Mayo Island totals 15 acres between Shockoe and Manchester. (Google Maps)
With a recently closed deal, Mayo Island, the highly traveled but hardly accessible landmass in the heart of Richmond, is now set to become part of the James River Park System.
Richmond officials confirmed Friday that the city had finalized its nearly $15 million purchase of the long-desired island between downtown and Manchester.
The previously privately-owned, 15-acre island that supports the Mayo Bridge hit the market two years ago and had been under contract for just over a year, initially by the Capital Region Land Conservancy before the city stepped in as the contract purchaser.
The transaction was supported by a $7.5 million grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), with the city covering the rest of the purchase. The deal was ultimately made through a public-private partnership between the city and CRLC, which secured the grant and will hold a conservation easement on the island with DCR.
“Today, the City of Richmond is excited to announce that we have signed the papers and closed the deal to acquire Mayo Island,” Mayor Levar Stoney’s office said in a statement to BizSense.
“This historic island, also known as the ‘green jewel’ of the City of Richmond, will now be utilized as green space to benefit all Richmonders,” the statement said, adding: “More to come soon!”
Mayo Island, pictured on the far side of the river, hit the market in 2022 for $19 million. (BizSense file photo)
The sale concludes a yearlong effort that started with CRLC putting the island under contract for $11.8 million. The deal was later changed with the award of the state grant and the involvement of the city, which reached an agreed purchase price of $14.9 million.
The sellers were members of the Shaia family, who owned the majority of the island since acquiring the land in the 1980s. The family listed the property in 2022 with an asking price of $19 million.
Alan Shaia, an agent with Charter Realty who had marketed the listing as a development opportunity, said the family wasn’t entirely pleased with the outcome.
“The city got funding from the state so that they were able to purchase the island, so now the city’s got to make a decision of what they want to do,” Shaia said. “We would have thought that some development on a large tract of land like that would make sense, but most people thought otherwise, so it is what it is.”
The purchase does not include a quarter-acre parcel at 510 S. 14th St. that’s separately owned and used as a food truck court. The Shaia-owned parcels were assessed by the city at $4.18 million combined.
Parker Agelasto, CRLC’s executive director and a former city councilman, celebrated the news when reached last week.
Parker Agelasto
“This is very exciting to see Mayo Island formally becoming what will be a public park and recreational outdoor area, very visible,” he said, “and to see what is really a 40-year vision implemented finally.”
He noted the nonprofit’s research had found reports going back to the 1990s showing that the city had studied the feasibility of acquiring the island to use as a park. He said the desired use has since been reflected in the city’s comprehensive plan and other plans for downtown, the river and park system.
“To now have that fulfilled is very much transformational for Richmond and the relationship that people who live here are going to have with the river at one of its most iconic and historic sites,” Agelasto said.
Named for the Mayo family who helped lay out Richmond’s city grid in the 1700s, Mayo Island was once the site of a private recreation facility called City Park, including Mayo Field, a baseball stadium that operated until 1940. It previously housed boathouses and sawmills before the first Mayo Bridge opened in 1788 as the first span across the river, according to a history in Richmond’s Riverfront Plan.
More recently, a Wise Recycling plant had operated on the island for over 20 years on the site now occupied by the food truck court. Much of the island is currently paved with parking lots, one of which was used by VCU and was the center of a legal dispute between the Shaias and the university.
With the purchase finalized, Agelasto said next steps will include establishing the easement, which CRLC will hold jointly with DCR.
“We’re going to work with the city and other stakeholders to complete that on the timeline that’s most appropriate for all the parties involved,” he said.
As for the island’s eventual transformation into a park and public space, Agelasto said that will involved the removal of the parking lots and other impervious surfaces on the otherwise undeveloped land.
Richmond’s Riverfront Plan shows potential short-term uses for the island as a park and public space. (City documents)
“There are 7 acres of asphalt out there,” he said. “Imagine what an island would be like when you can remove all that impervious and bring back a more natural area, and what that will do not only for the health of the river but for the health of our community.”
Agelasto has also noted that the city’s control of the land could assist with a planned replacement of the 110-year-old Mayo Bridge, which is set to be upgraded in 2026 due to structural deficiencies. He said the land could provide staging areas to facilitate the $90 million project, which is expected to close traffic along the bridge for about three years during construction.
Mayo Island totals 15 acres between Shockoe and Manchester. (Google Maps)
With a recently closed deal, Mayo Island, the highly traveled but hardly accessible landmass in the heart of Richmond, is now set to become part of the James River Park System.
Richmond officials confirmed Friday that the city had finalized its nearly $15 million purchase of the long-desired island between downtown and Manchester.
The previously privately-owned, 15-acre island that supports the Mayo Bridge hit the market two years ago and had been under contract for just over a year, initially by the Capital Region Land Conservancy before the city stepped in as the contract purchaser.
The transaction was supported by a $7.5 million grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), with the city covering the rest of the purchase. The deal was ultimately made through a public-private partnership between the city and CRLC, which secured the grant and will hold a conservation easement on the island with DCR.
