[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6582196,"mediaKeyId","3145679-e3c011f7ed0683303383adebc1fbb742","parentId",3145679,"title","Renter advocate urges council to adopt inspection, assistance and rent-limit powers to address Richmond housing crisis","audioSeconds",374,"startMs",335000,"endMs",709000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3145679-e3c011f7ed0683303383adebc1fbb742&start=335&end=709","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3145679-e3c011f7ed0683303383adebc1fbb742/thumbnail_335000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6582196/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Renter-advocate-urges-council-to-adopt-inspection-assistance-and-rent-limit-powers-to-address-Richmond-housing-crisis","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582196-5da8fe76b89aed305582401e4ff64dff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771010237&Signature=ibyDy8OZ9-t5QmNQi-PpHfypnzG0BJC-xoC~tEGQIEQjnoH6ee7ND9Asq4WiI81~ERXXVtTqA-hF3IAiKmxB2Q5qHB2OXVBEIOJbBM6L1n238cxz0ujxWiQLcYsPHR~8LmehnMfW72YLS6v16ZCBO9GSFJHqjxWs6H-uFE6-2PQjYHKyx6AGDTHIFxWvU7wCjlYtU7vsyrRA5inunMDBbpwRTp5FPxax2LFYC5dcIpZhQdBIoGKel5uKxk2LbMwiyXvx6nBfGESMHM3ODRJq2AmsguhtI1B25rJThrXhe1FSLlvb2ltBG-jVASNeq59DoyR8GCTW4SJK2VzvVDKQHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-04-29T00:00:00Z","article","Gustavo Espinosa, a renter in Richmond’s Second District and a community organizer with the Legal Aid Justice Center, used the council’s public comment period on April 28 to press council members to adopt three policy interventions he said the city needs to address what he called a “very serious housing crisis.”

“We need an effective and proactive rental inspection program so that people have a safe place to live,” Espinosa said during his three-minute public comment. He also asked the council for “a robust, resilient, and accessible rental assistance program, a family crisis fund,” and for Richmond to pursue authority from the Virginia General Assembly to limit rent increases and prevent “rent gouging.”

Espinosa described conditions he said tenants face — mold, rodents, broken HVAC and appliances, and large rent increases — and said such problems harm health and safety and cause displacement. “Predatory and negligent landlords take advantage of our city's lack of supply and lack of accountability so that they can increase rents while they decrease the quality of our housing,” he told council. Espinosa said his neighbors face evictions and cited his own experience with a $200 rent increase.

He framed the three measures as both short-term and long-term responses. He said expanding affordable housing supply will take decades, so the city must use every tool currently available and press the General Assembly for additional authority the city lacks.

Espinosa concluded by asking the council and the public to observe a minute of silence for families who have been displaced and to accept a written letter he provided to the clerk.

Ending: Espinosa’s comments were entered into the public record and the letter he distributed was received by the clerk; council members referenced housing and budget work later in the meeting but took no immediate vote on the specific measures Espinosa proposed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Richmond City Council Formal Meeting - April 28, 2025 - Apr 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Gustavo Espinosa, a renter and community organizer with the Legal Aid Justice Center, urged Richmond City Council to adopt three measures — a proactive rental inspection program, a robust rental-assistance/family crisis fund and authority to limit rent increases — to address unsafe housing, predatory landlords and mass evictions.","taxTitle","Richmond City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582200,"Council approves consent agenda, delays budget items and tax-rate proposal; multiple ordinances continued to May 12",344,2168000,2512000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3145679-e3c011f7ed0683303383adebc1fbb742&start=2168&end=2512","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3145679-e3c011f7ed0683303383adebc1fbb742/thumbnail_2168000.jpg","/articles/6582200/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Council-approves-consent-agenda-delays-budget-items-and-tax-rate-proposal-multiple-ordinances-continued-to-May-12","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582200-ba73d858f8f54d142d614614bf0152ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771010237&Signature=WW7a1~P0PCO0ZXUQZ6jRlyHsGWtIDRxFNGC33QP6UcG1pteOjjX72dfb6hOWmzn2mtEFfBehmsWELNwznaIfqsZUveA93VvtnjhlpF0wDgzsVBZISf-g34533iCxHVhN5GiuLCBKodUduXJcCgS-xvDO8rLOOOLnkp5LsTKt9SZs7S1Ib9RIGQ9k2exraOvyha0AWJ0Iso5xI~1bJqroQ6OJShMubLH130D6pfgj4wSgb5o9BvwNIUeZNYQp0kxAPutX977b-rkGPPSdCc4XC2fKx~gGtzDYOGXPfZldZ3d0m-EQd3AQTN~xGYZGx0NVO4OTsjF2awyAwqWs7wj-2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richmond City Council on April 28 adopted a consent agenda, approved a request for electronic participation by a council member, and approved motions to amend and continue a number of ordinances — including the annual budget and capital projects package — to the council’s May 12 meeting. The council also accepted the chief patron’s request to withdraw the tax-rate ordinance for further consideration and moved that item to the May 12 meeting pending formal withdrawal paperwork.

