Open Space & Land Use
Encourages sustainable land use patterns and protecting urban open spaces by focusing on topics
such as: the urban tree canopy, green spaces, mixed use development and affordable housing.
Richmond Riverfront Plan
The city is developing a
Richmond Riverfront Plan as part of the fulfillment of the Downtown
Master Plan adopted in 2009. The James River was one of the Seven Foundations of the Downtown Plan where it
was recognized as Richmond's "great, wet Central Park." The overall goal is to develop a plan that will
establish the river as the focus of the community, promote a sustainable riverfront corridor, strengthen
linkages between the river and adjacent neighborhoods, identify sites for strategic private redevelopment
and public improvements, and evaluate potential for quality open spaces and public recreational opportunities
along the riverfront. The purpose of the plan is to create a conceptual design to guide the future direction
of the downtown Richmond riverfront on both sides of the James River from the Lee Bridge to Ancarrows Landing
on the south bank and Rocketts Landing on the north bank.
Urban Tree Canopy
The city has been designated for twenty consecutive years as a “Tree City USA” by the National
Arbor Day Foundation. The Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) was identified as an important resource through the Downtown
Master Plan process and the city is working to restore it with programs like
Adopt-A-Tree and volunteer efforts
including the Richmond Tree Stewards.
Urban tree canopy is the layer of leaves, branches and stems that cover the ground when viewed from above.
UTC provides many benefits to communities including improving water quality, lowering temperatures, reducing air
pollution, enhancing property values, providing wildlife habitat, facilitating social and educational opportunities
and providing aesthetic benefits.
Urban Forestry Commission
The Urban Forestry Commission was established to
help improve the city's urban forestry resources through policy, development, advice, education and fundraising.
James River Park Conservation Easement
In 2009, Richmond became the first city in Virginia to place a major urban park system under
a conservation easement when it worked with a number of partners to create the
James River Park Conservation Easement to permanently conserve approximately 280 acres of property
in the James River Park System from future development.
Green Space Along the James River
The city is acquiring green space along the James River for public access and recreational
opportunities to enhance the quality of life for citizens.
Richmond Green Infrastructure Assessment
The city partnered with the Green Infrastructure Center Inc. (GIC), the Richmond Regional
Planning District Commission (RRPDC) and E² Inc. to assess the city’s green infrastructure. Green infrastructure
includes the urban tree canopy that cools the city in the summer and cleans the air; the James River and tributaries
that provide habitat for fish and recreation for city residents and visitors; and the parks and other greenways that
provide habitat for wildlife. The
Green Infrastructure Assessment report presents the results of the assessment:
a potential citywide green infrastructure network and strategies that can be applied at the neighborhood scale to
improve habitat, recreational access and water quality.
Blighted Property Redevelopment to Reuse Existing Building Stock
The Neighborhoods in Bloom program redevelops blighted property. The Vacant Property Registry and spot
blight abatement are effective enforcement tools. Neighborhoods in Bloom staff work with non-profit groups to buy,
rehabilitate and sell vacant houses for homeownership. City staff also manages the Neighborhood Stabilization Program
to buy foreclosed properties to be restored for affordable home ownership and rental opportunities. In addition to
managing housing programs, staff provides technical assistance to persons interested in starting or strengthening
civic associations.
Adaptive Reuse and Green Building
Richmond has beautiful historic architecture and one of the most sustainable things we can do is
to preserve and reuse existing buildings. Both the Commonwealth and the city have strong historic tax credit
programs that enable the private sector to adaptively reuse existing buildings.
Neighborhood Revitalization
The city of Richmond is committed to enhancing the vitality of the city's neighborhoods. The city
is engaged in many programs to strengthen communities, increase homeownership, promote attractive affordable housing,
and reduce blight. Neighborhoods in Bloom is an innovative program that supports the restoration of Richmond's
historic neighborhoods. The city partners with the community and key stakeholders on transformative community
initiatives such as the East End Transformation
Initiative. The city administers federal entitlement
funds to develop affordable housing opportunities, eliminate blight and improve the quality of life in
Richmond's neighborhoods.