“Today, the City of Richmond is excited to announce that we have signed the papers and closed the deal to acquire Mayo Island,” Mayor Levar Stoney’s office said in a statement to BizSense.
“This historic island, also known as the ‘green jewel’ of the City of Richmond, will now be utilized as green space to benefit all Richmonders,” the statement said, adding: “More to come soon!”
Mayo Island, pictured on the far side of the river, hit the market in 2022 for $19 million. (BizSense file photo)
The sale concludes a yearlong effort that started with CRLC putting the island under contract for $11.8 million. The deal was later changed with the award of the state grant and the involvement of the city, which reached an agreed purchase price of $14.9 million.
The sellers were members of the Shaia family, who owned the majority of the island since acquiring the land in the 1980s. The family listed the property in 2022 with an asking price of $19 million.
Alan Shaia, an agent with Charter Realty who had marketed the listing as a development opportunity, said the family wasn’t entirely pleased with the outcome.
“The city got funding from the state so that they were able to purchase the island, so now the city’s got to make a decision of what they want to do,” Shaia said. “We would have thought that some development on a large tract of land like that would make sense, but most people thought otherwise, so it is what it is.”
The purchase does not include a quarter-acre parcel at 510 S. 14th St. that’s separately owned and used as a food truck court. The Shaia-owned parcels were assessed by the city at $4.18 million combined.
Parker Agelasto, CRLC’s executive director and a former city councilman, celebrated the news when reached last week.
Parker Agelasto
“This is very exciting to see Mayo Island formally becoming what will be a public park and recreational outdoor area, very visible,” he said, “and to see what is really a 40-year vision implemented finally.”
He noted the nonprofit’s research had found reports going back to the 1990s showing that the city had studied the feasibility of acquiring the island to use as a park. He said the desired use has since been reflected in the city’s comprehensive plan and other plans for downtown, the river and park system.
“To now have that fulfilled is very much transformational for Richmond and the relationship that people who live here are going to have with the river at one of its most iconic and historic sites,” Agelasto said.
Named for the Mayo family who helped lay out Richmond’s city grid in the 1700s, Mayo Island was once the site of a private recreation facility called City Park, including Mayo Field, a baseball stadium that operated until 1940. It previously housed boathouses and sawmills before the first Mayo Bridge opened in 1788 as the first span across the river, according to a history in Richmond’s Riverfront Plan.
More recently, a Wise Recycling plant had operated on the island for over 20 years on the site now occupied by the food truck court. Much of the island is currently paved with parking lots, one of which was used by VCU and was the center of a legal dispute between the Shaias and the university.
With the purchase finalized, Agelasto said next steps will include establishing the easement, which CRLC will hold jointly with DCR.
“We’re going to work with the city and other stakeholders to complete that on the timeline that’s most appropriate for all the parties involved,” he said.
As for the island’s eventual transformation into a park and public space, Agelasto said that will involved the removal of the parking lots and other impervious surfaces on the otherwise undeveloped land.
Richmond’s Riverfront Plan shows potential short-term uses for the island as a park and public space. (City documents)
“There are 7 acres of asphalt out there,” he said. “Imagine what an island would be like when you can remove all that impervious and bring back a more natural area, and what that will do not only for the health of the river but for the health of our community.”
Agelasto has also noted that the city’s control of the land could assist with a planned replacement of the 110-year-old Mayo Bridge, which is set to be upgraded in 2026 due to structural deficiencies. He said the land could provide staging areas to facilitate the $90 million project, which is expected to close traffic along the bridge for about three years during construction.
Excellent! Now let’s do more than just create a construction site out of “the green jewel”. Close that bridge to vehicles and start the park at each side of the river.Lets make Shockoe and Old Manchester more hospitable neighborhoods without a thoroughfare slicing through them. Let’s create a park that will become the pride of the city and the Commonwealth.
I could not agree more. And I would like to see a community driven planning process.
I agree! As a resident of Rocketts Landing, I would love to see a pedestrian-friendly area that embraces nature and not commercial buildings. Hopefully, Mayo Bridge can also be more accommodating to pedestrians.
You all DO realize that the the funds to replace the bridge are for vehicles NOT persons. The city can barely maintain what it has in parks space and it will be YEARS before that asphalt is all removed. Tell me how are you going to remove the island that covers 1/2 of the island with in impervious surfaces without a functioning bridge. And for those who hate on this comment look at what happened over at the Belle Island access bridge (it was closed for YEARS) after being allowed to fall into disrepair or the Texas Beach pedestrian bridge… Read more »
Actually, I bet the asphalt can be removed as apart of the bridge project. Let them use that as their lay down yard and then when they are done and have to “repair” any damages, they can rip it up and leave it dirt.
Pavement is on the city’s dime and technically private property and not public right-of-way. The Bridge project is paid for with federal and state transportation dollars and overseen by VDOT. Bridge work is planned to start in 2026 and finishing in 2029/30. I can’t see VDOT doing an “add-on” bid option for payment removal on City land.
