Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond and the Partnership for Housing Affordability (PHA) are proud to announce that Highland Grove, a 253-unit mixed-income community in Richmond's Northside, has received $2.5 million in funding from the Virginia Workforce Housing Investment Program, administered by Virginia Housing. The award will support the construction of 53 affordable, for-sale homes at Highland Grove for mortgage-ready households earning between 80 to 120 percent of Area Median Income. project:HOMES, the Better Housing Coalition, Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity, and the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust will construct and sell the homes to income-qualified buyers.

"This $2.5 million award builds on the strong momentum behind the Highland Grove development and the many partnerships which have turned it into reality," said Mayor Danny Avula. "By continuing to invest in mixed-income housing, we're committing to a future where all of our residents can realize a path to homeownership for generations to come. We have a long way to go, but achievements like this are critical in laying a strong foundation."

The development of Highland Grove began in 2012 with the construction of 128 rental units consisting of apartments and townhomes. The homeownership phase of the project broke ground in 2024 and includes a total of 125 for-sale homes including detached single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes-60 homes designated affordable for 80% AMI and 120% AMI buyers and 65 market-rate units constructed by private sector builder Eagle Construction. This mixed-income approach provides a more equitable housing model and meets a need for attainable homeownership options. The Better Housing Coalition serves as the master developer of Highland Grove and is responsible for the community's infrastructure improvements including sidewalks, streets, utilities, lighting, and landscaping.

"This award is a paragon example of collaboration," said Jovan Burton, Executive Director of the Partnership for Housing Affordability. "By bringing the city, non-profit partners, and state partners together, we will be able to provide greater housing opportunities to Richmond families. Highland Grove really does stand as a model for how mixed-income housing communities can erase inequities in housing attainment."

The Workforce Housing Investment Program was launched in 2024 by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The Program is aimed specifically to help catalyze investment in housing for middle-income workers in communities experiencing job growth. Increasing the supply of affordable housing in the City of Richmond is essential to expanding economic development growth. These new, for-sale homes will allow Richmond to safeguard the city's ability to grow inclusively, support essential workers, and increase the return on investment that housing delivers to the local economy.

Site work on the second phase of Highland Grove has already started. The City of Richmond has extended water, sewer, and other utilities for each home site. Construction of new homes is underway with homes being delivered as early as Q2 2026 and a project completion date of December 2027.

About Partnership for Housing Affordability 

The Partnership for Housing Affordability envisions a coordinated, regional approach to affordable housing that is supported by the citizens and elected leadership of the jurisdictions that make up the Richmond metropolitan area. With the commitment of needed resources and the adoption of necessary policies by local leaders, Richmond residents can live in vibrant and sustainable communities, characterized by a breadth of diversity among the residents, a variety of affordable housing choices, the integration of needed services, efficient use of the public infrastructure, and strategic preservation of natural resources. The Partnership for Housing Affordability was founded in 2004 as a philanthropic extension of the Richmond Association of REALTORS® in response to housing needs in our communities, we champion policies, developments, and programs for quality affordable housing in the Richmond region. For more information, please visit https://pharva.com/.

On Thursday, January 8, Mayor Danny Avula announced a series of immediate and accelerated actions to improve pedestrian safety following the deaths of six pedestrians in just the past three weeks. In total, 13 pedestrians were killed in traffic-related incidents in Richmond in 2025.

"These losses are heartbreaking, and the recent frequency is, frankly, terrifying," said Mayor Danny Avula. "We cannot treat traffic deaths as normal, and we cannot accept that losing your life while walking, crossing a street, or heading to a bus stop is just part of living in a city. In a Thriving Richmond, everyone deserves to get where they're going safely."

