Published October 22, 2026 | Written by the Mission Realty Team.
Richmond’s Planning Commission was scheduled on Tuesday, October 20, to consider a resolution adopting the Jackson Ward Community Plan as an amendment to the Richmond 300 master plan. The same agenda carried a Virginia Union University request for a six-story, 100-unit apartment building at 1209 Overbrook Road. When we checked on Wednesday, October 21, the city’s legislative calendar showed no minutes or action summary for the meeting, so this post covers what was on the agenda, not how the commissioners voted.
Our source is Richmond BizSense’s unsigned Agenda briefs for October 19, checked against the City of Richmond’s own pages. This is our summary, with local context added. Our other Richmond area news posts follow the same format.
What the Jackson Ward plan is and where it goes next
BizSense describes a nearly 480-page document, four years in the works, meant to guide development in Jackson Ward. It sat on the commission’s consent agenda. The city’s Jackson Ward page says that if the resolution passes, the plan is forwarded to City Council for final approval. So adoption is a two-step process, and the second step has no date that we have seen.
The city’s page also gives the paper trail. A draft went to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on November 17, 2023, a revised draft followed in June 2024, and HUD accepted it in August 2024. The city has posted an October 2026 edited version and a Summary of Edits comparing it with the June 2024 version. The city says the plan brings together Gilpin Court and Jackson Ward residents, planning experts and elected officials. We have not summarized the edits, so read them before relying on any detail.
Also on the agenda: Franklin Street bollards
BizSense reports a public works proposal to install removable bollards on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights around East Franklin Street between North 17th and North 18th streets in Shockoe Bottom. The stated aim is to pedestrianize those blocks and limit vehicle traffic. For other Shockoe Bottom news, see our post on the Seabrook apartments RFP.
The housing item: 100 apartments on Overbrook Road
Virginia Union University filed a special use request for the six-story, 100-unit building at 1209 Overbrook Road. According to BizSense, a rendering shows part of a two-story hospital building preserved and worked into the development. BizSense gives no rents, unit mix or schedule, and we have found none in a public record, so we are not offering any. The commission’s agenda is the place to look for the staff report links.
For citywide context, the mayor’s housing plan page says the city expects to put at least $13.4 million of city funds toward about 1,000 affordable homes in fiscal year 2027. It also says the zoning rewrite called Code Refresh would allow production of over 30,000 new homes. Those are the city’s statements of intent, not forecasts we can verify. They also do not say how many homes would land in Jackson Ward. Our City of Richmond page covers the neighborhoods.
What to watch next
Three items: the Planning Commission’s minutes and action summary on the city’s Legistar calendar, a City Council date for the Jackson Ward plan if the commission approved it, and the outcome of the Virginia Union special use request.
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Our Jackson Ward community page covers the neighborhood, and our buy with us page explains how we work with buyers. Another city apartment item: the Dairy Bar demolition and 321 apartments in Scott’s Addition.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Jackson Ward Community Plan adopted?
Not yet, as far as we can confirm. The city says a Planning Commission resolution would forward the plan to City Council for final approval. The city’s legislative calendar showed no action summary for the October 20 meeting when we checked on October 21.
How long is the plan?
BizSense describes a nearly 480-page document that took four years to produce.
What is the HUD connection?
The city’s page says a draft was submitted to HUD on November 17, 2023, revised in June 2024 and accepted in August 2024. The page does not explain what acceptance triggers. The plan itself does.
What changed from earlier versions?
The city published a Summary of Edits comparing the June 2024 HUD-accepted version with the October 2026 edited version. It is linked from the city’s Jackson Ward page, and we have not summarized it.
How can I comment at a Planning Commission meeting?
The October 20 agenda says citizens may participate virtually or send written comments to [email protected] before noon on the day of the meeting. The meeting was set for the 5th Floor Conference Room at City Hall, 900 East Broad Street.
Where can I find the commission’s minutes?
On the city’s Legistar calendar. The Planning Commission page explains how to filter the calendar by year and department.
