RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- In a unanimous vote on Tuesday night, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) approved Richmond Mayor Danny Avula's proposal of a new collaborative model for the redevelopment of Gilpin Court following months of pushback. During a special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, the RRHA's Board of Commissioners approved the "Joint Gilpin Transformation Working Group" -- a shared governance model first introduced by Avula back in November. The group would include city leaders and members of RRHA's board, as well as community partners and representation of Gilpin Court residents. Avula said this will help ensure transparency and allow all parties an equal seat at the table to guide decisions. Prior to Avula's proposal, the original plan involved RRHA redeveloping Gilpin Court under its private company, Richmond Development Corporation (RDC). This transfer would enable access to private funds that would help cover the costs of redevelopment better than public funds, according to RRHA CEO Steven Nesmith. This plan sparked backlash from residents and city leaders, with worries of ownership changes and the potential for displacement. Avula originally pushed back as well, saying he would not endorse the proposal until RRHA addressed concerns about the governance structure, among other necessary steps. Avula's resolution said the Joint Gilpin Transformation Working Group would have "the authority, power, financial oversight, public accountability, and shared responsibility to implement the Gilpin Court redevelopment and the larger Jackson Ward Community Plan." "As RRHA and the Mayor's Team moves forward with immediate next steps to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement for adoption in early 2026, which will list all the stakeholders that will be part of the 'Working Group' and how the group will move forward to fulfill the redevelopment of Gilpin. - RRHA will continue to fulfill its mission and collaborating with all City stakeholders to create a new pathway for public housing residents to achieve self-sufficiency," Nesmith said in a statement regarding RRHA's approval of the model. In a separate statement, Avula commended Nesmith's progress, stating that it is "a major step forward in a shared commitment to community transformation. “This is an incredibly meaningful step forward for our city,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “I’m grateful to the RRHA Board for their thoughtful engagement and for embracing a collaborative path that puts residents first. There is much challenging work ahead as we work through specifics, but I am encouraged by RRHA’s public commitment to a collaborative approach. To achieve our shared goals, the City and RRHA must work closely together.” Both the city and RRHA have said that additional planning and approvals need to be made before redevelopment begins, including the negotiation of a Memorandum of Agreement and a Cooperation Agreement to not only formalize the governance structure but help gain funding and resources. City officials said updates will be provided as the redevelopment effort continues. ...read more read less