The Richmond School Board voted Tuesday to declare the district’s Commerce Road property surplus, advancing a redevelopment proposal that had drawn skepticism from several board members concerned about the site’s long-term value.
The vote marks a notable shift in the board’s public posture towards surplusing the 1501 Commerce Road property. The nearly 13-acre plot in the Southside, owned by the city, currently houses RPS facility operations, school nutrition services and contracted bus services.
At April’s meeting, board members heard from Richmond Public Schools’ Chief Operating Officer Patrick Herrel, who reinforced to the board that the district’s interests are protected by the conditional surplus resolution stating that RPS will not surrender the property until the district has approved a suitable replacement, which needs to be done in two years or the surplus declaration becomes void…