Richmond City Council’s Nov. 9 agenda listed a special-use permit for 33 for-sale townhomes on the former Seventh Street Christian Church site at 4101 Grove Ave., down from 72 units in the first plan, according to Richmond BizSense’s local government briefs for Nov. 9, 2026. We did not find a report of the vote, so treat the permit as pending until the city clerk’s record says otherwise.
What is on the table at Grove and Malvern
Macfarlane Partners is asking for the permit to redevelop about 2 acres in the Near West End. BizSense listed the item on the council’s consent agenda, which is the part of a meeting usually taken up in one batch. The buildings are three stories.
The unit count has moved more than once. BizSense reported in April 2026 that the October 2025 plan had 24 townhomes and 48 condominiums. The April revision dropped the condo building and settled on 35 townhomes. BizSense’s Oct. 5 briefs still showed 35 on the Planning Commission agenda, and the Nov. 9 briefs show 33. We could not find a source explaining the last two-unit change.
Why the plan shrank
Developer Charles Macfarlane’s firm cited feedback on parking, density, height and traffic, per the April BizSense report. The same report said the changes followed talks with neighbors and City Councilman Andrew Breton. Two details from that report:
- Each townhome moved from a one-car garage to a two-car garage.
- The old sanctuary, once partly kept for other uses, is now planned for demolition.
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What the April report says about size and price
These figures come from the April 13 BizSense report, not from a current price list, and plans can change before anything is built.
| Item | October 2025 plan | April 2026 plan |
|---|---|---|
| Total units | 72 | 35 |
| Townhome size | 2,240 to 2,640 sq ft | 2,600 to 2,800 sq ft |
| Garage | One-car | Two-car |
| Planned prices | Not in the report | $1.25 million to $1.45 million |
At those planned prices, the loan size matters more than the sticker. Our mortgage calculator shows monthly payments, and our preferred lenders can tell you what a purchase in that range needs. Our new construction page lists homes that are on the market now.
Two other Richmond items on the same Nov. 9 agenda
The briefs list a lease of land at 311 Bainbridge St. to Sampson Paints LLC, tied to Thalhimer Realty Partners. It would support a public park next to the apartment conversion of the former Sampson Coatings factory in Manchester. Council would also consider a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority for redeveloping Gilpin Court public housing. BizSense says it could serve as a template for other public housing communities.
For more local government coverage, see our Richmond area news and the City of Richmond community hub.
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Frequently asked questions
Has City Council voted on the Grove Avenue permit?
The Nov. 9 briefs only previewed the agenda, and we found no report of the outcome. Check the Richmond city clerk’s record or BizSense for the result before relying on it.
Who is designing and permitting the project?
Per the April BizSense report, 3North designed the townhomes, DRW Consultants did the traffic study, and Preston Lloyd of Williams Mullen is handling the special-use permit process.
What did the traffic study find?
The April BizSense report said the study found the project’s effect on local traffic would be ‘minuscule.’ That is the study’s finding as reported, not an independent check.
Is a bus stop planned?
The April report says a GRTC bus stop shelter is proposed for the southwest corner of the site, along with a small park with benches and garden features.
Has a similar Grove Avenue project been approved?
BizSense reported in April that the Lafayette Green project at 3923 Grove Ave. was cut from 16 townhomes to 10 and received city council approval in February 2026 after neighborhood opposition.
When would the townhomes be built or sold?
None of the three BizSense reports we read gives a construction start or sales date. Permit approval is a first step, so any timeline would come from the builder.
Did the Planning Commission see it first?
BizSense’s Oct. 5, 2026 briefs listed the request on the Planning Commission’s regular agenda for that week. We did not find a report of the commission’s vote.
