Evaluation Panel to evaluate all submissions from development teams; short list to be announced in the winter

Richmond, VA — The deadline for interested development teams to submit proposals in response to the Request for Interest (“RFI”) for Phase 1 of the City Center Innovation District Project (“City Center”) ended on December 20, 2022. The Economic Development Authority of the City of Richmond (“Richmond EDA”) and the Greater Richmond Convention Center Authority (“GRCCA”) received five (5) submissions from the following development teams (listed alphabetically):
•    Capstone Development, LLC
•    City Center Gateway Partners
•    Lincoln Property Company
•    Richmond Community Development Partners
•    Sterling Bilder, LLC

The City Center Evaluation Panel (“Evaluation Panel”) is now tasked with assessing each submitted proposal based on the evaluation criteria in the RFI document:

•    Development team qualifications – financial capability, years of experience, diversity of team, and more;
•    Experience with urban mixed-use projects – experience with urban mixed-use redevelopment projects and proven capacity to deliver project requirements;
•    Equitable development benefits – employment opportunities, affordable housing, sustainability, resiliency, and more; 
•    Project understanding – a solid understanding for accomplishing the city’s goals; and
•    Financing approach – having provided a financing approach that minimizes public investment.

At the conclusion of its assessment of the RFI proposals, the Evaluation Panel will invite development teams to respond to a Request for Offers (“RFO”) that will require more detailed information on the invited development teams’ proposed projects.  The names of the development teams invited to respond to the RFO will be released to the public in winter 2023.  The RFO will also be posted at that time and made available to the public at www.rva.gov/citycenter.

“We are thrilled to see the high level of enthusiasm and interest from development teams for the City Center Innovation District Project”, said Leonard Sledge, Executive Director of the Richmond EDA.  “Richmond has great momentum.  The formal interest we received today continues to demonstrate the positive trajectory of the City.”

“We are confident that amongst the number of outstanding development teams interested in this project, we have the right partner to bring this project to fruition”, said Brandon Hinton, Chair of the GRCCA Finance Committee.  “On behalf of the entire Richmond region, I could not be more excited for what the future brings for the Greater Richmond Convention Center with the addition of a long-sought headquarter hotel.”

About the City Center Project 
On November 3, 2022, the Richmond EDA and the GRCCA invited development teams to submit information to be considered for Phase 1 of the City Center Innovation District Project (“City Center”). The vision for City Center is to redevelop the area to become a mixed-use, mixed-income urban innovation district destination anchored by a headquarter hotel supporting the Greater Richmond Convention Center along with commercial, educational, and residential development to create a dynamic downtown.

Communication with the Evaluation Panel
Members of the public can send comments/questions electronically to the City Center Evaluation Panel by using this form. The form is publicly posted on the City Center Project webpage. Do not email the Evaluation Panel Members, Staff, or Advisors about the City Center Project (emails sent directly to the Evaluation Panel about this project will not be read). Comments/questions will be reviewed periodically and distributed to the Evaluation Panel during the evaluation process.

Evaluation Panel Members
•    Nupa Agarwal – Richmond EDA Board Vice Chair
•    Melvin D. Carter – City of Richmond Chief of Fire and Emergency Services
•    Sharon L. Ebert – City of Richmond Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Planning and Economic Development 
•    Pat Foster – City of Richmond Director of the Office of Minority Business Development 
•    Brandon Hinton – GRCCA Finance Committee Chair
•    Nathan Hughes – Richmond EDA Board Treasurer 
•    Lynne Lancaster – City of Richmond Deputy Director of Public Works Deputy Director 
•    J.E. Lincoln Saunders – City of Richmond Chief Administrative Officer and GRCCA Board Member
•    Leonard L. Sledge – Richmond EDA Executive Director and City of Richmond Director of Economic Development 
•    Sheila D. White – City of Richmond Director of Finance 

Advisors
Additional Advisors may be added as the evaluation process progresses.
•    Maritza Mercado Pechin – City of Richmond Deputy Director of Planning and Development Review 
•    Matthew A. Welch – City of Richmond Policy Advisor to the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio

About the Richmond EDA
The Richmond EDA is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia and is comprised of a seven-member Board of Directors appointed by the City Council of the City of Richmond.  The Richmond EDA undertakes commercial activities as authorized by Chapter 49 of Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia.  On behalf of the City of Richmond the Richmond EDA works in partnership with City Council, City administration, and state officials to achieve economic growth in the city. 

