The Agenda: Local government briefs for 1.13.25

Sports Backers Stadium, shown at right, will be razed to make way for the under-construction Diamond District development. (Skyshots Photography)

Sports Backers Stadium sale, GRTC transfer hub plan on City Council agenda

Richmond City Council meets Monday. The full agenda can be found here.

Business on the 6 p.m. regular meeting agenda include a resolution of support for the sale of the Sports Backers Stadium site to the Richmond Economic Development Authority to facilitate the Diamond District development.

The deed for the property at 2911 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. requires city consent before Virginia Commonwealth University, which owns the site, can sell it. VCU is to sell the 6.6-acre parcel to the Richmond Economic Development Authority for $25 million, with those proceeds going toward the planned VCU Athletic Village.

Deferred from previous meetings is a proposal to increase the exemption threshold for the city’s Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax from $250,000 to $500,000. The BPOL exemption was last increased from $100,000 in 2022.

Council will consider a real estate disposition plan that calls for unloading 28 surplus parcels totaling about 55 acres to housing nonprofits and private developers, with a goal of adding to the city’s tax base and increasing its supply of lower-income housing. The properties include vacant land near Whitcomb Court and the current location of the Richmond Police Department’s First Precinct, which is relocating.

Other business includes a memorandum of understanding between the city and Greater Richmond Transit Co. for a permanent transfer station to be included in a mixed-use development that GRTC is planning at the former Public Safety Building site at 500 N. 10th St., or alternately at 808 E. Clay St., which is currently used as a temporary transfer hub.

Also on the agenda are grant agreements for a 60-unit apartment building in the works at 1401-1407 Hull St. and for a 112-unit building at 1501-1511 Hull St. Both projects are being developed by Walter Parks, Richard Smith and Malcome Sargent.

Joy-Hogg appointed interim CAO as national search starts

Sabrina Joy-Hogg

Last week, Richmond City Council OK’d Mayor Danny Avula’s appointment of Sabrina Joy-Hogg as interim chief administrative officer.

Joy-Hogg, currently a senior deputy CAO, fills the top role following previous CAO Lincoln Saunders’ resignation last month.

Joy-Hogg will serve as interim as a national search for a new CAO is conducted. At last week’s meeting, new councilmembers Sarah Abubaker and Kenya Gibson urged Avula to see the search through, adding that they campaigned for change in the city’s administration.

Joy-Hogg was hired in 2021 and serves as deputy chief administrative officer for finance and administration. She has three decades of experience in public service and previously served as chief deputy city manager of Norfolk and deputy city manager of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Belmont-area subdivision, Dunkin’ plans advance in Henrico

At its meeting last week, the Henrico Planning Commission supported a rezoning request from local homebuilder Kittrell Co. to allow an 18-home subdivision beside Belmont Golf Course. The development would fill about 8 acres across Hilliard Road from the Belmont Recreation Center.

The commission also endorsed local Dunkin’ franchisee Lou Cabral’s plan to convert the former Jiffy Lube at 9215 Quioccasin Road into a location for the coffee and donut brand. The plan also calls for a potential second building to the east of the restaurant that would be used for office or commercial use.

Ingle, Miller to lead Chesterfield board in 2025

Chesterfield supervisors Jim Ingle (left) and Mark Miller. (Courtesy Chesterfield County)

The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors has selected its leadership for the coming year.

Jim Ingle, who represents the Bermuda District, was selected by the five-member governing body to serve as its chairman during 2025, according to a county news release. It’s his first time as chairman, a role that oversees board meetings and other duties. Ingle was vice chairman in 2023 and was first elected to the board in 2019.

Mark Miller, the board’s Midlothian District representative, was picked by his colleagues to serve as vice chairman for his second consecutive, year-long term. Miller was first elected to the board in the 2022 special election and won re-election in 2023.

Ingle and Miller were elected to their board posts last week. Ingle takes over the board’s chairmanship from Jim Holland, the Dale District representative.

Petersburg Mayor Sam Parham, right, with Vice Mayor Darrin Hill. (Courtesy City of Petersburg)

Petersburg City Council re-elects Parham as mayor; Hill elected vice mayor

Petersburg City Council re-elected Sam Parham as mayor and elected Darrin Hill as vice mayor.

Parham was first elected mayor in 2017 and has served in the role since then. Hill has served on City Council since 2015 and has previously served a term as vice mayor.

Both terms are for two years.