A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week for the Bensley Elementary School replacement project. (Chesterfield County photo)
Chesterfield officials break ground on new elementary school
Construction of a replacement for Bensley Elementary School kicked off last week with a groundbreaking ceremony for the project.
The new school is being built at 6600 Strathmore Road, the same site as the current facility that first opened in 1954 and is slated for demolition.
The new Bensley Elementary School is anticipated to cost $52 million, and is slated to open to students in August of 2026, according to a school division news release. The project’s cost is being covered by bonds approved by county voters in 2022.
The new Bensley elementary, a two-story, 111,500-square-foot facility, is planned to accommodate up to 1,000 students in grades kindergarten to fifth grade. The old Bensley’s capacity was 575 students. The project also involves construction of a gym, media center, art and music rooms and a gym.
During the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years, Bensley’s teachers and students will be housed in the former Falling Creek Middle School.
Pet adoption center building purchase, restaurant expansion on city planning agenda
The Richmond Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Business includes a conditional-use request for an expansion of Metzger Bar & Butchery into an adjacent space at 801 N. 23rd St. The expansion would accommodate a cocktail bar called Pink Room.
Eagle Construction of VA seeks an amendment to a special-use permit to allow for a fourth story on units facing Cary Street at its Foushee Mews townhome development. The Cary-facing units were previously approved for three stories.
Also on the agenda are two ordinances to allow the city to re-allocate $2 million in funds for the purchase of a building and warehouse at 2310 W. Cary St. and 2311 Herbert Hamlet Alley for a new pet adoption center for Richmond Animal Care & Control.
The commission will also receive a presentation on planned amendments to zoning regulations regarding retail locations for tobacco, nicotine and hemp products.
The full agenda is available here.
City Council defers vote on real estate tax rate change, BPOL exemption increase
At its meeting last week, Richmond City Council continued to its Oct. 15 meeting competing proposals to decrease or maintain the city’s real estate tax rate. Councilmember Reva Trammell is proposing reducing the rate to $1.16 per $100 of assessed value, while President Kristen Nye is proposing maintaining the rate at $1.20, where it has stood since 2009.
Also continued to Oct. 15 is a proposal to increase the city’s exemption threshold for business, professional and occupational license taxes from $250,000 to $500,000 in annual revenue. The BPOL threshold was last increased from $100,000 in 2022.
Council approved a special-use request for three apartment buildings totaling 266 units beside Harper Associates’ Belle Heights development. The request was from Tennessee-based developer Elmington, which is planning the project at 2201 McDonough St.
Powhatan approves new tax rate for data centers
The Powhatan Board of Supervisors last week OK’d a new business personal property rate for data center equipment.
The approved business personal property rate for data centers specifically would be 40 cents per $100 of assessed value. The new rate is scheduled to take effect in 2025.
Per a county staff memo, the rate depreciates to 50% of the original cost in the first year, and continues to decrease to 10% of original cost in the fifth year.
Powhatan’s business personal property rate is $3.60 per $100 of assessed value.
The new tax rate for data centers is designed to make Powhatan a more appealing location for such projects, according to the staff memo. Henrico has a 40 cent per $100 of assessed value business personal property tax rate for data centers, while Chesterfield’s is 24 cents, Hanover’s 45 cents and Goochland’s rate 24 cents.
Henrico supervisors approve Reynolds Crossing rezoning
At its meeting last week, the Henrico Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning for Reynolds Development’s plan to reinvent parts of its Reynolds Crossing complex at the corner of West Broad Street and Forest Avenue. Plans call for about a half-dozen new buildings to reach as high as 10 or 12 stories and over 1,200 dwelling units.
The majority of the area targeted for development is currently covered by surface parking lots. The land in question is split across eight parcels with addresses running from 6603 to 6641 W. Broad St. The parcels are currently zoned for either business or industrial use. None of the existing buildings at Reynolds Crossing would be demolished.
GRTC to hold public meeting Tuesday for Pulse expansion in Henrico
GRTC will hold a public meeting Oct. 1 to share plans for a westward expansion of the Pulse rapid-transit bus line, including a new station near Parham Road and West Broad Street. The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Libbie Mill Library.
The proposed site for the new station is at 8207 W. Broad St. in the Old Parham Road Shopping Center. Initial plans include amenities such as parking and public restrooms for riders. Officials estimate that the station could open in three to five years, the county said in a notice about the meeting.
