A $50 million industrial park is about to go up in Varina, in eastern Henrico County, and the developer says it can be built by-right. That means no rezoning is needed for it, according to Richmond BizSense reporter Mike Platania, who published the story on November 2, 2026.
This post summarizes his report, then adds what it means if you are weighing a move to the east side of the metro. Where the source is silent, we say so.
What Richmond BizSense reported
- Developer: Commonwealth, a real estate firm based in Innsbrook that was formerly called Commonwealth Commercial. Ken Strickler is president and CEO.
- Site: 55 acres at the northwest corner of the Airport Drive and Pocahontas Parkway interchange.
- Size: 405,000 square feet in two buildings, one of 335,000 square feet and one of 70,000 square feet.
- Cost: $50 million for the project. Per county records cited by BizSense, Commonwealth bought the land last spring for $4 million.
- Schedule: Construction is about to begin, with completion targeted for September 2027.
- Tenants: None are named for this project.
BizSense reports that the two buildings are different sizes so they do not affect nearby wetlands. Strickler told the paper there is limited availability of entitled sites like this one in the Richmond area, and said, in his words, “We like the Richmond industrial market.”
One note on labels. The BizSense headline calls the project Commonwealth Airport Center, while the article text names it Airport South Commerce Center. We refer to it here as the Varina industrial park.
The design firm and general contractor are based in North Carolina. Commonwealth is an Innsbrook company, so it is a regional developer rather than a national chain.
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The road connection
The Pocahontas Parkway is Route 895. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau project profile describes it as an 8.8-mile toll road linking Chippenham Parkway at I-95 in Chesterfield County with I-295 in Henrico County, with a 1.58-mile connector to Richmond International Airport. The parkway opened in stages starting May 2002.
What it means for homebuyers near Varina
The BizSense story does not mention homes, subdivisions, traffic counts, hiring or truck routes, so none of those can be assumed. What it does give is a site, a size and a schedule, and that is enough to start your own homework if you are looking at Varina.
First, find the parcel. Ask for the exact address of any home you like in Varina and compare it with the interchange described above. Second, learn how the county zones land. Henrico’s zoning districts page says its M-1 light industrial district is meant for uses with minimal odors and noise, with many activities required to happen inside enclosed buildings. The article does not say which district applies here, so check the county record before relying on that.
Third, remember what by-right usually means in practice. The Henrico Planning Department says the Planning Commission hears rezoning and provisional use permit cases. Henrico’s page describes the commission’s hearings as rezoning and provisional use permit cases, so check the county’s planning pages to see what applies to this site. If a lot you want sits near undeveloped land, ask the county what its zoning allows before you write an offer. You can also read our recent coverage on the Richmond area news page, and the Henrico County community page collects the neighborhoods we cover.
If you are early in the process, our buyer process page explains how we work, and you can talk through budget with a lender partner from our preferred lenders list. For a wider look at the region, start at the communities index.
For more on the eastern end of the county, read our look at the Williamsburg Road rebuild near the airport and Sandston and our guide to neighborhoods with a short drive to the airport.
Frequently asked questions
Who is building the Varina industrial park?
Commonwealth, an Innsbrook-based real estate firm formerly known as Commonwealth Commercial, according to Richmond BizSense. Construction is by a Greensboro, North Carolina firm, Samet Corporation.
When will it be finished?
BizSense reports a target completion of September 2027, with construction about to begin as of its November 2, 2026 story.
How much land does the project cover?
The reported site is 55 acres, which Commonwealth bought last spring for $4 million according to county records cited by BizSense.
Does the article say who will lease the buildings?
No. No tenants are named for the Varina project. Commonwealth brokers Ben Bruni and Colton Konvicka are listed as handling leasing.
What does by-right mean?
In BizSense’s telling, the project can be built under its existing zoning without a rezoning. Henrico’s zoning and rezoning rules are in Chapter 24 of the County Code, which the county’s zoning page points to.
Where can I check zoning near a specific home?
Start with the Henrico Planning Department at (804) 501-4602 or 4301 East Parham Road, per the county’s planning page. Ask for the zoning of the parcel and the parcels beside it.
Will this change commute times or traffic?
The source does not say. The site is at the Airport Drive interchange on Route 895, but no traffic study or truck-route detail was reported.
Can Mission Realty tell me what else is planned nearby?
We can send you the county’s public records for any address you are considering. Use our contact page and tell us the address.
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