October 8, 2025

Richmond, VA - In response to resident feedback calling for broader voices in shaping how Richmond grows and better addressing Richmond's housing crisis, Mayor Danny Avula today announced the addition of four new members to the City's Zoning Advisory Council (ZAC), expanding the group from 17 to 21. On October 7, 2025, the Planning Commission unanimously approved Resolution CPCR.2025.022.

The expansion will broaden community representation on the ZAC to ensure more diverse and informed input, with a particular focus on addressing Richmond's housing crisis. It will also help balance participation across the city. Council Districts 4 and 7 currently have no representation on the ZAC, while Districts 2, 8, and 9 each have only one member.

"People want to know that their voices matter," said Mayor Danny Avula, "The feedback from residents was really important, so the team and I set about adding new representation. By adding new members from underrepresented areas in the community, we're making sure more perspectives are part of the conversation about how Richmond grows. This should be a city where all people and places thrive."

The ZAC is a non-decision-making subcommittee of the City Planning Commission. It is made up of Richmonders who help guide the City through the update of its zoning ordinance. A current list of members and the meeting schedule can be found here.

The Planning Commission, in accordance with §17.02, City Code, consists of nine appointed members and is responsible for adopting the city's master plan, among other duties.

The City of Richmond will close in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday, October 13. All city offices, including City Hall, will be closed. We will return to our regular business hours on Tuesday, October 14. Keep reading for information about City service schedules during the holiday weekend:

• There will be no trash collection or bulk and brush collection on Monday, October 13. All collections will be delayed by one day. Collections scheduled for pick-up on Monday will be picked up on Tuesday and so on through Friday, October 17.
• The East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC) Landfill, located at 3800 East Richmond Road, will be open on Saturday, October 11, and will be closed on Monday, Oct. 13. ERRCC will reopen on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
• Recycling services will operate as normal on Monday, October 13.
• All Richmond Public Libraries are closed on Monday, October 13, and will reopen on Tuesday, October 14.
• RVA311 will be open Saturday, Oct. 11, and will be closed on October 13. The public will have 24/7 access to self-service via RVA311 and mobile apps.
• Richmond Public Schools are closed on October 13, but RPS offices will remain open. Schools will reopen for students on Tuesday, October 14.
• All Parks and Rec offices and community centers are closed Monday, October 13.
• The Department of Public Utilities Call Center is closed Monday, October 13. For utility emergencies, customers should call 804-646-4646 and press Option 1. For gas leaks, leave the area and call 911.
• Richmond Animal Care and Control will be closed on Monday, October 13. RACC will reopen by appointment only on Tuesday, October 14, and will have regular walk-in hours on Wednesday, October 15.

On October 10, 2022, the City of Richmond, through a joint proclamation from the Mayor and City Council, officially established Richmond Indigenous Peoples' Day. The resolution and holiday honor the Indigenous Peoples living in our communities and acknowledge the City's founding and history on Indigenous lands. 

Learn more: 

• The Pocahontas Project shares information about the Richmond Indigenous Peoples' Day initiative.
• The Library of Virginia houses an Indigenous Perspectives collection.   
• Native Land Digital provides an initial tool for recognizing Indigenous Peoples and their native lands.
• Pocahontas Reframed is an annual Richmond film festival that will take place in November.

Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond's Office of Budget and Strategic Planning is pleased to announce that it has earned distinction for is fiscal year 2026 budget presentation. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, presented by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), recognizes excellence in the government budgeting tradecraft and is a reflection of the City's ongoing commitment to the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

"Our budget tells the story of our priorities," said Mayor Danny Avula. "From public safety and neighborhoods to small businesses and housing, our strategic priorities are best supported by intentional investments. I am proud of the team for setting such a high standard and, as we look towards continuous improvement, I'm excited to build upon this success in years to come."

The award is presented to government entities that meet nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The guidelines assess how well a budget serves as, a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.

"Preparing the annual budget is truly a team effort," said Director of Budget and Strategic Planning Meghan Brown. "It is not just a financial document, but a roadmap that connects resources to outcomes and preparing it involves every single City department and a commitment to clear, accessible communications."

On Tuesday, October 2, 2025, the City of Richmond participated in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Church Hill Tunnel collapse, hosted by the Friends of Jefferson Park and the Church Hill Association. Mayor Danny Avula has also issued a formal proclamation commemorating the event; text can be found in full below:

WHEREAS, on October 2, 1925, a section of the Church Hill Tunnel catastrophically collapsed during a railway upgrade project, tragically entombing a steam locomotive, work cars, and an unknown number of laborers; and 

WHEREAS, this disaster reveals a significant and somber chapter in the history of the City of Richmond, a permanent reminder of the risks undertaken in the building of our infrastructure and the profound cost of progress; and 

WHEREAS, the tunnel was subsequently sealed, leaving a piece of our city's industrial heritage and the final resting place of those lost, preserved beneath the ground of what is now Jefferson Park; and 

WHEREAS, the Friends of Jefferson Park and the Church Hill Association have taken the lead in organizing this commemoration to honor the memory of those lost and to educate the public on this significant historical event;

 WHEREAS, NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dr. Danny TK Avula, Mayor of the City of Richmond, do hereby recognize October 2, 2025, as a day of commemoration for the "100th Anniversary of the Church Hill Tunnel Collapse."

I urge all citizens to pause and remember this event and the individuals whose lives were lost, and I commend the Friends of Jefferson Park and the Church Hill Association for their dedication to preserving this important part of our shared history. 

Dr. Danny TK Avula

Mayor, City of Richmond

Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond announced today the opening of a new funding round through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), providing critical resources to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing units in the City. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all available funds have been allocated.

The announcement comes just over one month after the City awarded $9 million from the fund to support eight housing projects and the City's own Healthy Homes rehabilitation program.

"Affordable housing takes collaboration, and the AHTF is a valuable tool in fostering the relationship between private and public partners to meet one of our City's most urgent needs," said Mayor Danny Avula. "I am hopeful that, with the rolling deadline and technical assistance provided by our Department of Housing and Community Development, we will see new proposals that will advance the affordable housing development Richmonders need and deserve."

Nonprofit and for-profit housing developers are encouraged to apply. Program guidelines and application information can be found on the AHTF webpage here, as can a recording of the AHTF Training Course and Q&A session, presented by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

"We highly encourage every eligible partner in the Richmond area to explore and seriously consider this opportunity, and to put forward proposals that meet the City's urgent needs to affordable housing," said Director of Housing and Community Development Merrick Malone. "Funding allocations like this are critical to the City's ability to keep pace with growth while protecting the ability of longtime residents to thrive in their neighborhoods."

Applications will be reviewed competitively based on alignment with the City's housing priorities, including affordability levels, project readiness, and community benefit, among others. For more information and to submit an application, please visit go.rva.gov/HCDAHTF.