The Pulse line currently runs between Rocketts Landing in Richmond and Parham Road in Henrico. The westernmost station is currently at Willow Lawn.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week for the Bensley Elementary School replacement project. (Chesterfield County photo)
Chesterfield officials break ground on new elementary school
Construction of a replacement for Bensley Elementary School kicked off last week with a groundbreaking ceremony for the project.
The new school is being built at 6600 Strathmore Road, the same site as the current facility that first opened in 1954 and is slated for demolition.
The new Bensley Elementary School is anticipated to cost $52 million, and is slated to open to students in August of 2026, according to a school division news release. The project’s cost is being covered by bonds approved by county voters in 2022.
The new Bensley elementary, a two-story, 111,500-square-foot facility, is planned to accommodate up to 1,000 students in grades kindergarten to fifth grade. The old Bensley’s capacity was 575 students. The project also involves construction of a gym, media center, art and music rooms and a gym.
During the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years, Bensley’s teachers and students will be housed in the former Falling Creek Middle School.
Pet adoption center building purchase, restaurant expansion on city planning agenda
The Richmond Planning Commission meets Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Business includes a conditional-use request for an expansion of Metzger Bar & Butchery into an adjacent space at 801 N. 23rd St. The expansion would accommodate a cocktail bar called Pink Room.
Eagle Construction of VA seeks an amendment to a special-use permit to allow for a fourth story on units facing Cary Street at its Foushee Mews townhome development. The Cary-facing units were previously approved for three stories.
Also on the agenda are two ordinances to allow the city to re-allocate $2 million in funds for the purchase of a building and warehouse at 2310 W. Cary St. and 2311 Herbert Hamlet Alley for a new pet adoption center for Richmond Animal Care & Control.
The commission will also receive a presentation on planned amendments to zoning regulations regarding retail locations for tobacco, nicotine and hemp products.
The full agenda is available here.
City Council defers vote on real estate tax rate change, BPOL exemption increase
At its meeting last week, Richmond City Council continued to its Oct. 15 meeting competing proposals to decrease or maintain the city’s real estate tax rate. Councilmember Reva Trammell is proposing reducing the rate to $1.16 per $100 of assessed value, while President Kristen Nye is proposing maintaining the rate at $1.20, where it has stood since 2009.
Also continued to Oct. 15 is a proposal to increase the city’s exemption threshold for business, professional and occupational license taxes from $250,000 to $500,000 in annual revenue. The BPOL threshold was last increased from $100,000 in 2022.
Council approved a special-use request for three apartment buildings totaling 266 units beside Harper Associates’ Belle Heights development. The request was from Tennessee-based developer Elmington, which is planning the project at 2201 McDonough St.
Powhatan approves new tax rate for data centers
The Powhatan Board of Supervisors last week OK’d a new business personal property rate for data center equipment.
The approved business personal property rate for data centers specifically would be 40 cents per $100 of assessed value. The new rate is scheduled to take effect in 2025.
Per a county staff memo, the rate depreciates to 50% of the original cost in the first year, and continues to decrease to 10% of original cost in the fifth year.
Powhatan’s business personal property rate is $3.60 per $100 of assessed value.
The new tax rate for data centers is designed to make Powhatan a more appealing location for such projects, according to the staff memo. Henrico has a 40 cent per $100 of assessed value business personal property tax rate for data centers, while Chesterfield’s is 24 cents, Hanover’s 45 cents and Goochland’s rate 24 cents.
Henrico supervisors approve Reynolds Crossing rezoning
At its meeting last week, the Henrico Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning for Reynolds Development’s plan to reinvent parts of its Reynolds Crossing complex at the corner of West Broad Street and Forest Avenue. Plans call for about a half-dozen new buildings to reach as high as 10 or 12 stories and over 1,200 dwelling units.
The majority of the area targeted for development is currently covered by surface parking lots. The land in question is split across eight parcels with addresses running from 6603 to 6641 W. Broad St. The parcels are currently zoned for either business or industrial use. None of the existing buildings at Reynolds Crossing would be demolished.
GRTC to hold public meeting Tuesday for Pulse expansion in Henrico
GRTC will hold a public meeting Oct. 1 to share plans for a westward expansion of the Pulse rapid-transit bus line, including a new station near Parham Road and West Broad Street. The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Libbie Mill Library.
The proposed site for the new station is at 8207 W. Broad St. in the Old Parham Road Shopping Center. Initial plans include amenities such as parking and public restrooms for riders. Officials estimate that the station could open in three to five years, the county said in a notice about the meeting.
The Pulse line currently runs between Rocketts Landing in Richmond and Parham Road in Henrico. The westernmost station is currently at Willow Lawn.