Atchison Village Mutual Homes Corporation

Atchison Village Mutual Homes Cooperation (AVMHC) began as a federal and local collaboration to provide much-needed housing and domestic support for Richmond’s WWII defense workers and their families. Built in 1941, the modest, wood-frame buildings reflect the constraints of time, money, and materials of publicly funded housing during that period. Although simple in design, the buildings have full-dimension clear fir framing and heavy interior plaster. The Village is one of 20 public housing projects built in Richmond before and during World War II and among the few in the U.S. still intact. In 1956 the federal government wanted to sell the property for 1.5 million dollars. The people living in Atchison Village decided to try and purchase the property and turn it into a housing cooperative. Within a few months they were able to generate the $50,000 towards the down payment; in1977 the loan was paid in full. At that time the Village was valued at approximately $4+ million. It is covered under Proposition 13 as a single unsold parcel, thus limiting tax increases to 2%. AVMHC includes 450 units of five styles in 97 one-story buildings and 65 two-story buildings. Every unit has ground level access both front and back and most have fenced backyards. Most units have a dedicated parking space. In addition, in most cases there is ample street parking near each unit on the public streets. AVMHC is run by an eleven member board of directors, elected at large from the membership. It is financially stable and is accumulating structural reserves. Relationships between the AVMHC and members are governed by the Mutual Ownership Contract, the bylaws and other policies developed by and approved by the Board of Directors; these will be described in this handbook.