October 24, 2008
OHNA President Asks VCU to Take Positive Step For True Community Partnership
As VCU celebrates its 40th birthday, Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association President Scott Burger calls on VCU and the Richmond community to reflect on the university’s encroachment into surrounding neighborhoods.
Over the last 40 years, Oregon Hill has seen whole blocks and streets taken by the university, despite neighborhood opposition. In 1990, Oregon Hill was listed on the Va Landmarks Registry as well as the National Register of Historic Places. Despite these important listings, VCU still insists on demolishing historic buildings in the Oregon Hill neighborhood to feed their administration’s obsession with the school’s physical expansion.
In fact, even a previous public promise (published in the Times Dispatch) by current VCU President Trani did not prevent the University from once again expanding into Oregon Hill just this past year in order to build a giant recreational center, demolishing more of the neighborhood’s historic assets in the process. OHNA recently sent a letter to the General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, which asks that the Monroe degree inquiry include an investigation of the VCU’s real estate dealings.
“We’re tired of the VCU President’s Office dishonorable attempts to characterize Oregon Hill residents as ‘unreasonable’ for defending their neighborhood. The fact is, we would would like to concentrate on other priorities as well, but over the years, from Monroe Park to the Jacob House, to the current recreation center construction, this neighborhood has been under a long, exhausting siege,” says Burger.
“It is time for VCU to live up to its supposed ‘community partnership’ and make a permanent commitment to Oregon Hill. I request a written contract, signed by VCU’s Board of Visitors and the Mayor of Richmond, that will prevent VCU from ever threatening Oregon Hill again. We need a lasting compact that includes NOT building new facilities or purchasing additional property south of Cary by the University OR its private real estate foundation,” says Burger. He suggests that this positive step would perhaps allow a normalization of relations with VCU from its current state of distrust. He also notes the original Downtown Master Plan draft, which suggest that Richmond’s historic downtown neighborhoods receive more protection.
[...] did not have to be that way and it’s never too late for positive change. And yes, this does matter for the future of the Downtown Master Plan. Posted by Scott at 10:37PM [...]
What about a partnership in which VCU provides services for Oregon Hill, rather than just “leaving it alone”?
I would much rather have a LASTING, IRONCLAD accord that VCU will not encroach any further into the neighborhood. Is that so much to ask?
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