One of Richmond’s largest historic commercial buildings has a new owner, joining a list of 15 other properties acquired by the recently formed Wayne County Land Trust.
The purchase of Rick Parker’s 911 and 923 N. E St. building, known for businesses such as 4th Floor Blues Club and New Boswell Brewery & Tap Room, is part of a larger effort to preserve historic buildings and create new opportunities for housing and small business at no cost to area taxpayers.
The closing on the sale of the building across from the historic former Pennsylvania Railroad Depot in the past couple of weeks is part of a broader plan that’s been several years in the making.
Creation of the trust has been an initiative of Wayne County Foundation and its Forward Wayne County program to partner with the community, not just in making grants to other nonprofit organizations, but to be part of revitalizing the community. Western Wayne News reported Jan. 21 on the land trust’s place in a broader community effort to improve and preserve area properties.
Realizing business owners don’t always have the capital or knowledge to restore and remodel historic buildings while they’re focusing on their core mission, the new nonprofit Wayne County Land Trust is stepping up to offer those services.
WCF and FWC are taking a deep dive into impact investing with this project, which slowly began after conversations about four years ago with other community organizations, including Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County.
WCF and FWC leaders realized they had already taken some key steps in their work that might put them in the best position to oversee this initiative.
To create the trust, donors have contributed a pot of money — separate from other Wayne County Foundation funds — toward purchasing these buildings. No tax dollars are being used.
Acacia St. John of Forward Wayne County said that when contacting property owners to gauge their interest in selling to the trust, many were relieved at the opportunity to focus on their core business rather than dealing with the aging infrastructure around them.
By working on multiple buildings at one time, rather than one-off projects, St. John said the trust will realize cost savings and increase the community benefit.
As it purchases the buildings, the trust is engaging real estate development experts to facilitate revitalization and construction.
With oversight from WCF and FWC, the trust is being operated by five private sector leaders. St. John and Rebecca Gilliam, WCF’s executive director, describe them as being experienced in real estate, law, finance and economic investment, but declined to name the individuals, citing privacy concerns.
When renovations are completed, the trust will still own the properties and engage property management professionals to operate them on behalf of the trust.
Although the trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the buildings will stay on the tax rolls. It will be a long-term owner of the properties it restores so profits are reinvested back into the community in perpetuity.
For more information visit forwardwaynecounty.org/wayne-county-land-trust.
A version of this article appeared in the January 28 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.