Rachel O’Dwyer Flynn, AIA

Rachel Flynn joined the City of Richmond in March 2006 as Director of Community Development. She is a licensed architect and has practiced both architecture and urban planning for over twenty years. Prior to her arrival in Richmond, she was Director of Community Development in Lynchburg, Virginia for eight years. She received numerous recognitions including; Best Civic Leader, Central Virginia Visionary, Most Influential Leader, Preservationist of the Year, and Outstanding Urban Conservationist.


She led the effort to develop various Master Plans for Lynchburg, receiving awards such as: Best Comprehensive Plan, Outstanding Plan Award for the Downtown & Riverfront Master Plan, and the Great American Main Street Award.
Rachel is a graduate of Harvard University, where she received her Masters in Public Administration, and a graduate of the Catholic University of America, where she received her Master of Science in Engineering/Construction Management and her Bachelor of Science in Architecture. She spent the large part of her architectural career with the firm Cannon Design (New York, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Toronto, Ontario). In addition, she worked with the Mayors’ Institute on City Design at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design where she developed a national housing conference on HUD’s HOPE VI housing redevelopment program.

Rachel is on the Sweetbriar College Board of Trustees and was appointed by Governor Mark Warner to serve on the VA Board of Historic Resources.

Rachel welcomes citizens’ input regarding the department’s services as well as their ideas for Richmond’s future. She can be reached at Rachel.flynn@Richmondgov.com or at 804-646-6310.


Art Dahlberg

Art Dahlberg joined the City of Richmond in September 2006 as the Commissioner of Buildings for the Department of Community Development. He has served in code enforcement for over twenty years in various Virginia localities. Prior to his arrival in Richmond, he was the Director of Code Enforcement in Alexandria, Virginia for nine years. He was recognized by the Alexandria City Council for Exemplary Work Performance and received Special Merit for Outstanding Performance on numerous occasions by the City of Alexandria. Additionally, he was named Allied Professional of the Year for the American Institute of Architects, Northern Virginia Chapter. Prior to his assignment in Alexandria, he was Director of Code Administration for the City of Fairfax and Assistant Branch Chief for Fairfax County, Virginia.

Art is a graduate of Kansas State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and he has studied at the University of Kansas.

Art looks forward to meeting and working with the citizens of Richmond and welcomes comments and suggestions for the Permits and Inspections Division. He can be reached at Dahlbead@ci.richmond.va.us or at 646-6624.

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