Family Foundation suing Richmond over new Planned Parenthood health clinic

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Family Foundation is suing the City of Richmond over the recent sale of a city-owned property to Planned Parenthood for the purposes of building a health clinic.

The suit is being filed by the Family Foundation’s Founding Freedoms Law Center on behalf of a local psychiatry practice, according to an Aug. 14 press release.

The plaintiff is challenging Richmond City Council’s decision to sell the property at 4929 Chamberlayne Avenue — formerly the Brook Hill School — to the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood for $10. The sale was approved unanimously by the board on July 22.

The board said during the July 22 meeting that the property was marked as surplus in 2022 by Richmond Public Schools. The existing school building was also described as dilapidated, with a reportedly leaky roof as well as mold, lead paint and potentially asbestos.

The Virginia League of Planned Parenthood plans to build a $6 million, 10,000-square-foot health clinic on the property. It would become the third such facility in the city.

The local practice involved in this suit — Sheila M. Furey, MD, PC — is run by Dr. Sheila Furey. According to the release, she specializes in “educational brain training services to children and adults with autism, brain injuries and dyslexia.” She reportedly spoke before the Richmond City Council in opposition of the sale.

“The City should not have squandered over a million dollars in funding that it could have used for critical services for Richmond residents, like improving our schools or providing real medical services to children in need,” Furey said in the release. “Their actions denied my practice and other worthy businesses the opportunity to acquire that property and use it to provide our neighbors with services they actually want and need.”

The funding Furey is referencing comes from the value of the Chamberlayne Avenue property, which was reportedly assessed to be $1.25 million.

8News has reached out to the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood for a statement on this lawsuit.

This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.

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