Green light shines on Diamond District

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The huge plan to redevelop

67 acres of publicly owned land around The Diamond baseball stadium has a green light — despite questions about the soundness of its financial structure.

With promises of a bonanza of jobs and revenue, City Council gave a unanimous thumbs-up Monday night to the projected $2.44 billion project, clearing the way for the largest public-private development ever contemplated in Richmond history.

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VP’s visit

The $3 billion budget City Council approved earlier this week includes $215 million that has been set aside for the school system to build a new building to replace George Wythe High School on Richmond’s South Side, and to rebuild William Fox Elementary in Richmond’s Fan District. Fox, which caught fire and was gutted during a three-alarm blaze in February 2022, has started to undergo roof work. Earlier this week various City officials gathered to assess the work and provide updates to news media. Fox is expected to reopen for the 2025-26 school year.