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Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Real Estate Foundation Submits Richmond Hall Redevelopment Project for City Review

Summary

Proposed redevelopment would transform properties along Richmond Road into 37 high-quality townhomes designed to complement the character of Williamsburg.

Full Description

August 21, 2026 — The Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Real Estate Foundation (WMREF) has submitted plans for the proposed Richmond Hall Redevelopment Project to the City of Williamsburg, formally beginning the city's public review and entitlement process for the property along Richmond Road.

The proposal calls for the redevelopment of an assemblage of properties generally located along Richmond Road between Brooks Street and Matoaka Court into a residential community of 37 for-sale townhomes.

WMREF has engaged Kahler Slater Architects and Timmons Group as the project's design and engineering team. Working with the Foundation, the team has helped develop a program and site plan specifically responsive to the property's location, surrounding neighborhoods and the character of the Richmond Road corridor.

The proposed townhomes will incorporate traditional architectural forms, proportions and materials intended to complement their Williamsburg setting while providing a new, high-quality housing option within the city.

"This is an important site, and we recognize that what is built here needs to feel like it belongs in Williamsburg," said Logan Hall, Executive Director of the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Real Estate Foundation. "Our objective has been to develop a plan that is economically viable, architecturally appropriate and respectful of the surrounding neighborhoods and Richmond Road corridor. We believe the proposal we've submitted accomplishes those goals."

A Deliberate Approach to the Site

The proposed residential program is the result of an extensive evaluation of potential uses for the property.

During the planning process, WMREF considered several redevelopment scenarios, including a hotel, a mixed-use development incorporating student housing similar in concept to Tribe Square, retail uses, and residential development.

Ultimately, the Foundation determined that a lower-intensity, for-sale residential community was the most appropriate long-term use for the site.

"We had a number of options available to us, including programs that could have resulted in a significantly more intensive development," Hall said. "We ultimately kept coming back to the same question: what belongs here? We believe a thoughtfully designed residential community is the right answer for this particular property and for this part of Williamsburg."

The decision reflects the Foundation's emphasis on long-term stewardship rather than simply maximizing development intensity. The proposed plan is intended to create an appropriate transition between Richmond Road and the surrounding residential neighborhoods while establishing a cohesive architectural identity for a collection of properties that have historically developed independently of one another.

Community Conversations Have Helped Inform the Proposal

Prior to submitting the application, WMREF representatives met with a number of local residents, business owners and Â鶹Æƽâ°æ alumni to introduce the redevelopment concept, answer questions and hear perspectives about the future of the site.

Those conversations have been constructive, and the individuals with whom the Foundation has met have expressed support for the redevelopment and the overall direction of the project.

"We wanted to have conversations with people in the community before beginning the formal public process," Hall said. "The feedback we've received has been very encouraging. Just as importantly, those conversations have given us an opportunity to listen, answer questions, and better understand what people value about this part of Williamsburg."

WMREF expects that dialogue to continue as the project proceeds through the city's public review process.

A City of Williamsburg Development Project

Although the Real Estate Foundation is affiliated with Â鶹Æƽâ°æ and exists to support the university's long-term mission, the Richmond Hall Redevelopment Project is a Real Estate Foundation project being developed on privately owned property within the City of Williamsburg. The project is not being funded or subsidized in any way by the university or the Commonwealth. Accordingly, the project is proceeding through the city's established land-use approval process.

The Foundation has submitted the necessary land-use applications to the city, including requests for rezoning and a Special Use Permit. The proposal will now proceed through review by City staff, the Planning Commission, and, ultimately, City Council. Those proceedings will provide opportunities for public review and comment before any final land-use approvals are granted.

Reinvesting in the Richmond Road Corridor

The Richmond Hall Redevelopment Project would replace existing and formerly developed properties with a cohesive residential community designed to strengthen the Richmond Road corridor and contribute to the city's tax base.

The project will generate significant real estate tax revenue for the City of Williamsburg in addition to the economic activity associated with the project's construction and future residents.

The redevelopment also represents the next chapter for a collection of properties that have served a variety of uses over time, including the former Suter's Furniture property, Days Inn and Tioga Motel properties, as well as Richmond Hall.

"Our role as a Real Estate Foundation requires us to think long-term," Hall said. "This is an opportunity to take a collection of properties with very different histories and uses and create something cohesive, attractive and lasting. We want the finished project to be something that strengthens this part of Richmond Road and that both the Foundation and the community can be proud of decades from now."

The Foundation will continue working with city staff and the community as the proposal advances through the public review process. Additional information regarding public meetings and hearings will be available through the City of Williamsburg as those dates are scheduled.

About the Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Real Estate Foundation

The Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Real Estate Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization that acquires, develops, manages and stewards real estate in support of Â鶹Æƽâ°æ's long-term mission. Through thoughtful investment and responsible development, the Foundation seeks to create lasting value for the university and the Greater Williamsburg community.

Media Contact:

Logan Hall
Executive Director
Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Real Estate Foundation
5300 Discovery Park Boulevard
Williamsburg, VA 23188