creativeclass

All, there is a lively discussion of the rental vacancy rate here (see comments below the article, also click on the links provided in some of the comments for more details): http://richmondva.wordpress.com/2009/02/16...rst-in-country/ The statistic is based on a U.S. Census survey of the Richmond MSA, which includes Petersburg, Hopewell and Colonial Heights, as well as some exurbs such as Louisa, Caroline and King and Queen Counties, so it may not be representative of Richmond City alone. However, the rentalvacancy rate seems to have been very high through all four quarters of 2008, at least according to this data.

My research came to the same conclusion....the majority of the site appears to be under I-95. However, a portion very likely lies under the parking lot, and should be recognized as an important part of the Slave Trail. As with the Lumpkin's Jail site on the other side of Broad Street, the Old Burying Ground lies under a great deal of fill. I'll leave it to others to decide exactly how to recognize and honor this site, but more research would help. VCU could gain some positive publicity from this; so far, 2008 has been a bumpy year for the institution.

While AD Williams will certainly be demolished, with West it could be a different story. As always, VCU holds all the cards, but in 10 years Trani will have retired and additional proposals for adaptive reuse of West will have been floated. Will VCU choose demolition-by-neglect, as the Commonwealth did with the Murphy - needlessly turning a landmark into an eyesore, before finally sending in the wrecking ball? VCU promises that its new School of Medicine building will be "a signature building that people can be proud of", according to the SVP of Finance & Administration (quoted in the T-D). When it opens in 2013, we'll all be able to compare the two buildings side-by-side. Will the new building be designed to harmonize with West, or will it attempt to dominate the area? Will adequate funds be budgeted for the maintenance of West over the next decade? These will be important clues to the ultimate disposition of West.

That is the vision for the northernmost part of the Slave Trail. I don't think VCU had any grand scheme in mind with the property, other than providing some surface parking for its workers. Like most, they assumed that the cemetery had been forgotten. If it chooses, VCU can reap some positive publicity from this, but not in the cynical way that D_C has described.

Right, Cadeho. I think VCU is unaccustomed to its recent burst of negative publicity, to include its stubbornness about West Hospital and the news about its secret agreement with Philip Morris regarding tobacco research. Let's hope that VCU's decision to delay paving the parking lot leads to a productive dialogue about integration of the property into the Slave Trail. By superimposing the historic location from old maps onto the current city grid, the exact location appears to lie partially (or even mostly) under 1-95, but a portion likely lies under the parking lot. More research is needed, but I'm optimistic that a compromise can be worked out.

VCU does the right thing, after a discussion with Delores McQuinn. Later, VCU and the Slave Trail Commission issued a joint statement. Read the article here: VCU Delays Repaving of Parking Lot at Burial Site

VCU is utterly indifferent to the significance of the property. I'm not sure what would change that view, other than a massive sustained campaign to raise awareness. (Why is it necessary to educate an institute of higher learning on history and ethics?) As it is, the old cemetery is an important stop on Richmond's evolving Slave Trail, and would be a logical place to hold Juneteenth ceremonies. The fact that Wilder is more interested in his project in Fredericksburg does not help. The first phase excavations of Lumpkin's Jail site in '06, which is across Broad Street from the old burial grounds, found pre-Civil War artifacts far below the surface. I am sure the burial remains are still there north of Broad, far below both the parking lot and I-95.

Is there any place within VCU's vision of world-class bricks and labs for reflection and reconciliation? Guess not.... VCU, Wilder Ignore History

In reviewing some old posts on this thread, I realize I never got a response to this from NYCJSW (a.k.a. "Spin Doctor"). Ah well, in the end, he'll get what he wants. I think I'll be a lawyer in my next life.

Hillary on the ticket would create too much internal rancor at a time when the Dems need to focus on McCain. If Obama is elected, he ought to reward her with a nice ambassadorship...or she can continue to serve in the Senate. Virginia's very much in play this year, so Tim would be an excellent choice for Veep, though I suspect Barack might go for someone with a deeper resume to reassure those who feel he lacks "experience". Okay, enough politics, back to the topic!

Obama / Kaine '08!

Interesting spin from our local "journalists." I admire VCU's ambition to become a high-profile and well-regarded institution, but when unchecked ambition affects its ethics, BIG PROBLEM. The New York Times actually obtained a copy of the contract before writing their story, and got a senior VCU official to admit the following:

Not good publicity for VCU at all; I was disappointed when I read it this morning. Someone needs a lesson in business ethics.....it's hard to regain a good reputation if it can be sold at such a low price. I'd like to see an official response from VCU about this.....just silence so far.

How far will a university comprimise its own rules and values when money is at stake? Pretty far, if the university is VCU, which signed a contract with Philip Morris that restricts the university from publishing their studies, or even talking about them, without the company's permission. From today's New York Times... At One University, Tobacco Money is a Secret Dr. Trani was unavailable for comment for the article. Excerpt:

Because of recently-passed legislation, very soon VCU will no longer need the Commonwealth's permission to demolish a building on campus. NYCJSW, did you draft this?? What's still unclear is if the Department of Historic Resources would still have any say in future VCU-proposed demolitions. (As previously disclosed, DHR has no say regarding West Hospital due to a past agreement with VCU). Your taxpayer dollars at work! The Details: Tier 3 Legislation - Delegate Chris Jones and Senator John Watkins introduced legislation (HB 1124, SB 358) on behalf of VCU to grant the university the highest level of operational flexibility in key areas under the Higher Education Restructuring Act. Both bills have passed the General Assembly unanimously and were signed by the Governor on March 12th. This legislation will go into effect on July 1, 2008.