VCU Hurt Historic Neighborhoods

The defining moment in the relationship between the historic Oregon Hill community and VCU President Eugene Trani occurred sometime after the 2003 VCU Master Plan had been released. Oregon Hill residents could rest easy -- for in that plan a reason ably sized natatorium was scheduled to be built on property VCU owned at West Cary and South Cherry streets.

The Oregon Hill community could live with this final and benign encroachment into the historic neighborhood. Of great importance was the fact that Oregon Hill had Trani's word that VCU would not encroach further into the historic neighborhood. This promise was documented in a

Richmond Times-Dispatch article on July 9, 1994:

"It is not my intention to recommend to the board expansion south of Cary Street into the Oregon Hill area. That's my intention not only for the engineering school but other projects as well, other than what we already have south of Cary Street. I've said all along I'm not moving facilities into Oregon Hill," Trani said.

Certainly a man in Dr. Trani's position of prominence would not dishonor himself or the university by buying more historic property in Oregon Hill -- with the intention of demolishing historic assets, eradicating the original circulation pattern of Green Alley (named after the colorful architect credited with designing the attractive albeit humble Italianate homes of Oregon Hill), and erecting an incompatible 125,000-square-foot institutional athletic facility attached to the historic City Auditorium. But that was exactly the intention.

Of course the Oregon Hill community would fight this intrusion due to the many "acknowledged adverse effects" -- as the commonwealth calls them -- that it im posed. With all the nearby VCU parking decks fully subscribed, where would students using the facility park? No provisions were made for student parking. Cherry Street was already gridlocked by VCU traffic during peak hours.

This looming mega-facility would not only destroy the historic fabric of the cohesive Victorian survivors of a working-class neighborhood block, but also do great harm to the entire community.

The saddest part of this travesty was that VCU already owned empty lots that were appropriate for this project on other parts of the campus -- that were even closer to the student dorms and that wouldn't cause harm to the surrounding communities if built upon.

There would be no negotiating. Trani's point men had already donned war paint. Oregon Hill was outmanned by highly skilled administrators with roots deep within the state review process.

Brian Ohlinger, the vice president in charge of facility management for VCU -- and the man ultimately responsible for building the gargantuan facility -- had ascended to the chairmanship of the state Architectural Review Board, which would handily approve the project.

Gov. Tim Kaine, despite requests from neighborhood leaders to intercede, refused to even respond. Oddly enough, at the same time, Kaine's name was touted as a possible replacement for the outgoing Trani.

The last hope of recourse was the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Director Kathleen Kilpatrick had survived for many years in her position through Democratic and Republican governorships by not upsetting any apple carts and she wasn't about to allow any splashing in colleague Trani's personal wading pool.

We are hopeful that the new VCU president will be a reasonable man and a man of honor. The sign of a great leader will be to make things better for the surrounding communities as well as being an advocate for the university's improvement.

VCU is blessed with many gifted faculty members and students. Its president should serve as a role model and use this talented staff for the betterment of all parties involved. Oregon Hill and the other historic communities of Carver, Jackson Ward, and Randolph have paid a dear price for the unbridled VCU expansion. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a pretty tough golden rule to argue with.

C. Todd Woodson is executive director of the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council.