John Gregory, a First District resident, told Richmond City Council he supported ordinance 2024-329, the special-use permit for 5728 Patterson Avenue, a redevelopment he said would convert a 75-year-old retail building into ground-floor retail and three stories of Class A office.

Gregory said he had no connection to the project and urged council to prioritize people and businesses over parking ratios, arguing that vague parking objections have stalled beneficial walkable projects in the past.

"I'm here tonight because I read some letters of opposition from my neighbors raising objections about an extra floor of office and what that might mean for the convenience of their street parking," Gregory said. "This is the same old weaponization of vague parking and traffic concerns to stop new walkable development out of fear of the unknown." He asked council to "support the SUP."

Gregory described the proposed development as replacing a "tired 75 year old retail brick box" with "new, attractive, high quality retail space" including the pastry shop and office space that could attract businesses to the city.

The transcript records Gregory’s remarks during the public comment period in favor of the special-use permit; the meeting excerpt did not include a council vote on the SUP during this session. No letters of opposition were read into the record in the excerpt provided, and council did not announce a final decision on the permit during the recorded portion of this meeting.