The consent agenda, consisting of items listed by the clerk as Ordinances 20-25-054; 20-25-056; 20-25-0604; 20-25-0605; 20-25-0606; 20-25-0607; 20-25-0609; 20-25-070; 20-25-0701; 20-25-0702; Resolution 20-25-R15; and Resolution 20-25-016, was adopted on a recorded voice vote. Members voting in favor included Mister Bratton, Council Member Kenya Gibson, Miss Jones, Miss Robertson, Miss Trammell, Miss Abubakar, Vice President Jurden and President Newbill.

Early in the meeting the council approved a request to let Council Member Kenya Gibson participate remotely by Microsoft Teams due to a medical condition; that motion passed on a recorded roll call.

Council took a number of procedural actions to move several items to the council’s next meeting for additional amendment or consideration. Motions to amend and continue several ordinances to the Monday, May 12 meeting were adopted, including amendments and continuations affecting mixed-use development plans, the annual budget (Ordinance 20-25-057), and the capital improvement program (Ordinance 20-25-058). Council members stated the continuations were to allow additional time for improvements to plans or to remove non-budget provisions and to incorporate council district fund allocations and conditions on expenditures.

Council considered Ordinance No. 20-25-068, which would have set the tax rate at $1.16 for the tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The chief patron asked to withdraw the paper and, because the standard withdrawal form had to be filed, moved that the item be continued to May 12 pending completion of those steps; the motion to continue was approved.

During the consent agenda public hearing, Marlon Bacode, a peer recovery specialist, spoke in favor of several listed consent ordinances (items eight through 12 on the consent list) that relate to peer support certification and workforce barriers. Bacode said state and local background-check requirements have blocked otherwise qualified peer support professionals from working in some community settings and urged passage.

Several other ordinance-specific amendment motions were approved to be considered again on May 12 with the proposed changes incorporated into the continued papers. The meeting record lists the affected ordinances by number during the clerk’s amendment report and at several points in the agenda; the clerk’s readout and subsequent votes placed multiple zoning, budget and capital items on the May 12 call.

Ending: Council set a calendar of follow-up hearings and continuations for May 12; applicants and staff will use that interval to revise language, provide additional documentation, or complete procedural withdrawal forms as requested.","At its April 28 meeting, Richmond City Council approved the consent agenda, approved electronic participation, adopted several motions to amend and continue ordinances to the May 12 meeting (including multiple budget ordinances), and accepted the withdrawal/continuation request for the proposed $1.16 tax rate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6582204,"Council denies special-use requests for Garland Avenue transitional housing and North Avenue outpatient facility",385,1878000,2263000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3145679-e3c011f7ed0683303383adebc1fbb742&start=1878&end=2263","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3145679-e3c011f7ed0683303383adebc1fbb742/thumbnail_1878000.jpg","/articles/6582204/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Council-denies-special-use-requests-for-Garland-Avenue-transitional-housing-and-North-Avenue-outpatient-facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6582204-04617e41ba5e974793220c3b77075316/orig.mp4?Expires=1771010237&Signature=gaH4~EiazR6Lb9blRXqAFLwgmLIvPitjkpspotzhmpuk8JUrDqaO2E2Fe2YvplzKmPU5V7K9UqqtXm97KGxxEpNmwsKVfIqufHK0YrhGZZVl3Jm1wLU4uNFo0diRTjMabwYFLQ5AMSDJThGOVhys1HJAqMo0x3OBt3hpyGaFEj~puFXjY3qZonB59aWD5ZmeXywmSlsLeXW~5P5BRjcTJaRsirYaZpXNHEUtFWGXMkfTUAiBCXojyerE8sDQsj-QBKH7xmoRAuJaq-vXKb~0b30Oz58IpuSXU65tf9~SNUUa~gWyNM5z7-JNA160mBZdu-MZupPNm4w-rxl5AKeUpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richmond City Council on April 28 voted unanimously to deny two special-use ordinances that would have changed permitted uses at 2701 Garland Avenue and 2700 North Avenue.

