Timmons Group collaborated with our partners at The JXN Project to write this article.
Thoughtful, modern urban development plays a crucial role in shaping resilient and inclusive neighborhoods. However, for many historic neighborhoods that were originally founded in support of thriving Black American communities, development has often come at a cost—most notably, planned destruction by way of infrastructure projects that resulted in displacement and decline for Black homeowners and business owners.
Richmond, Virginia’s Jackson Ward is a strong example of this complex history of urban development. Long recognized as a hub of Black entrepreneurship and cultural heritage, the neighborhood faced significant challenges after the redirection of Interstate 95 through its core in the late 1950s. This decision brought economic disinvestment, transportation and social inequities, and the displacement of many residents and businesses.
Leading efforts to reclaim and reimagine Jackson Ward is Dr. Sesha Joi Moon, co-founder of The JXN Project. A historian and advocate for Jackson Ward, Dr. Moon has been instrumental in elevating the neighborhood’s rich history while pushing forward initiatives that promote restorative truth-telling and equitable urban development.
Across the United States, historically Black neighborhoods have faced systemic challenges related to urban planning and infrastructure policies. In the early 20th century, many of these communities flourished despite being the targets of practices rooted in racial inequities—they continued to develop strong business districts, cultural institutions, and residential areas.
However, with the rise of mid-century urban renewal projects, Black neighborhoods disproportionately experienced displacement due to redlining and eminent domain, among other practices.
At the same time, highway projects were often routed through the heart of Black communities, physically dividing neighborhoods and forcing residents and businesses to relocate—with roughly 1,000 homes and businesses, destroyed altogether. The Jackson Ward neighborhood is an example of this practice, and The JXN Project and its partners are dedicated to reimagining the neighborhood to bring a sense of continuity back into its streets.
Through a collaboration with The JXN Project and other local partners, Timmons Group’s urban development team is helping to support the Jackson Ward neighborhood in a long-awaited reinvestment that will reflect its historic significance while fostering future growth and accessibility.
According to The JXN Project, the organization is a historic preservation nonprofit that is dedicated to driving restorative truth telling and redemptive storytelling by capturing the pivotal role of Jackson Ward in the Black American experience. The project’s focus was originally conceived through an effort to celebrate the neighborhood’s 150th anniversary as the nation’s first historically registered Black urban neighborhood.
The first known Black homeowner in Jackson Ward was Abraham Peyton Skipwith, who in the wake of the American Revolution, purchased a parcel of land in the neighborhood in 1793. When Interstate 95, known as the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike at the time, was scheduled to cut through Jackson Ward in the 1950s, the home known as the Skipwith-Roper Cottage was moved to Goochland County by the Historic Richmond Foundation.
Dr. Sesha Joi Moon, co-founder of The JXN Project, highlighted the troubling history uncovered through the project’s research alongside the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “We discovered that the Skipwith-Roper Cottage, once home to some of Jackson Ward’s earliest Black property owners, was forcibly vacated due to eminent domain and relocated to a former tobacco plantation with Confederate ties—for only $25,” Moon explained.
The dislocation of the cottage is particularly significant given the legacy of its original owner. “Abraham Peyton Skipwith was one of the first known Black Richmonders to have a fully executed will in 1799, in which he left not only his property but also valuable possessions—including a gold brooch, silver watch, china, livestock, and a horse and buggy—to his descendants,” Moon shared. “And he made it clear in his own words that this was meant ‘to them and their heirs forever.’”
Now, as the United States approaches its Semiquincentennial, The JXN Project is leading efforts to return the cottage’s story to Jackson Ward. “We are working with Habitat for Humanity, Baskervill, and Team Henry Enterprises to create a sustainable version of the Skipwith-Roper Cottage as a historic site,” Moon said. “It will serve as both a community space and the operational offices of The JXN Project, situated on eleven parcels of land donated by the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust and Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.”
This initiative will also align with the ongoing expansion of affordable housing in the neighborhood. “This project isn’t just about restoring history—it’s about making sure Jackson Ward’s future remains deeply connected to its past while providing tangible benefits to the community,” Moon emphasized.
Preserving history is only part of the equation of The JXN Project’s approach to reinvigorating Jackson Ward. The organization and its supporters are on a quest to ensure that the neighborhood remains a thriving, inclusive community for future generations by addressing the pressing needs of today, particularly access to affordable housing and equitable development. This includes partnerships with organizations committed to revitalizing the neighborhood through responsible urban development, affordable housing initiatives, and infrastructure improvements.
For decades, the Richmond community has greeted the need for new and affordable housing with a sense of urgency. Timmons Group has collaborated with nonprofit organizations like Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Better Housing Coalition, and Virginia Housing, along with private developers like Lawson and Enterprise Communities, to invest in historic neighborhoods like Jackson Ward.
As part of our project partners’ shared work in Jackson Ward, we are focused on addressing long-standing challenges through strategic planning solutions that promote sustainable and inclusive development. This includes:
- Expanding affordable housing opportunities (like The Planet Apartments, The Foundry Apartments, and Van de Vyver Apartment Homes)
- Enhancing multimodal transportation options (like Richmond Connects)
- Designing public spaces, including parks and community hubs (like Abner Clay Park and Calhoun Recreation Area)
- Restoring connectivity to historically significant areas (through work with The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia)
- Integrating essential amenities such as grocery stores, public spaces, and social resources
Today, efforts to address these historical inequities are shaping modern urban planning approaches for Jackson Ward—and it’s more than just a neighborhood approach—this one involves the entire community as well as support from nonprofits, private companies, and the City of Richmond.
Since necessary infrastructure like Interstate 95 is already integrated into the City, its impact on historically Black neighborhoods like Jackson Ward cannot be undone—but its effects can be mitigated. As we look to the future, we must acknowledge this history and actively work to reverse its effects by prioritizing community-driven solutions, preserving cultural identity, and ensuring long-term affordability and sustainability.
To learn more about The JXN Project, visit www.thejxnproject.org and/or follow the project on social media platforms at @TheJXNProject.
