City Council has approved a fresh honor for the founders of the Richmond Free Press.

Monday night, the governing body adopted the proposal of 8th District Councilwoman Reva M. Trammell for an honorary street sign bearing the names of the late editor and publisher Raymond H. Boone and his wife and current publisher, Jean P. Boone.

The future sign bearing Boone names is to be placed in the 5100 Beddington Road, near the residence the Boones purchased more than 31 years ago when they returned to Richmond to launch the weekly.

Mr. Boone was previously recognized with an honorary street sign at 5th and Franklin streets, outside the Free Press’ office building.

The vote on the sign came just two weeks after council honored the Boones with their recognition award.

The vote came at short meeting at which the council also authorized:

The city to spend more than $17 million in federal funds on multiple affordable housing developments and programs. The funding the city plans to use is from the American Rescue Plan, the Community Development Block Grant and other grants.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney praised the council for taking action and enabling City Hall to fulfill its promise to” create at least 1,000 affordable housing units per year” to help address the affordable housing crisis.

Funding for ARP is earmarked for 12 projects, according to the ordinance, while, the CDBG and other federal grants will aid other housing initiatives,

That includes a housing counseling program that the 35-year-old nonprofit Southside Community Development and Housing Corp. will operate to help families purchase homes, including the new eight dwellings in The Hollands located at 24th and Perry streets in South Side.

It also includes Pride Place, an initiative of the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls that serves homeless LGBTQ+ teens.

Payment of a 5 % bonus to thousands of city retirees and creation of a $1.7 million fund to enable the city to buy property for future developments as part of a reshuffle of more than $18 million in the current 2022-23 budget.

Development of a 17-story apartment complex with 533 units that is proposed for 301 W. 6th St. in Manchester; and

Creation of a day-care center called The Cottage School at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, 3601 Seminary Ave., which is proposed to serve up to 64 children.

The council also cleared the way for Central United Methodist Church to sell off its vacant parsonage at 1211 Porter St. for conversion into three apartments to gain funds to maintain the church that sits next door.