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Richmond planners back turning old Virginia Home into apartments

Richmond planners back turning old Virginia Home into apartments

Built World Richmond, VA local

The 1930s Byrd Park nursing home would become 131 units, 30% affordable, as the nonprofit moves to Hanover County

August 24th, 2026: Planners back apartment conversion

Overview

Updated Aug 26

The Virginia Home has cared for adults with physical disabilities in the same Byrd Park building since 1930. Now it's moving to a $128 million campus in Hanover County, and its old home is slated to become 131 apartments.

Richmond's planning commission recommended approval on Aug. 18. The City Council has the final vote, and the project splits neighbors: some who've lived here for decades fear parking strain and student renters, while others say the city needs the 30% income-restricted units.

Why it matters

If the City Council approves, the century-old Byrd Park nursing home becomes 131 apartments, 30% income-restricted, and a historic Richmond institution moves to the suburbs.

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Key Indicators

131
Planned apartment units
Audeo Partners would convert the six-story building at 1101 Hampton St. into multifamily housing.
30%
Income-restricted units
Set aside for households earning up to 80% of the area median income.
160
Beds in new Hanover facility
Up from 130 beds in the Byrd Park building; new campus costs $128 million.
$18.1M
Assessed value of Hampton St. property
City assessment of the 2-acre parcel and building.

Voices

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People Involved

Lory Markham
Lory Markham
Developer and planner (Markham Planning) seeking the special use permit
Awaiting City Council vote
 Madi Ford
Madi Ford
Partner at Audeo Partners, the developer under contract to buy the property
Leading the redevelopment
 Doug Vaughan Jr.
Doug Vaughan Jr.
Chief executive of The Virginia Home
Overseeing move to Hanover County
 Laura Stewart
Laura Stewart
Chair of the Virginia Home board of trustees
Leading fundraising for the new facility

Organizations Involved

Audeo Partners
Audeo Partners
Real estate developer
Under contract to buy 1101 Hampton St.; seeking special use permit

D.C.-based developer converting the Virginia Home's Byrd Park building into 131 apartments.
The Virginia Home
The Virginia Home
Nonprofit nursing home
Moving to new Hanover County facility

Nonprofit founded in 1894 providing residential care for adults with physical disabilities.
Byrd Park Civic Association
Byrd Park Civic Association
Neighborhood civic association
Non-opposed to the redevelopment

Neighborhood group that has expressed non-opposition to the special use permit.
Richmond Planning Commission
Richmond Planning Commission
City commission
Recommended approval of the special use permit

City body that reviews special use permits and recommends action to the City Council.

Timeline

November 2025 August 2026

5 events Latest: August 24th, 2026 · 2 months ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Planners back apartment conversion

    Latest Decision

    Planning Commission recommends approval; City Council vote pending.

  2. Planning Commission considers Virginia Home conversion

    Public Hearing

    Hearing on the special use permit; civic association non-opposed, residents cite parking concerns.

  3. Groundbreaking for new Virginia Home campus

    Construction

    Virginia Home breaks ground on the $128 million, 160-bed Hanover facility.

  4. Virginia Home buys Hanover County site

    Deal

    Nonprofit pays $8.7 million for 70 acres for its new facility.

  5. Audeo goes under contract for Virginia Home

    Deal

    D.C.-based Audeo Partners plans to convert the nursing home into 131 apartments.

Scenarios

1

Richmond City Council approves Virginia Home apartment conversion

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Richmond BizSense, WWBT — planning commission recommended approval and the civic association is non-opposed

The planning commission's Aug. 18 recommendation moves to City Council for final approval. With the Byrd Park Civic Association non-opposed and 30% of units set aside as income-restricted, the council is expected to approve the special use permit, possibly with conditions on parking.

2

City Council denies or tables SUP, developer revises plan

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Neighborhood critics cited by WWBT; city public works staff flagged parking and alley issues

If council members side with residents over parking strain and the unresolved public alley issue, they could deny the permit. Audeo would then revise the plan, cut units, add parking, or abandon the conversion and market the building to another buyer.

3

City Council tables decision, pushing vote to 2027

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: City planning staff; residents

Concerns about parking and the alley issue could prompt the council to defer a vote, sending the application back for more study or additional community meetings. This would push final approval into early 2027.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2024-2025

The Carousel conversion, Richmond (2024-2025)

Audeo Partners converted a former Dominion Energy warehouse at 2400 Grayland Ave. in Richmond's Fan district into The Carousel, a 125-unit mixed-income apartment building. The project reused an industrial shell rather than demolishing it.

Then

The building opened as housing near downtown, adding mixed-income supply.

Now

Established Audeo as a credible adaptive-reuse developer in Richmond.

Why this matters now

Same developer, same model: converting a nonresidential landmark into mixed-income apartments. It shows the Virginia Home plan fits Audeo's established playbook.

2016-2020

Miller & Rhoads department store conversion, Richmond (2016-2020)

Richmond's downtown Miller & Rhoads department store, a city landmark since 1890, was converted into apartments and a hotel after sitting vacant for decades. The project required extensive interior work while preserving the facade.

Then

The conversion helped anchor new residential life in downtown Richmond.

Now

Demonstrated market demand for converting large historic Richmond buildings to housing.

Why this matters now

A precedent for the Virginia Home's conversion: a beloved civic landmark becoming apartments, with the building's exterior kept intact.

Sources

(9)
+5
City of Richmond Legistar WWBT (NBC 12) Richmond BizSense via The Virginia Home Richmond BizSense City of Richmond Legistar City of Richmond Legistar City of Richmond Legistar City of Richmond Legistar City of Richmond Legistar