Housing concerns and fears of displacement dominated a Saturday meeting between Gilpin Court residents and the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, where community members pressed officials on redevelopment plans for the neighborhood.

The discussion at Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church was calmer than a week earlier, when frustrated residents and supporters walked out after clashing with officials over the same plans. 

 
Umar Kenyatta, state director of Black Wall Street Virginia, voices concerns about the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s proposal to use its nonprofit arm, the Richmond Development Corporation, in the Gilpin Court community redevelopment during a discussion Sept. 6 at Greater Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. 

“I started coming to these meetings three, four years ago and you’re still not bringing answers to the residents,” said Brothers Concerned for Gilpin member Edward Mayo. “You avoid the questions like they’re causing the problem by asking.” 

Richmond City Council member Stephanie Lynch, who represents the 5th District, was among the sharpest critics, repeating her skepticism of RRHA’s plans for Gilpin and its priorities. 

She pointed to her work with Creighton Court residents displaced during that neighborhood’s redevelopment, despite measures like housing choice vouchers and a tenant bill of rights, when questioning what could happen to families in Gilpin. 

Richmond City Council member Stephanie Lynch voices concerns at the meeting (George Copeland/Richmond Free Press)

"As a social worker, guess how many families that I have managed that were former Creighton residents and they’re living off of Nine Mile Road in hotels with their families?” Lynch said. “Over my dead … body will our people in this city have to go through the pain and the trauma of being displaced like that and not have anywhere to go.” 

Nesmith and other RRHA and housing officials stressed the importance of building tenant self-sufficiency and not reconcentrating poverty when discussing their plans. They also pointed to a lack of money when responding to questions about longstanding maintenance issues and redevelopment funding methods. 

RRHA has said there isn’t enough federal, state and local funding available to redevelop all of Gilpin, leading them to rely on alternate methods. A stakeholders meeting with Gilpin and Jackson Ward residents may be held in October, according to Nesmith, with further community discussions expected in the months ahead.

“I’m grateful that (Nesmith) is listening,” said Gilpin Informed Residents member Ashlee “Dreame” Boyd, who noted the work of her group and the Richmond Tenants Union to ensure RRHA engaged the community more. “As long as he continues to listen, and continues to have these meetings, then I don’t see no problem.”