Henrico supervisors approve ‘transformational’ redevelopment of Glenwood Farms

At its Aug. 13 meeting, the Henrico Board of Supervisors approved what Fairfield Supervisor Roscoe Cooper, III called a “historic, transformational” proposal to redevelop the Glenwood Farms apartments and shopping center located along East Laburnum Avenue near Mechanicsville Turnpike. The entire 34-acre development will be replaced, increasing the number of residential units from 240 to 950 while maintaining some commercial space.

As many as 555, or 58%, of the residential units will be multi-family rentals, with some being restricted to families with a member who is 55 or older. The development will happen in two phases; Phase one will take place largely north of Laburnum and include 140 townhomes and 425 apartments (175 of which will be age-restricted), while phase two will finish the remainder of housing construction and take place south of Laburnum on both sides of Byron Street.

All residential buildings will be at least three stories tall, with one four-story building, and commercial space will move from Byron Street to face Laburnum along Bolling Road. Development also will include amenities like “pocket parks,” pedestrian trails, pools, and clubhouses, and bus stops on the north and south sides of Laburnum. The county has committed to build a public road on the north side of the property to connect Howard and Bolling Roads, and sidewalks will be installed on both sides of all interior streets.

Neighbors raised concerns about how the new development would impact crime and traffic and whether it would affect their ability to receive long-awaited amenities like sidewalks, curb gutters, and street lights.

“You’re proposing all this new development and all these fancy amenities,” said local resident Donna Hoover. “Nothing has been done to change or improve the neighborhoods for those of us senior adults who’ve lived here for 30-plus years. We can hear gunshots almost every night of the week.”

Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas pointed to a 10% county-wide crime reduction in the last year and road improvements tied to the Essex Village development, now called St. Luke’s Apartments. He and Director of Public Works Terrell Hughes also both pledged to meet with Hoover about her concerns.

Others asked whether the county should prioritize upscale housing when poverty, housing affordability, and homelessness continue to be challenges for many residents.

“We have all this great housing. How many people, with all this young adult poverty, are we getting into these houses?” said Rev. Monique Kelly of Great Hope Baptist Church. “It looks good, but for the people, it’s only the results that count.”

In moving for approval, Cooper said that the development would provide affordable housing and housing for seniors, while ensuring no displacement for existing residents.

The board also approved, in a separate motion, the creation of a Glenwood Farms Resident Support Fund to be administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Richmond. The fund will support residents during the redevelopment, with a goal of $3 million in donations from charitable and governmental entities.

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In other matters, the board approved proposal to expand the Bacova subdivision, at the intersection of Pouncey Tract Road (Route 271) and Liesfeld Farm Drive, by as many as 32 additional units. These new townhomes would not be connected to the existing street network within Bacova but would be accessed from Liesfeld Farm. Townhomes facing Short Pump Manor to the north will only be three stories, to reduce privacy concerns, and the balcony terraces on other townhomes will be screened at the ends to limit visibility.

The board also made two changes to county ordinances in response to new state laws.

First, Henrico may not disconnect water or sewer service for nonpayment on or before a state holiday, on Fridays or weekends, if the temperature will exceed 91 degrees within 24 hours of the scheduled disconnection, or within 30 days of the governor declaring a state of emergency due to a communicable disease. Additionally, the county and not the property owner is now required to verify that any land-disturbing activity is covered under the county’s general construction permit.