project.
During a city council meeting on Monday, July 28, council members approved legislation meant to increase public transparency and accountability for both the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) and the Richmond Development Corporation (RDC) -- the housing authority’s Virginia nonprofit.
A drafted version of the ordinance obtained by 8News states that “the Council of the City of Richmond is concerned that the RRHA and RDC are taking actions without sufficient public oversight and meaningful engagement with Richmond residents and public housing tenants.”
The ordinance, brought by 3rd district Councilmember Kenya Gibson, referenced a section of state code that says housing authorities can’t make contracts to build new housing without governing body approval.
CEO Steven Nesmith denied those claims.
“It is nonsense to suggest that we broke state law.” Nesmith said. “Housing authorities are obligated to obtain city council approval to adopt a redevelopment plan when you're seeking to create a redeveloped area that's outside of [our ownership]. As we did with the Richmond Coliseum.”
Nesmith said redeveloped areas they own -- Dove Court, Creighton Court, Mosby Court, Gilpin Court, Whitcomb Court and Fairfield Court -- are not required for approval by a governing body.
Nesmith also refuted claims that he never received clearance from the RRHA board of supervisors to enter into the master development agreement -- another requirement of state law.
He said board members were aware of the master development agreement and approved the resolution in 2023.
“Stop playing politics with people's lives,” Nesmith said of Gibson. “We are not required to do that under the law. I'm speaking as a lawyer, not someone who's trying to be a lawyer.”
Gibson responded to Nesmith’s statements saying:
“The law is simple and clearly states, ‘An authority shall not implement any redevelopment plan under this law until the governing body of the locality has approved the redevelopment plan.’
Furthermore, it appears that redevelopment efforts of other public housing in Richmond included additional council oversight that hasn’t happened with Gilpin Court.
My question is, why not? If the plan is a good one, there shouldn’t be resistance to having it be vetted. And we definitely shouldn’t block efforts to formalize a more transparent process overall.”
Regardless of the ordinance, Nesmith said he’s looking forward to continuing the partnership with city council members and tenants for the betterment of Gilpin Court.
