Creighton Court

Since 2011, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) has actively engaged residents in an ongoing planning process.

This included the East End Transformation Plan, an application for the 2016 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, and partnership with The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB) to develop the former Armstrong high school site. Unfortunately, the 2016 Choice Neighborhoods grant application was unsuccessful.

Creighton Court was built in 1953 and does not live up to today’s housing standards. The buildings no longer meet building code requirements. Additionally, the site has structural and design problems that create health and safety issues. The cost to correct these issues would be higher than to build new housing on the site

In 2017, Armstrong High School was donated by the City of Richmond to develop the “build-first” site for the Creighton Court redevelopment. The first three rental phases (175 units) of Armstrong Renaissance were completed and are fully occupied. The final rental phase began construction in April 2021. The homeownership portion (36 houses – eight (8) are affordable) will begin construction in early 2021. Creighton residents received priority for many of the units in Armstrong Renaissance.

As of April 2022, all households within Phase 1 of Creighton court have successfully relocated. Phase 1 demolition began in late May 2022 and was completed in mid July.

Later this year, RRHA and a relocation consulting firm will hold a series of meetings with Phase 2 residents about their relocation options and how to successfully find housing. We anticipate that Phase 2 relocation will continue through January 2023.

All Creighton Court families will have a number of housing options, including:

• Tenant Protection Voucher (TPV)
• Off-site Project Based Voucher (PBV)
• Staying in the newly transformed Creighton Court Community (which involves temporarily relocating to another phase of Creighton until construction is complete, then a permanent move to PBV at new Creighton phase)
• Other RRHA public housing

RRHA’s Resident Services team has partnered with Housing Opportunities Unlimited (HOU) to work with you regarding your preference and to prepare each family for their preferred housing option.

The Tenants’ Bill of Rights was created with a lot of input from the Creighton Court Tenant Council, RRHA, and the City of Richmond. It provides the basis for resident housing choice, resident support services, and monthly communications.

Although the Master Plan is complete, resident input is needed for the continued planning and transformation of Creighton Court.

Phase 1 Creighton Court families have already successfully relocated, and Phase 1 demolition was completed in July 2022. The anticipated project schedule for the next two years is as follows:

RRHA and The Community Builders have partnered with Housing Opportunities Unlimited (HOU) for resident relocation. HOU specializes in assisting tenants and residents that are in transition due to major redevelopment construction projects. HOU’s mission is to ensure that residents are treated fairly and experience minimal physical and emotional stress during the relocation process.

Visit the HOU Team: 2053 Creighton Road
Call the HOU Team: 804-403-7545 (Kaprice Williams) or 804-430-5641 (MeShelle Swarez)

Resident options for relocation include:

• Tenant Protection Voucher (TPV)
• Off-site Project Based Voucher (PBV)
• Staying in the newly transformed Creighton Court Community (which involves temporarily relocating to another phase of Creighton until constructions is complete)
• Other RRHA public housing

TPVs and PBVs are part of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. Tenant Protection Vouchers are committed by HUD to RRHA in assisting families with relocation or replacement housing due to the redevelopment of Creighton Court. With a TPV, families will choose their own unit to use the voucher, paying 30% of their income toward rent. The rest is paid to the landlord by RRHA.

PBVs are vouchers that are assigned to a unit, which is most often within a newly developed apartment complex. A PBV works the same way for residents, but the assistance stays with the unit. RRHA has awarded over 493 PBVs to neighborhoods in the Richmond Community. Creighton Court families generally have priority in leasing these units.

Yes. Creighton Court is in the process of being redeveloped.Because development will occur at the original site, the vacated units must remain vacant until the redevelopment work can begin. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that we do not re-lease units that have been designated for removal.

As always, our Agency looks for every opportunity to be a strong community partner. We assist however we can within the guidelines and processes that govern our existence. As part of our commitment to our families, RRHA used a “build first” strategy to cause less disruption to our families and provide a smooth relocation experience. New units constructed at the Armstrong Renaissance have provided relocation options to many Creighton families as the build-first site.

Every Creighton family will be provided housing. In transforming Creighton Court and the remaining 2,855 units located in the Big 6 public housing communities (Creighton, Fairfield, Gilpin, Hillside, Mosby and Whitcomb,) RRHA is committed to providing the SAME NUMBER (2,855) of subsidized housing options for the current households who live in our communities.

One of the revitalization goals of RRHA is to provide more affordable housing options by increasing density. Currently there are 504 units in Creighton Court. The approved Master Plan is designed for an increase of 196 mixed-income units, for a total of 700 units on the site.

By increasing the number of units, we can offer affordable and market rate houses to more Creighton and Richmond families. Greater use of Tenant Protection and Project Based Voucher options for families will help ensure all Creighton families are housed.