Planning staff told council the applications presented risks to public health, safety and welfare that were not addressed in the materials before the body. Kevin J. Bonk, Planning Director, told the council the ordinances for the two properties had expanded in scope between application and hearing and that staff supported the Planning Commission’s recommendation for denial. “The ordinances as currently presented are not enough to satisfy negative impacts in terms of health, safety, and welfare with regards to Section 3010 50.1 of City Code,” Bonk said.

Neighbors who spoke during public hearings said they were not opposed to rehabilitation or reentry services in general but that these proposals raised distinct concerns. Mariah White, who said she lives in the Second District, said the city is \"saturating\" some neighborhoods with group homes and that residents had not been given adequate notice or community input. Michelle Brown Harris, a Garland Avenue neighbor, told council the application appeared to be for a for-profit operator, and said licensed professionals — not only certified staff or volunteers — were needed to run the proposed service model.

Supporters of placing rehabilitative services in neighborhoods also spoke. Rachel Heffner, a social worker, said: \"People need a safe space to be able to rehabilitate no matter what they are dealing with.\" She added that cost and licensing structures can lead operators to organize as for-profit entities even when services are intended to be clinical or charitable.

Council members discussed the Planning Commission’s recommendation and neighborhood testimony. Council Member Kenya Gibson, who represents the district that includes Garland Avenue, said residents had done their homework and expressed concerns about the proposal’s operating model and security. “This facility is a locked facility and is very different than the way a halfway house works,” Gibson said. Gibson announced she would vote no and did so when the body took its roll call.

Council then voted on each ordinance. For Ordinance No. 20-25-048 (special use at 2701 Garland Avenue for adult transitional housing), council recorded a unanimous vote against adoption. For Ordinance No. 20-25-055 (special use at 2700 North Avenue for an outpatient professional office building), council again voted not to adopt the ordinance.

The Planning Commission had recommended denial of both papers; planning staff reiterated that, as drafted, the applications had not mitigated the negative impacts cited under City Code Section 3010 50.1. Council did not adopt either ordinance; applicants may revise proposals and return at a later date.

The public hearing record for both items included multiple neighborhood speakers citing proximity to schools and churches, questions about security and whether the properties would operate as “locked” facilities, and concerns that some facilities in the area lacked licensed clinical staff. Proponents emphasized access to transportation and employment as reasons facilities had been located in certain neighborhoods.

Votes at the meeting show the council declined to adopt the two special-use ordinances; the Planning Department’s recommendation and the Planning Commission’s recommendation for denial were key parts of the record.

Ending: The council provided no timetable for rehearing. Applicants who wish to pursue revised proposals will need to address the health, safety and welfare concerns that planning staff and neighbors raised and, if appropriate, work with Planning Commission staff before returning to council.","Richmond City Council voted to deny two special-use ordinances — one to allow adult transitional (locked) housing at 2701 Garland Avenue and one to reestablish an outpatient professional office at 2700 North Avenue — after neighbors raised safety and licensing concerns and city staff said the applications failed to meet City Code standards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Renter advocate urges council to adopt inspection, assistance and rent-limit powers to address Richmond housing crisis

Council approves consent agenda, delays budget items and tax-rate proposal; multiple ordinances continued to May 12

Council denies special-use requests for Garland Avenue transitional housing and North Avenue outpatient facility