RICHMOND, Va. — A historic church property in Richmond’s Near West End could soon give way to new housing, as Seventh Street Christian Church moves forward with plans to sell its longtime home near Grove and Malvern to developer Charles Macfarlane.
The proposal, which calls for more than 30 townhomes and condos, has drawn a mix of support and concern from neighbors.
For decades, the church’s parking lot has served as overflow space for the adjacent Greek Orthodox Cathedral during the annual Richmond Greek Festival. This year’s 48th festival coincided with heightened conversations about the property's future.
Reverend Hollie Woodruff said the Seventh Street Christian Church congregation has been weighing what to do with the property for nearly nine years. She said they're facing mounting repair costs and upkeep expenses that have strained resources. About $150,000 of the church’s annual budget goes toward maintaining the building, with major HVAC and boiler issues potentially costing millions more in future maintenance.
"Doesn’t it make sense to relinquish this and to pour those assets into the Richmond community? So that’s what we hope to do with the sale of the building," Woodruff said.
Woodruff said the decision to sell was not easy.
Some residents, including long-time Richmond festivalgoer Victoria DeRoche, worry about how redevelopment might affect parking, traffic, green space, and the neighborhood’s character.
“I’m not against them doing housing here, but let’s make sure that the housing is supporting the neighborhood, supporting the Greek church next door, and fitting into the community that’s already here,” DeRoche said.
The original proposal from Macfarlane included more units, but was reduced after community feedback on density, height, and parking.
Woodruff said the revisions were intended to address concerns and create a plan that, “neighbors of the city can get behind.”
Richmond City Council member Andrew Breton said the sale and proposed redevelopment will undergo a full city review, including traffic studies, before any approvals.
He said that while Seventh Street Christian Church has graciously provided parking for Greek Festival goers for years, the city cannot require the property to remain a parking lot. Breton said his office is committed to helping preserve the festival’s experience in other ways.
“Hopefully we can find a proposal that is beneficial to the neighborhood and beneficial to the property owners,” Breton said.
The organizer of the Greek Festival declined to comment on the project. The redevelopment remains in its early stages, with no final plan submitted to the city.
Woodruff said she hopes the eventual sale will allow the congregation to reinvest in Richmond.
“We really did try and be mindful,” she said, “and we believe our assets can make a greater impact if we’re not bound to this building.”
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