Richmond Housing Project Redevelopment Has Progressed

The Better Housing Coalition has moved forward with 125 new for-sale homes at the Highland Grove site in Richmond.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Residential

Screen-print poster illustration of partially constructed wooden house frames on a cleared lot, capturing urban residential development. — The Better Housing Coalition has begun work on 125 for-sale homes at the Highland Grove redevelopment site in Richmond, Virginia. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Better Housing Coalition is actively developing 125 attached and detached for-sale homes at the 40-acre Highland Grove site in Richmond. This $60 million project aims to complete the redevelopment of the former Dove Court public housing community.

Why it matters

This redevelopment effort replaces aging public housing infrastructure with a mix of new residential options. It also secures a pipeline of affordable lots for several local nonprofit builders to increase housing stock in the Northside neighborhood.

The Highland Grove site spans 40 acres and currently features 30 completed homes, with 24 already sold. The project received $5.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to support its infrastructure.

The players

Better Housing Coalition

This nonprofit organization is a leading developer of affordable housing in the Richmond region.

Maggie Walker Community Land Trust

This organization focuses on creating permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate-income families.

Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity

This affiliate of the global nonprofit works to build and rehabilitate homes for families in the local area.

Eagle Construction of VA

This local construction firm handles the development of market-rate housing within the Highland Grove project.

The details

The project is a collaborative effort between the Better Housing Coalition, Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, Project:Homes, and Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity. Eagle Construction of VA is currently building the market-rate units at the intersection of Dove Street and the Richmond Henrico Turnpike.

The initial phase of 128 rental units was completed in 2013.
Infrastructure work is expected to wrap up by the end of 2026.
Developers plan to sell 18 additional lots by the end of 2026.
The bulk of the homes are expected to be built by the end of 2027.

Culture Shift

The transition from Dove Court public housing to the Highland Grove mixed-use development mirrors broader national efforts to replace obsolete high-density public housing with diverse homeownership models. This project demonstrates a shift toward utilizing land trusts and tax credits to integrate affordable units into revitalized urban neighborhoods.

Prospective buyers in Richmond may soon see more inventory as 18 additional lots are slated for sale by the end of the year. The completion of infrastructure work will likely improve road accessibility and utilities at the intersection of Dove Street and the Richmond Henrico Turnpike.

The takeaway

The Highland Grove site represents a major shift from public-only housing to a mixed-ownership model. Residents should monitor local land trust updates if they are interested in utilizing the affordable lot pipeline for future homeownership.