About GRCCA
GRCCA is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia that was created by the local governments in the City of Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico Counties and was established to acquire, finance, expand, renovate, lease, operate, and maintain the Greater Richmond Convention Center.  GRCCA is governed by a five-member commission made up of the Chief Administrative Officer of each of the four incorporating political subdivisions and the President of InUnison, a regional business association.  Debt service costs and other operating and capital cost obligations for the Greater Richmond Convention Center are funded by an 8% transient lodging tax levied on hotel room rentals in the four participating localities.
 

~ The event also includes document shredding, household hazardous waste items and the collection of electronics ~

WHO:   The Department of Public Works, The Clean City Commission and The Department of Public Utilities

WHAT: 14th Annual Bring One for the Chipper Christmas Tree Recycling Event

• Christmas Tree Recycling
  
  • Remove all decorations and lights
• Paper Document Shredding
  
  • Up to five (5) boxes of documents. Be sure to remove all binders, staples and clips
• Electronics (various fees apply)
  
  • Computer systems (hard drive or CPU) and accessories (cables, wires, keyboards, mice, speakers, etc.) VCRs, camcorders, stereos and all phones
  • Televisions, computer monitors and printers
  • Other used electronic equipment (almost anything with a plug - see the online list for clarification)
  • Go to www.rva.gov/public-works/clean-city-commission to get fees and the full list of electronics to recycle
• Household Hazardous Waste Items
  
  • Pesticides, Herbicides and Oil-based Paints
  • Bug spray, rodent poison and herbicides (Roundup, Weed B Gon etc.)
  • Latex and water based paints will not be collected. These items can be left in open paint cans until they have dried out and then put in with regular curbside trash pick-up.
• Note -  this is a drive-thru event, all residents must:
  
  • Stay in their car during the event and roll the windows down
  • Volunteers will remove items from the cars

WHEN:  Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:  1710 Robin Hood Road (northeast corner of Robin Hood Road and North Arthur Ashe Boulevard)

BACKGROUND:  The City of Richmond’s E-Cycle Day offers City residents an efficient option to recycle paper and electronics to help keep hazardous waste materials out of city waterways, streams and rivers. Recycling Christmas trees keeps them out of the landfill and allows them to be re-purposed and used as mulch. This event is available to city residents – proof of residency is required.

Residents can drop off their trees to 1710 Robin Hood Road the day of the event or prior to the event.  There will be a designated area of the parking lot at 1710 Robin Hood Road for residents to place their trees. Residents can also take them to the East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC), located at 3800 East Richmond Road starting on Tuesday, December 27. The hours of operation at the ERRCC are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The ERRCC will be closed December 30 through January 2, 2023. Note: No trees will be accepted at 1710 Robin Hood Road after the event ends at 2 p.m. on January 14.

Curbside collection will be handled by the department’s Bulk and Brush team. They will collect Christmas trees curbside from Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, January 13, 2023. All trees collected curbside or dropped off at the ERRCC will be recycled. Please place your Christmas tree (with no lights or decorations) beside your recycle bin and it will be picked up on your regular recycle collection day by the bulk and brush team.

For more information on recycling, please visit us online at www.rva.gov/public-works/clean-city-commission or email us at AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

We’re Social! For updates on DPW-related projects, activities and events visit us on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting;  graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

Use the QR codes to access the survey.

Non-Departmental informational workshop rescheduled to the week of December 5^th. Details to follow later today.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities (PRCF), in partnership with 8 News and Summit Media, will host RVA Illuminates at Kanawha Plaza, 801 E. Canal Street, on Friday, December 2, 2022 beginning at 4 p.m.

RVA Illuminates will feature performances from the Richmond Police Department Band, DJ Lonnie B, and Sam Reed and Friends. Kelli Lemon will emcee for the evening. Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders will flip the switch at 6 p.m., lighting up the downtown skyline and announcing the arrival of the holiday season. At 7:15 p.m., the holiday movie “Elf”, presented by Venture Richmond, will be shown.

“Each year we continue to build in new traditions with the old. Partnering with Venture Richmond to show “Elf” is a great new addition,” says Chris Frelke, Director of PRCF.

In addition to the event at Kanawha Plaza, Shockoe Illuminates will take place at the 17^th Street Market, 100 N. 17^th Street, on the same day. From 5 - 8 p.m., patrons will be able to begin their holiday shopping, enjoy holiday carolers, and partake in the skyline lighting.

Also adding to the holiday tradition, PRCF is asking city businesses and residents to light up their own storefronts and homes on December 2 at 6 p.m., adding to the illumination of the entire city.

For more information about the department, follow PRCF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit our website at www.rva.gov/parks-recreation.

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