RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The old Richmond Community Hospital in the city’s Northside served as a place for Black Richmonders to get healthcare from the 1930’s until it was moved to its current location in the 1980s. Now, community members who want to see the historic building stay standing know when they’ll have the opportunity to voice their opinions.
Located on Overbrook Road, the building is now owned by Virginia Union University, which plans to build new housing for its students on the land using $40 million from a private investor.
Richmond City Councilwoman Ann-Frances Lambert, whose district includes the area the old hospital is in, said that she has heard from several residents speaking out against the possible demolition of the structure.
Lambert will be hosting a community meeting at which residents can speak directly with university officials about the school’s plans for the building. That meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 20 6 p.m. at Linwood Holton Elementary School.
Lambert originally announced that a meeting would take place in a statement released on Tuesday, March 5, before the date of the meeting had been determined. In that statement, Lambert said that the city has not received any applications to build on the property and that the city would not be able to prevent the university from demolishing the historic building.
Lambert told 8News she hopes the meeting will provide clarity for those concerned about the future of the structure and that university officials will get an understanding as to why it is so important to those residents.
“I really want folks to offer up their opinions, especially if they have some significance to the hospital,” said Lambert. “But at the end of the day, this is time for us to come together, not to be divisive, not to be argumentative, but let’s have a real conversation on how we can save this structure.”
