title
To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition by gift, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, certain temporary construction easements, permanent retaining wall maintenance easements, and permanent utility easements for the public purpose of facilitating the construction and maintenance of the Lombardy Street CSX Bridge Replacement project.
body
WHEREAS, in the opinion of the Council of the City of Richmond, a public necessity exists for the acquisition of certain temporary construction easements, permanent retaining wall maintenance easements, and permanent utility easements, each hereinafter referred to as an “Interest” and all hereinafter referred to as the “Interests,” as shown on sheets 1A, 3, and 4 on a drawing designated as DPW Drawing No. O-29161, dated September 2026, and entitled “North Lombardy Street over CSXT Bridge Replacement for Walking and Biking,” a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this ordinance, for the public purpose of facilitating the construction of the Lombardy Street CSX Bridge Replacement project;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1 That a public necessity exists for the acquisition of the Interests as shown on sheets 1A, 3, and 4 on a drawing designated as DPW Drawing No. O-291618, dated September 2026, and entitled “North Lombardy Street over CSXT Bridge Replacement for Walking and Biking,” a copy of which is attached to and made a part of this ordinance, for the public purpose of facilitating the construction and maintenance of the Lombardy Street CSX Bridge Replacement project.
§ 2. That the Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, be and is hereby authorized and directed to, within the constraints imposed by this ordinance, (i) acquire, by gift, purchase, condemnation or otherwise, the aforementioned interests, (ii) act for and on behalf of the City of Richmond in agreeing or disagreeing with the owners of the properties from whom such Interests must be acquired upon the compensation to be paid therefor, and (iii) to execute the deeds and other documents necessary to complete the acquisition and acceptance of such Interests, provided that all such deeds and other documents first must be approved as to form by the City Attorney or the designee thereof.
§ 3. That in the event the City cannot agree with any owner of an Interest to be acquired pursuant to this ordinance on the terms of purchase thereof, the City Attorney is authorized to acquire such Interest by undertaking appropriate condemnation proceedings to exercise the City’s power of eminent domain for the purpose of facilitating the construction of the Lombardy Street CSX Bridge Replacement project.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: August 7, 2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Dr. Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Alfred L. Wiggins, DCAO for Operations
THROUGH: Bobby Vincent Jr.; Director of Public Works
FROM: M.S. Khara, P.E.; City Engineer
RE: TO DECLARE THAT A PUBLIC NECESSITY EXISTS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (CAO) OR DESIGNEE THEREOF, TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN Temporary and permanent EASEMENTS, BY VOLUNTARY CONVEYANCE, PURCHASE OR BY CONDEMNATION OF THREE PROPERTIES FOR THE Lombardy ST OVER CSXT bridge replacement project.
ORD. OR RES. No.
PURPOSE: To declare that a public necessity exists and to authorize the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) or designee thereof to acquire certain permanent and temporary easements, by voluntary conveyance, purchase or by condemnation proceedings of THREE properties for the construction of the Lombardy Street over CSXT bridge replacement as shown in the attached drawings prepared by Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP designated as DPW Drawing No. O-29161
BACKGROUND: This project will replace the existing structurally deficient bridge built circa 1903 and widened circa 1932. The project also identified a “rubble retaining wall along the east right of way north of the railroad. This retaining wall will be replaced as part of the bridge project.
Title searches performed indicated that (1) the retaining wall is on private property and (2) no maintenance easement exists on the adjacent. To maintain the new retaining wall, a permanent maintenance easement is required.
During development of the bridge replacement plan, it was determined that a temporary construction easement and permanent maintenance easements for the retaining walls necessary to maintain the elevation of Lombardy Street north of the railroad are necessary. Further, a utility easement is necessary on one property for WANRack.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Community engagement efforts have been ongoing through project conception and design. The City met with Virginia Union University, Maggie Walker Governors School during the initial design phase. Also, the City met with members of the public at the project’s Design Public Hearing on December 18th 2024 at Maggie Walker school. Further, the project has been reviewed by the Planning Commission for the architectural treatments related to the retaining wall and raised shared use path on the bridge with approval given in the Planning Commission meeting dated July 15, 2025.
STRATEGIC INITATIVES ALIGNMENT: This project conforms to Goal 8-Equitable Transportation in the Richmond 300 master plan by expanding and improving walking and biking infrastructure. Also, the project conforms to VDOT and City goal of reducing the number of poor bridges in the City inventory to less than 10%.
FISCAL IMPACT: None. All funding required for the project has been previously budgeted by the City.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon Adoption.
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 28, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: October 13, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent Agenda.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Planning Commission
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Public Works; Law Department; Budget & Strategic Planning; Chief Administrative Office; Deputy Chief Administrative Office of Operations; Copies also sent to: City Mayor (Dr. Danny Avula); and City Attorney (2).
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None.
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A - Excerpt of plans from DPW Plans O-29161
STAFF: Lamont L. Benjamin, P.E.; Capital Projects Administrator 804-646-6339.
Thomas A. Westbrook, P.E.; Project Manager 804-646-3421