New Planned Parenthood facility in Richmond 1 step closer to becoming reality

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A new Planned Parenthood location could be coming to the city of Richmond in the near future.

The company is looking to build a facility in the city’s Northside. At a Richmond Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, July 16, the project was recommended for approval from Richmond City Council.

If approved, the facility would be built on the corner of Chamberlayne Avenue and Azalea Avenue, where a school used to be.

“This was the REAL School, this was an area where there was a program for those who were recently incarcerated to get job skills and training here,” Councilmember Ann Frances-Lambert, who represents the area, told 8News.

If the project is approved, the current building would be demolished. Lambert hopes the land where the former school sits could eventually serve the community in an entirely different way.

“This corridor has a lot of human services needs, and I believe a state-of-the-art facility is something that we can definitely utilize,” Lambert said.

The facility, which would be funded by a $6 million investment by Planned Parenthood, would be the third clinic to provide abortions in Richmond. With those facilities being in the city’s West End and Museum District, Lambert said this type of health care access is needed on the Northside.

“Not only will Planned Parenthood be providing abortion services, but there’ll be also providing cancer screenings and primary care services, not just for women, but for everyone,” Lambert said. “And that’s something that is desperately needed, something that is right on the bus line.”

However, not everyone is on board with the idea of another abortion clinic coming to the city.

“There are many people who don’t want to see the city of Richmond become the capital for abortion in the South,” said Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation. “And the idea that Planned Parenthood thinks this is their opportunity is extremely concerning.”

Cobb also shared concerns about the process that led to this proposed project.

“Other entities deserve the opportunity to bid on such a property. I can imagine there are nonprofits that want to help the homeless, want to help mental health, and they’re not being afforded the opportunity to jump into this and consider this property for themselves,” Cobb said.

However, Lambert explained that, because the building was surplus for the city, it can be sold to anyone.

“Here in the city of Richmond, we can decide what we do with our land. And so, you know, I feel like using this land for something that’s desperately needed for our community is a great decision,” Lambert said.

The Virginia League for Planned Parenthood sent 8News the following statement about the proposed facility:

Since the Supreme Court struck down [Roe v. Wade] and created a crisis for many folks living in states with abortion bans, the number of patients seeking abortion care in our Richmond health centers has more than doubled. Before the Dobbs decision, we saw about 225 patients a month in Richmond for abortion care and now see more than 500 each month. And the number of folks seeking care from out of state continues to increase. While we work to meet the emergent need of folks throughout the south who must seek care here in Virginia, we need to ensure we can still provide care to the tens of thousands of folks who rely on us for all of the other services we provide from affordable contraception to gender affirming care to basic primary care. VLPP intends to increase our capacity to see everyone who needs us.

Paulette McElwain, CEO, Virginia League for Planned Parenthood

Lambert encourages anyone with concerns about the proposal to contact her office directly. Richmond City Council will vote on the measure at their meeting on Monday, July 22.

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