New Actions Announced Today

As part of an accelerated Vision Zero response, Mayor Avula announced a set of immediate actions to strengthen coordination and improve outcomes across Richmond's transportation and street safety efforts. Vision Zero is the City's strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

• Creation of a new Department of Transportation (DOT): A new Department of Transportation will be stood up immediately within the Department of Public Works to lead the City's street safety and mobility work. The DOT will serve as the central authority for planning, designing, delivering, and maintaining a transportation system that prioritizes people over speed and safety over convenience. Mayor Avula appointed Andy Boenau as Director. The department will coordinate across agencies, deliver evidence-based street designs, engage communities, and set measurable Vision Zero safety goals
• Expanded Safety Camera Program: The City will expand its Safety Camera Program to include red-light cameras targeting one of the most dangerous driving behaviors. Ten intersections will come online in the coming months, with four operational by the end of January, including several in South Richmond.
• Accelerated street safety improvements: Mayor Avula directed the immediate deployment of local transportation funding to fast-track life-saving infrastructure, including advancing roadway reconfigurations for dedicated bus and bike lanes, implementing left-turn hardening at more than 80 intersections on the High Injury Network, installing 14 additional pedestrian hybrid beacons for mid-block crossings, adding 40 new speed tables by the end of the second quarter of 2026, and improving crosswalk visibility through expanded corner clearance enforcement.
• Targeted corridor and campus safety: The City will convene a Pedestrian Safety Task Force in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University to address safety concerns around City Hall and the VCU Health campus, and will conduct a multidisciplinary road safety assessment of East Broad Street from 1st Street to 14th Street to identify near-term fixes and long-term redesign strategies.

"These recent incidents are a painful reminder about the need for all of us to be aware when driving or walking - near VCU, VCU Health or anywhere in the city. With thousands of students returning for spring semester at VCU next week, we ask that all travelers take a renewed focus on remaining alert when traveling near our campuses. While VCU's partnership with the city continues, we all must do our part to keep each other safe," said VCU Chief of Police Clarence T. Hunter, Jr.

City Councilmember Andrew "Gumby" Breton (1st District) shared, "Speed tables, safer crossings, and clearer sightlines for pedestrians and cyclists make a difference for a livable city. As a dad and cyclist myself, I know that when we calm our streets, we calm behavior. Calmer streets save lives. I'm grateful to see this structural change and acceleration of funds for safety infrastructure. I'll be watching closely to see these projects deployed urgently."

Enforcement and Shared Responsibility

Police enforcement remains a critical part of the City's approach.

"While we are changing the streets and strengthening enforcement, I need drivers to do their part," Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said. "Slow down. Drive the speed limit. Put your phone away; we have a hands-free law in Virginia, and texting and driving is illegal. Vision Zero only works if we all take responsibility for one another."

"We owe it to the people we've lost-and to everyone who walks our streets-to act with urgency and resolve," Mayor Danny Avula said. "We will redesign our streets, we will enforce the rules, and we will keep pushing until no one has to fear for their life just getting where they need to go."

Major Investments Already Underway

Richmond's Department of Public Works has secured more than $750 million in discretionary funding for transportation projects aligned with Vision Zero, with total investments expected around $1.2 billion over the next five to six years.

"These investments are transforming our most dangerous corridors into safer, multimodal streets," said Bobby Vincent, Director of Public Works. "Projects like Hull Street Road and the upcoming Jahnke Road improvements reflect what data-driven, people-centered street design looks like in action. Construction is already underway. With the additional new and accelerated projects, we are speeding up our work towards Vision Zero. Everyone plays a role in the shared responsibility to make our streets safer. I urge everyone - drivers, walkers, riders - look both ways twice."

Mayor Avula was joined by Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II; Richmond City Councilmember Andrew "Gumby" Breton (1st District); Jason Kamras, RPS Superintendent; Bobby Vincent, City of Richmond Director of Public Works; Clarence T. Hunter, Jr., VCU Chief of Police; Rick Edwards, Richmond Chief of Police; Sydney Collier, Deputy Chief, Richmond Police Department, and Major Ronnie Armstead, Richmond Police Department.

Click here to learn more about Vision Zero.

