Submissions should advance priorities aimed at expanding housing choice and further activating the Chamberlayne corridor   

Richmond, VA  — The City of Richmond’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to seek concepts and gauge market interest for redevelopment of the City-owned property at 4929 Chamberlayne Avenue. 

The .97-acre property, currently home to a vacant former school building, sits at the corner of Azalea and Chamberlayne Avenues, two major corridors in the City’s northside. It is bordered by Henrico County to the north and sits near several important amenities, including a Route 1 bus stop, a future North-South Pulse BRT station, Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, and Brookhill Azalea Shopping Center. 

“There is so much potential with this property,” said Richmond’s Director of Housing and Community Development Merrick Malone . “We’re eager to see proposals which take full advantage of that potential, creating amenity-adjacent housing along a critical northside corridor in a way that maximizes benefit to the entire community.” 

Because this RFEI is informational in nature, HCD is open to a range of potential uses, including multi-family residential, ground-floor commercial, community space, or some combination thereof. Respondents are encouraged to think creatively about viable uses which will utilize the full site to meet the City’s development goals, including the strengthening of the Chamberlayne Ave. corridor, the expansion of housing choice, and encouraging connectivity to adjacent amenities, among others. 

Submissions are due to HCD by 3:00 p.m. ET on December 18, 2026  and will be used to inform the timing, structure, and requirements of a more detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), tentatively planned for Winter 2027. 

Please read the full RFEI for submission requirements and other considerations.