RRHA’s redevelopment of Gilpin Court by private corporation endorsed by Richmond Tenant Organization

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The redevelopment of Gilpin Court is another step closer to reality after the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) Richmond Tenant Organization (RTO) endorsed RRHA's proposal to use its private corporation, Richmond Development Corporation (RDC), to redevelop the community.

Per the RRHA, the RTO is an official governing resident body of RRHA and comprises tenant council presidents from "each of RRHA’s family and senior public housing sites." RTO's approval is needed for the redevelopment to move forward.

On Friday, Sept. 5, the RRHA announced that it received an endorsement from the RTO to redevelop the Gilpin Court community in partnership with the Richmond Development Corporation (RDC). This comes more than a week after an official meeting held on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

“We (the RTO) are supporting RRHA’s partnership with the RDC because of the lack of funding from HUD in Washington, D.C., and residents better know, the train is coming fast, so we must come together and be united with RRHA to ensure that Gilpin Court and all public housing residents will not to be negatively impacted," said Marilyn Olds, who currently serves as current president of the RTO. "That’s why we voted in favor of this proposal.”    

She is also a longtime resident of Creighton Court and a former commissioner of RRHA’s Board of Commissioners, according to a Sept. 5 release.

The RDC will reportedly help generate funding for public and private partnerships for resident-centered programs, providing self-sufficiency, job training, workforce development and enhancing healthcare opportunities, per the release.

RRHA Chief Executive Officer, Steven Nesmith, previously announced the RTO endorsement, during a community outreach meeting of Gilpin community members on Thursday, Aug. 28.

During the Thursday evening meeting, residents of the Gilpin Court neighborhood expressed their concerns and posed questions -- particularly about ownership. Many residents questioned the property transfer from a nonprofit to a private corporation.

As RRHA moves forward with plans to redevelop Gilpin Court, city leaders and residents also raised questions about how displaced families will be supported during the process, with RRHA officials saying housing protection vouchers (HPVs) will help families afford rent elsewhere.

The next outreach meeting to discuss the proposal will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Greater Mount Moriah Baptist Church.