Virginia Union University to demolish part of the old Richmond Community Hospital

Old Richmond Community HospitalPhoto byOld Richmond Community Hospital Screenshot

Not everyone is pleased that Virginia Union University plans to demolish part of the old Richmond Community Hospital on the school's property.

WRIC 8 News reported that after months of debate, Virginia Union University (VUU) announced that it would move forward with plans to partially demolish the old Richmond Community Hospital. The announcement has led to community backlash.

Community concerns

The old Richmond Community Hospital is the first Black-owned hospital in the city of Richmond. It’s located in Richmond’s Northside and just celebrated its 90th anniversary in June.

There has been controversy surrounding the fate of the hospital, which served as a vital institution within the community from the 1930s to the 1980s.

A portion of the historic hospital will be demolished while other parts are upgraded to bring it up to code. Once the project is completed, Virginia Union University plans to use the space for student housing.

Community members want to preserve the hospital's culture and history, so they have spoken out against the plan. For Richmond residents, preserving the hospital represents more than just maintaining a building. It signifies honoring a vital part of Black history in the city.

Garfield Antonio, vice president of development for The Steinbridge Group, which is involved in the project, said:

“I’m trying to balance economics, I’m trying to balance the needs of the community, [and] I’m trying to balance what VUU needs in the form of revenue. This is unpopular, but the building has sat for over 100 years.”

Antonio concluded that there would be other meetings with VUU and community members for more discussions.