Project Background:

The rehabilitation of the property at 5301 Old Midlothian Turnpike was key to the revitalization of the Midlothian 

Corridor in Richmond, Virginia, as it represented the Corridor’s last vacant building. The property was formerly used 

by a church that vacated the property in 2002 after they were unable to keep up with current building codes. The City 

of Richmond, Virginia conducted a Phase I Assessment of the property in December 2007, which raised concerns about 

four above ground storage tanks (ASTs) and petroleum in the property’s soil. Next door neighbor Randy Throckmorton 

expressed interest in the property as the potential location for his limousine business, which he had been operating 

out of his home for the past 22 years. In order to receive a loan from the bank for this new business venture, he was 

first required to resolve the site’s contamination uncertainties. Throckmorton removed the ASTs and funded a Phase II 

Assessment, which revealed that soil removal was not necessary. Upon the site’s inspection by the Virginia Department 

of Environmental Quality in 2008, Throckmorton received a No Further Action Letter that allowed him to secure a loan 

from the bank and purchase the property.

key accomPlishments:

•	 Property owner leveraged $1,600 in assistance from Richmond’s Enterprise

Zone Program, and expects to receive $9,000 from the city’s Commercial

Area Revitalization Effort.

•	 Allowed the expansion of a small business that employs six people.

•	 Created a new storefront that has attracted additional business to the area.

outcome:

The property’s existing building has been renovated in order to bring it up 

to code. In purchasing the site and making these renovations, Throckmorton 

has invested approximately $280,000 in the property, providing a critical piece in the Corridor’s revitalization and

helping to improve this commercial zone of the city. The 12,000-square-foot building is now used for Throckmorton’s 

limousine service, operating as a new storefront and a warehouse for the company’s limousines. The new storefront has 

helped to advertise the business, which has allowed it to expand to include a reception hall that will host weddings and 

birthday parties. In addition to growing his small business, Throckmorton was able to clean up his neighborhood; the 

transformation of the Midlothian Corridor has led to a noticeable reduction in blight and crime within the neighborhood.

Rehabilitated Site Provides New Opportunity for Small Business Owner

5301 Old MidlOthian turnpike richmond, Virginia

Assessment Grant

brownfields

at-a-glance

EPA 560-F-10-222

July 2010

For additional data and geographic information for this and other Brownfields 

Grants, please visit EPA’s Cleanups in My Community: 

http://iaspub.epa.gov/Cleanups/

FOr MOre inFOrMatiOn: Visit the EPA Brownfields Web site at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ or call EPA Region 3 at (215) 814-3129

address: 5301 Old Midlothian Turnpike, 

Richmond, VA 23224

ProPerty size: 	 0.6 Acres

Former use: Gas station, Church 

current use: Limousine Service

ePa grant reciPient: Project Partners:

Virginia Department of 

Environmental Quality;

City of Richmond; Property 

owner Randy Throckmorton

The City of Richmond, 

Virginia received a $200,000

EPA Petroleum Brownfields 

Assessment grant in 2004.

Commercial activity is restored on the Midlothian Corridor.