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To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Deed of Temporary Utility Easement between the City of Richmond and the County of Henrico for the purpose of granting non-exclusive easements over, under, through, upon, and across certain portions of the property known as Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, is hereby authorized to execute a Deed of Temporary Utility Easement between the City of Richmond and the County of Henrico for the purpose of granting non-exclusive easements over, under, through, upon, and across certain portions of the property known as Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue. Such Deed of Temporary Utility Easement shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney and shall be substantially in the form of the document attached to this ordinance.
§2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
City of Richmond
Intracity Correspondence
DATE: September 17, 2025 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Daniel Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Sharon Ebert, DCAO - Planning & Economic Development Portfolio
THROUGH: Angie Rodgers, Director of Economic Development
FROM: Chris Nizamis, Real Estate Manager - Real Estate Strategies - DED
RE: To provide for the granting by the City of Richmond to Henrico County, Virginia three non-exclusive utility easements across certain portions of City-owned property known as the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue.
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ORD. OR RES No. _____________________________________________________________
PURPOSE: To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Deed of Temporary Utility Easement between the City of Richmond and the County of Henrico for the purpose of granting non-exclusive easements over, under, through, upon, and across certain portions of the property known as Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens located at 1800 Lakeside Avenue.
BACKGROUND: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens sits on property owned by the City of Richmond that is located in Henrico County at 1800 Lakeside Avenue and is identified as Tax Parcel No. 780-751-9222 in the 2025 records of the County of Henrico Finance Department’s Real Estate Assessment Division.
This easement request is for the completion of three 5-year easements for 1) two public water lines as shown on a plat entitled “Easement Plat Showing 20’ Public Water Line Easements Across the Property of City of Richmond”, prepared by the Timmons Group, dated April 19, 2024 and 2) for one sanitary sewer as shown on a plat entitled “Easement Plat Showing a Variable Width Public Sanitary Sewer Easement Across the Property of City of Richmond”, prepared by the Timmons Group, dated April 19, 2024 that exist on the property.
This upgrade was required Henrico County to accommodate the previous expansion and renovations related to the property. Said work was previously completed, however, due to various clerical matters the installation was never authorized by the City and the County does not have any records of the easement request. In order to correct this omission, Henrico County is requesting that the City approve the three utility easements and to affirm and clarify Henrico’s right to occupy and use certain portions of the LGBG Parcel for utilities purposes.
The subject parcel of real estate was devised and bequeathed to the City of Richmond in the will of Grace E. Arents and was previously known as the Bloemendaal Farms. In 1984, the City entered into a lease with the LGBG for a lease period that extends into perpetuity as long as LGBG maintains the parcel as a public park and botanical garden. The parcel is currently assessed at $35,855,500.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: None
STRATEGIC INITATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: None
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption.
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: October 14, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: November 10, 2025
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent Agenda
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: No committee referral pursuant to City Council’s Rule of Procedure - Rule VI (B) (3)
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Legal Department and the Department of Economic Development
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: Ord. # 83-275-250
ATTACHMENTS:
The two Plat Plans (showing pathway location for the two water lines and sanitary sewer)
Deed of Temporary Utility Easement Draft
Lease between the City of Richmond and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens
STAFF: Christopher Nizamis, Real Estate Manager - Real Estate Strategies/DED