On June 4, the City of Richmond announced the renewal and adoption of a 15-year lease agreement for Southside Plaza, reinforcing the City’s long-term commitment to delivering accessible, equitable, and high-quality public services through coordinated, community-centered facilities, while saving tax payers over $13,000 per month

Southside Plaza serves as a critical hub for resident services and currently houses the City’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement, the Office of Finance satellite office, the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, the Richmond Public Schools Welcome Center, and the Department of Social Services hub. Looking ahead, Southside Plaza is positioned for expanded collaboration and co-location of services that includes future partners such as the City’s Office of Aging and Disability Services, the Department of Juvenile Services, and the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts. These current and future co-located services reflect the City’s commitment to improving access, reducing barriers, and strengthening coordination across essential supports for residents.

This renewal reflects the City’s broader commitment to building a thriving Richmond, one that delivers responsive and effective government services, strengthens neighborhoods and families, advances equity, and ensures public spaces are designed with dignity, accessibility, and inclusion in mind. The continuation of the lease ensures continuity of operations and provides long-term stability for both staff and residents who rely on the facility. It also supports ongoing facility improvements designed to enhance the overall experience for everyone who uses the building. Within the first year of this renewal with Saul Centers, Inc., the City will be able to save $164,343 in rent, which breaks down to approximately $13,695 per month.  

"This lease renewal is an investment in our people centered approach to providing quality City services that are accessible to our people and communities " said Amy Popovich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Human Services. "Southside Plaza has become a vital community hub where residents can access multiple services in one convenient location. By securing this facility for the next 15 years, we are creating stability for our staff and residents, expanding opportunities for collaboration among service providers, and improving access to critical resources.”

As part of the improvements, the City has completed a first phase of interior upgrades, including new carpet installation. Planned improvements from both the city and the landlord include, but are not limited to new signage, a new front lobby design, replacement of all HVAC units, elevator repairs, and roof and window sealing.

The City of Richmond is expanding the types of service requests residents can submit through RVA311, making it easier than ever to report issues and request assistance related to the city's parks, trails, cemeteries, and community gardens.

New request categories will include issues related to cemetery concerns or community garden needs. Previously, residents could only submit information about trail conditions or an issue at a park.

"Richmond's parks, trails, cemeteries, and community gardens are important community assets that residents use and care about every day," said Chris Frelke, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. "Expanding RVA 311 gives residents a simple, convenient way to report concerns and request assistance, while helping our staff respond more efficiently and effectively. This enhanced service allows us to better maintain these spaces and ensure they remain safe, accessible, and welcoming for everyone."

This expansion of 311 strengthens the City's commitment to delivering responsive, accessible customer service by providing a convenient, centralized platform for residents to connect with local government. It also enhances the City's ability to track requests, identify maintenance priorities, and coordinate timely responses, helping ensure public spaces remain safe, welcoming, and well-maintained for all.

"RVA 311 is designed to make it easier for residents to connect with City services and get the assistance they need," said Pete Breil, Director of Citizen Service and Response. "By expanding service request options to include parks, trails, cemeteries, and community gardens, we're creating a more seamless customer experience and providing residents with a single, reliable place to report concerns, track progress, and stay informed throughout the resolution process. This enhancement helps us better understand community needs and respond more effectively."

"Residents should have an easy and reliable way to report issues in the public spaces they use every day," said Mayor Danny Avula. "By expanding RVA311 to include parks, trails, cemeteries, and community gardens, we're making City government more responsive while helping to ensure those important community assets remain safe, welcoming, and well-maintained."

For more information about RVA311 or to submit a request, visit www.rva311.com or download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store. 

Richmond, VA – The Richmond Departments of Public Works, Transportation and the General Services were recognized on the national stage during the American Public Works Association Conference recently held in Ocean City, Maryland earning prestigious awards and contributing expertise as facilitators. The conference brought together public works professionals from across the country to share innovative practices, strengthen collaboration within the industry and to celebrate excellence in service.

Among the highlights, the departments received the following awards:

APWA Robert S. Hopson Leadership Service Award

• Ms. Jacquelin Howie

APWA Structures $5M - $25M Winner

• Ms. Gail Johnson

APWA Mid-Atlantic Award Winners:

• Mr. Sayed Adel
• Dr. Afshin Famili

Additionally, the following employees were selected to facilitate and participate in conference sessions, sharing expertise and best practices with peers from across the nation. Their participation showcased the department’s leadership in advance public works operations and innovation.

APWA Mid-Atlantic Presentations:

• Mr. Rowes Hanna
• Mr. Daniel Wagner

NACTO Designing Cities Conference Poster and Presentation:

• Ms. Abigail Chaikin 
• Mr. Andy Boenau, Director of Richmond Transportation
• Bobby Vincent, Director of Public Works

The Department of Public Utilities is aware of a system error related to last week’s systems upgrade that has impacted payments for some accounts. Some utility payments have been received but not applied to customer accounts. DPU is working with our payment processor to correct this error and apply those payments that have not fully processed. 

Customers may call the DPU Call Center if they have been impacted but may experience a longer than usual wait time. Resolution is expected to occur within one to two business days, no action is required by customers as the payments will be processed as soon as the system error is corrected. DPU appreciates everyone’s patience while we work to resolve this issue in a timely manner.