On January 8, 2026, Mayor Danny Avula announced that City Hall's Observation Deck has reopened to the general public. The 18th floor overlook closed to the general public in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For decades, the City Hall Observation Deck has been one of Richmond's gems," said Mayor Danny Avula. "It's a place where you can step back, see our city from a new perspective, and appreciate how all our neighborhoods connect in ways that aren't always visible from the ground. Reopening the Observation Deck has been a major goal during my first year in office, and I'm so thrilled that we've been able to put the processes in place to welcome Richmonders back to this special space."

Updating security measures and elevator logistics enabled the reopening. "All our recent changes to City Hall have been about making sure residents and visitors feel welcome in the space," said Director of General Services Gail Johnson. "From our updated signage and new concierge on the first floor to renewed access to the Observation Deck, we want community members to know that this building is for them."

"City Hall is and always will be the people's house," said CAO Odie Donald II. "Opening this space is a reminder that buildings are also places of pride, connection, and perspective to the people they serve. From 18 floors up, you can see just how connected our city truly is-and now we have a safe and welcoming space for the public."

Currently, the Observation Deck is open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding City holidays), weather permitting. Members of the public can access the Observation Deck through a dedicated elevator. Explore the "Visiting City Hall" webpage for more information about reaching the Observation Deck and other City Hall services.

Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond is pleased to announce the appointment of Trinija Martin as the City's new Director of Human Resources, bringing more than 20 years of human resources leadership experience, a strong commitment to public service, and a core focus on workforce excellence.

"Continuously improving service delivery; overseeing the entire employee lifecycle from recruitment, hiring, and onboarding to training, compensation, and performance management; and legal compliance begins and ends with our employees," said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. "Ms. Martin's record illuminates her passion for people and dedication to the communities she's served. I'm excited to have her people centered approach to government managing our City's workforce needs."

Martin is an accomplished executive HR leader and military veteran whose career spans Fortune 500 organizations, like E*trade Financial, and municipal and county governments. Most recently, she served as Deputy Director of Human Resources for Wake County Government, the largest county in North Carolina, where she led enterprise-wide people strategies within one of the state's most complex governmental environments. Prior to Wake County, she served in HR Director role within the City of Waycross, GA, leading comprehensive municipal HR operations and workforce transformation initiatives.

"I believe deeply in the preeminence of character," Martin said. "Titles are rented, but character is owned. I am honored to serve the City of Richmond and look forward to partnering with leadership and employees to build a strong, equitable, and high-performing organization grounded in trust, accountability, and service to our community."

Martin starts in her role with the City of Richmond on January 12, 2026.

Yesterday, I learned about yet another crash in the City in which a driver hit and killed a pedestrian. Richmond Police Department's Crash Team is actively investigating this tragic incident-the second pedestrian death in just over a week.

It's another heartbreaking loss, and my thoughts are with the family of the victim.

Just this past October, on Halloween, one of the deadliest nights of the year for pedestrians, I gathered with community members, advocates, policy makers, members of the City's transportation teams, RPD, and others to reaffirm our commitment to Vision Zero, the City's goal to eliminate traffic deaths.

Today, in light of this recent tragedy, I am asking my team to identify urgent opportunities to improve safety for residents who walk, ride, or roll on the Southside, while also prioritizing critical Vision Zero policies that require longer-term implementation. We know the strategies that work-lowering speed limits in residential areas, creating high-visibility crosswalks, adding curb extensions, creating more protected bike and bus lanes-and we need to move with urgency and precision to focus our investments in the places they will matter most.

As I shared last week, I have also asked my Chief Administrative Officer to consider immediate actions that can increase safety at the downtown intersection on East Broad Street and 10th where a pedestrian was hit and killed by driver while crossing in a crosswalk. I have spoken with VCU Health leadership, and I know VCU is also committed to addressing these safety issues alongside the City.

Finally, I urge every driver: slow down, put your phone away. We cannot accept traffic deaths as normal. The only way we will achieve the goal of zero traffic-related deaths, is by committing to a culture of safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and changing our behaviors to prioritize safety for all.

-Danny