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Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods in Action to Save AT-RISK LANDMARKS
PROTESTERS RALLY IN FRONT OF THE RICHMOND HOTEL
On February 3rd, 2005, A.C.O.R.N., the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA), and other Richmond area preservationists staged a protest at the corner of Broad & 9th streets in downtown Richmond in front of the old Richmond Hotel and across the street from the General Assembly Building. The purpose of the demonstration was to show Assembly members that preserving these landmark buildings is important to the integrity of downtown Richmond. A.C.O.R.N. is working on the following initiatives with regard to the future of these unique, historic buildings.
* Consulting with the Department of Historic Resources to establish the landmark status of the buildings.
* Sending application for the Murphy and Richmond Hotels to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to establish the hotels on the Trust's 11 Most Endangered Places in America for 2005.
* Exploring alternative sites to meet the parking needs of state employees in the area around Capitol Square.
* Exploring alternative development sites for state building expansion.
* Presenting viable rehabilitation solutions for development of the Murphy & Richmond hotels.
* Promoting a bona fide public participation process with the State Department of General Services for the future planning of other state-owned buildings and the design of any new buildings constructed in the future.
(Artwork provided by Keith Van Allen, VCU Alum)
(Photo courtesy of Richmond.com)
(Photo courtesy of Richmond.com)
READ ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE BUILDINGS
Eighth Street Office Building (former Murphy Hotel)
Eighth Street Between Broad and Grace Streets
Built in 1911, the Murphy Hotel was designed by John Kevan Peebles, architect for the additions to the State Capitol Building. According to architectural historian Robert Winthrop, "The classical ornamentation and detail is often elegant, but the Broad Street front suggests that the architect was treating the facade as an abstract composition of lights and darks, foretelling modern compositional preferences". For almost 20 years, the commonwealth of Virginia has ignored maintenance of the elaborate terra-cotta ornamentation and has been forced to construct a canopy to prevent pieces of it from falling onto pedestrians. Although structurally sound and architecturally distinguished, the building is slated for demolition because of the state's need for expanded office space. Additionally, although the Virginia General Assembly has appropriated approximately $2 million for demolition, funds are not in place for a replacement structure. Instead of funding alternative office space and selling the building to a private developer who could take advantage of lucrative historic tax credits, the state plans to vacate the building in spring 2005 and proceed with demolition. Richmond will be left with a corner vacant lot, facing Broad Street downtown (our city's gateway for interstate and local travelers), and the loss of yet another landmark building. Contact the Governor (786-2211) and your General Assembly representatives (House of Delegates: 698-1500; Senate: 698-7410) to request a due diligence report exploring alternatives to obliteration of this landmark structure.
Ninth Street Office Building (former Richmond Hotel)
Ninth Street Between Broad and Grace Streets
Built on a site used for hostelries since the mid-19th century, he Richmond Hotel was constructed in 1904. Carrere & Hastings, one of the most distinguished architectural firms of the period, designed the Richmond Hotel as well as the New York Public Library; the Jefferson Hotel and the Commonwealth Club in Richmond; the William K. Vanderbilt estate at Great Neck, Long Island; and the House and Senate office buildings in Washington, D.C. The Richmond Hotel's lobby is among the most beautiful rooms in Richmond and is dominated by a scaled-down version on the staircase at the Jefferson Hotel. The lobby skylight is one if Richmond's largest and most impressive works of stained glass. The Commonwealth of Virginia is considering demolishing the landmark building, which is an excellent candidate for adaptive reuse. To express your concern, contact the Governor (786-2211) and your General Assembly representatives (House of Delegates: 698-1500; Senate: 698-7410).
Postcard from the Rarely Seen Richmond Postcard Archives from VCU's Cabell Library showing both the Murphy & Richmond Hotels and the beautiful block of Italianate storefronts that once stood on the gravel parking lot at the corner of 9th & East Broad streets until they were demolished more than for a Lottery Building that was never built.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF INTEREST ON THE
TOPIC OF THE RICHMOND & MURPHY HOTELS
Read "Preservationists plan rally" by Will Jones in the 2-2-05 edition of the Richmond Times Dispatch that will give you an idea of the current status of what is being done to save the Endangered buildings listed above.
Read "Capitol Schlock" by Patrick McSweeny in the January 31st edition of Bacon's Rebellion, a regular Op Ed column of the on-line publication, Virginia's New Economy. Here McSweeny discusses the deteriorating architectural standards of the built environment around the state capitol and a need for public input into the process regarding the disposition of buildings
owned by the taxpayers of Virginia.