Government

Ahead of his farewell address today, BizSense sat down with the outgoing mayor to discuss his administration’s accomplishments over the past eight years, and what he would do differently.

Just one of the four project finalists is said to remain in active negotiations with the city, which has not officially selected or announced a developer and isn’t expected to by the end of this year.

City administrators are recommending a real estate disposition plan that calls for unloading 28 surplus parcels totaling about 55 acres to housing nonprofits and private developers.

The city’s chief administrative officer since late 2020, Saunders informed department directors Friday that he will be stepping down at the end of this month, coinciding with the close of Mayor Levar Stoney’s final term.

The state Art and Architectural Review Board rejected the design proposal for the 173,000-square-foot expansion planned by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

In a letter submitted to the city Friday, CEO Marlon Levy said the health system “is amenable to working with a mutually agreeable mediator” to resolve the disputed payments that stem from the failed Public Safety Building redevelopment.

A rezoning case that pitted neighboring West Creek-area landowners against one another passed easily through the Goochland County Board of Supervisors this week.

Dubbed the Western Area Infrastructure Improvements Project, it is designed to improve connectivity in the growing western portion of the county and provide access to the new elementary, middle and high schools to be built to accommodate that population increase.

County supervisors authorized the purchase for a replacement of the nearby Fire Station 1 and a new fire training facility near the intersection of Azalea Avenue and Richmond Henrico Turnpike.

“The City is prepared to pursue all available options, including litigation, to collect the Guaranteed Obligation payments,” Richmond leaders said in a letter to VCU Health’s CEO on Monday.