Don’t “add-on”. Don’t build it. Those state and federal funds come from us! I’ll allow you the point that removal of the asphalt will require trucks, so limit its truck use to that project. This isn’t a tough problem to resolve. It takes desire to get this right.
Yeah, I get that it is not the same property. But with any project the contractor must leave the lay down yard in a state acceptable to the owner after the construction is done. In this case instead of repaving the lay down yard they could just tear it up and actually save themselves some money by not repaving.
Hi Bruce, I could not agree more with you. In fact I would close Hull St. in Manchester from Mayo Bridge to Commerce Ave. to all but Bus and taxi services. Then widen the sidewalk on that portion of Hull St. to get more pedestrian traffic. The area is slowly approaching a population mass that would utilise the amenities there, as well as draw people from around the city. Out of the box thinking I know, but I believe it would create a nice vibe that would quickly spread to the shopping area of Hull St. between Commerce and Cowardin.… Read more »
I like your two cents. Like the Charlottesville downtown mall, I think vehicular traffic could cross Hull Street at 4th and 7th Streets, allowing some grid-like relief.
So the government gets involved and the price goes up $3 million? Sounds about right.
Would be great to see the Kickers moved here (similar to Tate Field in 1920’s) and reconsider N-S Pulse using Mayo Bridge to cross into Southside. Close bridge to bus, ped and bikes only. Game Day shuttles from either parking lot in Shockoe or Manchester.
Huh? Floods.
Good, some progress. However, one does get the feeling that the city has no earthly idea what to do with this property. There is also the minor detail of where money will come from to create something for everyone to use. Let’s hope it’s not just more beer and sausage tents…
I’d rather see more investment in making our existing parks great than acquisition of more land.
Absolutely. City of Richmond could take a lesson from Henrico. I grew up in Tidewater with VERY few decent parks. I love that my children have Henrico Parks: clean, well maintained, a lot of variety.
Note that the single track railroad bridge crossing the island is scheduled to be upgraded to a double track bridge.
Interesting.. where can I find more info about that?
So the Shaia’s have been paying real estate taxes based on $4.18 million yet they sell for $15 million? Why do I have to pay taxes based on 100 percent of my home’s value? State law requires localities to assess “at 100 percent fair market value”. Imagine the real estate tax revenue the city could be collecting if they assessed commercial properties correctly!
This island is vulnerable to high river levels and subject to flooding. When the Mighty James reaches a depth of 20ft. or more, anyone on this island will be swept away. The fury of The James River is nothing to play around with.
Arnold, that’s the reason residential construction will never be allowed on it. Commercial construction is allowable if built above the flood plain level which would be higher than the planned new bridge. The bridge would be underwater at that height and perhaps destroyed. That would be a walloping storm. But even in a more reasonable scenario, the flood walls would be closed and the new bridge would be unusable. It’s just stupid to build a bridge in the floodplain while there exists real concern of rising sea waters, the sinking of the east coast and bigger storms approaching us in… Read more »
Way to go Parker! Taking the opportunity to help acquire this important piece for the James River Park system is going to have positive benefits for future generations. We may not see it all now but we are one step closer to what only our imagination knows. Thank you for seeing this through
Mayo Bridge.
Does the Chesapeake Bay Watershed plan have any restrictions on what can be done with this island?
The plan restrictions mean little once the easement is recorded. Assuming it will restrict the island to open space and active recreation activities with limited improvements.
The Yorktown Beach should serve as a model on the York River.
How so?
A wide sandy beach would be nice with jetties to prevent erosion. Also the amenities there are excellent with restaurants and outdoor patios.
Good ol City of Richmond—always able to find plenty of money to build parks, museums, stadiums, and city buildings for the “ruling elites glory”–while never able to find money to repair or build schools for the kids and change the real direction downtown is going to go–what a shame. Bring back Paul Goldman and his idea for the schools.
Yeah, because we’re so overrun with *checks notes* parks, museums, stadiums, and city buildings – lol. City schools definitely need so much more funding, but this shouldn’t be mistakenly viewed as an either/or situation.
all too typical no nothing city bashing. Building schools with the added 1.5% restaurant tax is an undeniable tangible success under Stoney’s tenure. In the last few years 3 brand spanking new schools have opened: Cardinal Elementary, Henry Marsh Elementary and River City Middle. And although it took 3 years to long at least due to arguing between the mayor, council and the school board, construction is happening right now on the School for the Arts (i.e. the new George Wythe). They are waiting to tee up the new Fox Elem after the fire.
As someone who spent a lot of time a decade ago skateboarding on the concrete pad just east of the old Seaboard train bridge that crosses the island, I can attest that this spot is indeed an amazing place on the river. Tons of cool history here and so much potential. I’m sure this will take decades to see to completion but I’d love to see a solid mix of recreation (a concrete skatepark would be able to withstand major flooding.. just a thought), interpretive trails with info about the fall line, history, and industry of the island, and easy… Read more »
Mickael, didn’t even think about a skateboarding park. What a cool idea. That pad is just wasted space begging to be utilised.