The Race for Virginia's 1st District, Mayo Island, and the Felon Who Built Scott's Addition
Cheers RVA!
Today will be partly cloudy with a chance of a rain shower, with a high of 70 and a low of 60.
the juice:
Mayor Avula has announced plans to expand access to affordable housing by adding $2 million to the City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), bringing the total fund allocation for FY 2026 to $15 million.
Avula said:
Everywhere I go, Richmonders tell me how urgently we need more affordable housing. I support that wholeheartedly, because this incredible city should be a place where people at every income level can access safe, quality homes in neighborhoods with strong public amenities.
The money will come from the city’s Delinquent Tax Sales Special Fund, which holds proceeds from the sale of properties delinquent on real estate taxes.
The same fund was used as the source of restitution payment for Marvin Grimm Jr., the man wrongly incarcerated for more than 40 years.
the pulp:
Henrico’s Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor has decided to run against incumbent Rob Whittman for the US House of Representatives in Virginia’s 1st district, which encompasses 130k registered voters in Henrico, 130k in Chesterfield, and 73k in Hanover, as well as parts of Eastern Virginia. Taylor joins a list of 10 Democrats challenging the 18-year incumbent in a district that leans Republican.
Mayo Island is now under a conservation easement and officially part of the James River Park System, ensuring the 14-acre island remains a park, via WTVR. The $15 million purchase has been in the works for nearly a decade, with future plans to remove the concrete and increase flood resilience. Demolition will start soon and the park set to open by October of 2026.
the dive:
R. Anthony Harris for RVAMag dives into the “felon who built Scott’s Addition”, a story about a man by the name of Justin Glenn French whose real estate empire collapsed resulting in him serving time in prison, while simultaneously opening the door for the revitalization we see in the district today.
Harris writes:
French charmed even Richmond’s most cautious operators. He had as many as 100 properties under his control at one point, including warehouses in Scott’s Addition and residential buildings in Church Hill. In a city where supporting creativity was almost a requirement of wealth, he fit the role perfectly: the ex-con turned visionary, the man who could save neighborhoods and make money while doing it.
Read the full story here.
the vibe:
A final trip to the Diamond.
Have a memorable day RVA!
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