RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Following weeks of controversy surrounding the fate of the first Black-owned hospital in the city, which served as a vital institution within the community from the 1930s to the 1980s, Virginia Union University (VUU) issued its first public statement regarding plans to convert the structure into student housing.
Dozens of impassioned Richmonders attended a community meeting to discuss the university’s plans on Wednesday, March 20, many of whom were born in the historic structure. They questioned a VUU representative about the school’s intentions for the structure amid recent reports of a plan to demolish it and transform it into a $40 million housing complex.
“Virginia Union University has blood on its hands, because you appear to be on the wrong side of Black history,” said one person at the meeting.
At the meeting, Dr. Franklin Patterson, a VUU Vice President, asserted that the university had been misquoted and stated that VUU intended to “repurpose” the space rather than demolish it. However, he did not make a public commitment to preserving the hospital.
Patterson reiterated the university’s commitment to converting the hospital into affordable housing. However, he provided no details and avoided answering any questions from community members, leaving many frustrated with the lack of clarity and communication.
The project is still in its early stages and Patterson emphasized that the university is committed to collaborating with the community.
However, many attendees left the meeting with lingering concerns and a desire for more transparency from the university regarding the future of the historic structure. For Richmond residents, preserving the hospital represents more than just maintaining a building — it signifies honoring a vital part Black history in the city.
“It would be nothing to the people of Richmond other than a building, a few that would be housed there. After that, there is no more history,” a resident said at the meeting.
As discussions progress, community members hope for meaningful engagement and a genuine effort to uphold the legacy of the hospital within the fabric of Richmond’s history.
