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City will seek sites for VCU expansion
McCollum hopes to find a way to save 3 historic buildings
BY WILL JONES
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Thursday, September 30, 2004
In hopes of saving the art deco West Hospital and other buildings, Richmond will do its own search for other sites to accommodate a planned expansion of Virginia Commonwealth University's medical campus.
The request for a review by city administration officials came out of a private meeting yesterday between Mayor Rudolph C. McCollum Jr., VCU President Eugene P. Trani and other city and university officials.
McCollum and Trani described the meeting as good and productive, but Trani said he doubts VCU would be able to create a modern medical center and nursing school by keeping the West Hospital, A.D. Williams Clinic and Nursing Education Building.
Each of the buildings, constructed from about 1928 to 1941, has problems with leaks and mold, and would be expensive to renovate, VCU officials have said.
"We've looked and taken our best shot and believe there are no other alternative sites," Trani said.
The meeting was held after McCollum proposed two weeks ago a moratorium on the demolition of public buildings. He said Richmond needs to have a louder voice when the state wants to demolish its buildings, particularly those that contribute to the city's historic character.
McCollum, who is running for election as the city's at-large mayor, said yesterday he's not sure whether other sites will be available.
"That is the whole question," he said. "The only way we can answer that question is to actually do an assessment of the geographic area."
Trani stressed that VCU has been following and must follow state procedures for construction projects.
McCollum said he expects the city's review to be done by Nov. 8, when City Council could vote to adopt an update to the city's master plan for downtown.
"The bottom line is there's no disagreement about the importance of us, as a city, having these improved medical facilities," he said. "It's just a question of how do we balance that need with the other needs we have."
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or wjones@timesdispatch.com