People may not realize when walking along West Cary Street near South Laurel, but a few of the nearby buildings date all the way back to the early 1880’s.
As the future of these buildings is up in the air, Oregon Hill neighbors are working to preserve the history of each building so they aren’t torn down.
Just on the edge of VCU’s campus sit five empty buildings.
“Working class 19th century neighborhood that’s still in tact fairly, it’s pretty much in tact. And we’d like to see it stay that way,” said Todd Woodson, the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association President.
At the corner of West Cary and Laurel, the former Paragon Pharmacy is now covered in graffiti and has paint chipping off the facade.
“Used as a restaurant now. Easily it could be easily renovated,” said Woodson.
Several houses next door are boarded up, with no trespassing signs and a protected fence. There are empty beer bottles sitting on the ground below.
The buildings up for redevelopment include a former Sweet Frog premium frozen yogurt shop.
“There is no reason why these buildings can’t be saved and a development a very profitable development can be put behind them,” said Woodson.
The plans are for J.D. Lewis Construction to replace the buildings with a 100 unit apartment complex, according to Woodson.
“We think it’s a gateway to our neighborhood. We think it’s a gateway to downtown Richmond. We think these house are beautiful in their own right. We ask that they be conserved,” Woodson told 8News.
Woodson and the neighborhood are not against redevelopment but would like a new use for the historic buildings and apartments constructed by J.D. Lewis behind them.
“Would make a great office space, it really would. Or a restaurant space,” said Woodson.
A proposal to change the zoning of the area will go before the city council and is expected to be discussed on Monday.
8News reached out J.D. Lewis Construction but have yet to hear back.
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