East End Richmond

Key Facts

• calendar_month

  2009

  Designed

• measuring_tape

  348 ac.

  Project Size

• account_circle

  Bon Secours Richmond Health System

  Client

About East End Richmond

A collaboration between the City of Richmond and the Bon Secours Virginia Health System, the East End Transformation Charrette focused on the rebirth of Church Hill, a legacy neighborhood with the region’s most historic buildings but in need of repair. The still-vibrant African-American community had been the victim of misguided public housing experiments that had disrupted its beloved walkable fabric. While the area had received philanthropic assistance and entrepreneurial interest, DPZ’s well-attended charrette helped focus and accelerate additional public-private efforts to incubate businesses, build housing and improve streetscapes.

DPZ proposals ranged from small infill to more ambitious interventions. Designs for a neighborhood center at the 25th Street and Nine Mile Road intersection supported a DOT-funded roundabout green already in the works, and completed in 2015, and helped catalyze subsequent investment. Municipal advocacy for this food desert location has led to the arrival of a new supermarket and other food-related enterprises. A grant-funded townhouse neighborhood broke ground in 2018 to replace a dilapidated housing project and a vacant high school. Leadership at all levels — elected officials, planning staff and corporate sponsors– has been exemplary.

Plan

Media