“Silence means assent.”
-attributed to John M. Bennett, VCU’s senior vice president for finance and administration, and “a lead negotiator with [Oregon Hill] neighbors affected by the [proposed] recreation center.” Via the TD.
VCU wants to build a recreation center on Cary Street, between Linden and Cherry streets, and demolish two historic 19th Century stables. Apparently, the lack of vocal opposition over the past several months led VCU to believe Oregon Hill residents supported the proposal- hence the quote above. Several Oregon Hill residents and organizations, however, are ending their silence (if they every really were silent) and voicing their opposition. Among their complaints:
- The stables are integral to the historic fabric of the neighborhood.
- The proposed rec center would be out of scale with surrounding buildings. VCU’s planning to wrap the current Cary St. Gym (itself an historic building- it used to be the city auditorium) with a 100,000 sq. ft. addition.
- The new development violates VCU’s promise not to encroach any further on the neighborhood.
I’m personally undecided on the issue. I haven’t seen the stables myself and haven’t heard compelling arguments about why they need to be saved. Not everything old needs preservation- perhaps these do, perhaps they don’t. And I can find no information on their current use- are they vacant or not?
Also, I haven’t seen a good rendering for the proposed building (there’s a low-resolution image reprinted in the TD, but not made available on-line). I’m curious to see how the building will fit with its neighbors. If anyone knows of a good rendering post a link in the comments section (architects are Moseley Architects).
I wish VCU would focus on buying and building up vacant lots and parking lots around downtown instead of tearing down buildings. I understand that in this case they want to cluster their recreation options for students, but still. With so much vacant & under-utilized land around, I’d like to see increased density in Richmond, not just recycling current building sites.
Whatever the merits of both sides in this argument, we can expect the fight to stay in the news a while. The TD reports, “Oregon Hill leaders have vowed to continue to fight plans for the recreation center every step of the approval process, from state agencies to City Hall.”
May 29, 2007 at 10:32 am
The Style Weekly (or could have been Richmond mag) had an article last year on those stables. At that time a young couple owned the stables and had turned it into a really neat livable space. They wouldn’t say how much — but they were very happy at what VCU paid for the place.
Like you mentioned — does everything old need preservation??
Also, in order for the Cary Street Gym to increase in size I can’t imagine that those Stables are the only thing that would be torn down?
May 29, 2007 at 10:35 am
Trust me when I tell you that there is a lot more to this story…
But here is a bit of response to at least Jason’s comment, in the form of some quotes from OHHIC President Todd Woodson:
There are NO provisions for ANY parking for this 131,000 sq ft $43,000,000.00 proposed Facility. I’ve been told the Harrison Street Parking Deck is already fully subscribed. This stress would have a substantial negative impact on Oregon Hill as well as the Fan District and Randolph and also be problematic for the commuting students wanting to use the rec center. Imagine a Target Department Store landing there with no parking spaces and the chaos that would ensue.
• Collateral traffic impact of such a substantial Facility has yet to be COMPREHENSIVELY studied. Narrow and one way Cherry street is already choked with gridlocked and idling vehicles at peak VCU pre class times all the way back to Idlewood. Cary street is also one way and much narrower than Broad street. Try to get past the double parked cars on Main St in front of Gladding Residence Compound between Laurel and Pine (across from Monroe Park) at any time when school is in session and you will know exactly what potential problems we face here.
There are viable alternatives to this proposed departure from the VCU 2020 master plan (including sticking to the master plan):
• VCU owns the vacant lot at 601 W Broad St, directly across Broad st from major VCU dorms and easily accessible from Johnson. Brandt, Rhoades, and Gladding Halls. The 2020 master plan shows a proposed large parking deck to be built DIRECTLY behind this 601 W Broad St site. The relocation of the proposed rec center to this site and the use of this proposed parking deck would mitigate the adverse effects the currently proposed rec center would have on surrounding neighborhood’s street parking for residents and neighborhood business clientele.
May 29, 2007 at 11:44 am
According to the Commonwealth Times, VCU had offered an alternative of closing Linden Street between Main and Cary, preserving the stables and building over the street more or less. Perhaps expanding the existing facility proves more cost efficient than building an entirely new one in an area where the school isn’t expanding. With the Business School opening across Belevedere, the Cary Street Gym is more centrally located for the whole Monroe Park Campus.
May 29, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Closing Linden Street was never a real alternative. Everyone, including the City, raised objections.
Its worth noting the 2004 Master Plan, which suggested a rec center with a smaller footprint at Cary and Cherry.