On a recent morning, Chesterfield’s Community Enhancement Department collaborated with volunteers and staff from Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity to clear out a nearly 3,000-square-foot house on Sheldeb Drive. This marked the first step in its renovation and eventual resale as part of the county’s affordable housing inventory.
Lauren Marshall, director of communications and marketing for Richmond Habitat, expressed enthusiasm about the project: “It’s an easy project to get behind, either from a staff or volunteer perspective, because you feel like you’re doing something meaningful – you’re making the dream of home ownership real – and you’re getting your hands dirty while doing it.”
Chesterfield acquired the property in June 2024 after declaring it blighted two years prior. The Board of Supervisors conveyed it to Richmond Habitat last August. The organization plans to renovate extensively and sell it to a family earning no more than 80% of Area Median Income.
Nicholas Feucht, real estate development and housing coordinator for Community Enhancement, remarked on the significance: “It’s an exciting day. We don’t have a ton of affordable housing, but it will be nice to add options like this when we can.”
The initiative uses federal Community Development Block Grant funding for property acquisition costs. Richmond Habitat can access federal grants for unexpected renovation expenses while providing home ownership opportunities that address the ongoing nationwide housing affordability crisis.
Feucht highlighted current challenges: “The trend right now… is interest rates have risen rapidly in a short period of time and home prices continue to go up. That means there are fewer properties available that people can afford without putting themselves in a financially precarious position.”
Virginia law allows localities to acquire blighted properties through negotiated purchase or eminent domain. Most such properties in Chesterfield are sold at auction due to nonpayment of taxes. Currently, Chesterfield has several residential properties identified as blighted by the Board of Supervisors.
One such property on Rams Circle was acquired following efforts to resolve maintenance issues with its owner. It was declared surplus by the Board in April and conveyed to Richmond Habitat for renovation.
Feucht noted limitations: “We’re not going to do this over and over again… Sometimes there are bigger problems that are hard to resolve and the county has to step in.”
Once renovations are complete on Sheldeb Drive and Rams Circle properties, Chesterfield plans for Maggie Walker Community Land Trust to purchase the lots under both homes, removing land costs as a factor in rising housing prices.
Marshall commented on Sheldeb Drive’s potential despite its current state: “But it’s going to need a lot of love… We’re so grateful to have the connection with Chesterfield.”
