I write as an alumna of Virginia Union University to encourage the preservation and reuse of the former Richmond Community Hospital.

I am intimately familiar with VUU’s long history of preserving and repurposing buildings by its presidents. For example, in 1942, my grandfather, the Rev. Dr. John Malcus Ellison, skillfully secured the Belgian Friendship Pavilion, exhibited at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. Once the buildings from the exhibit were shipped to VUU’s campus, he preserved and reused the Majestic Bell Tower and Grand Hall (later named the Barco-Stevens Gymnasium), which have become the core structures on our beloved campus for over 80 years.

Likewise, in the 1980s, rather than demolishing our aging chapel, Coburn Hall, then President S. Dallas Simmons used the concept of historical preservation and adaptive reuse to restore the building for the worship experience of students.

Most recently, my donated alumni dollars have been used for preservation of the Industrial Building on the southwestern side of the campus.

As a result of forethought by past Presidents Ellison and Simmons, the Belgian Complex and Coburn Hall have served VUU students very well.

I have spoken to many VUU alums who share my sentiment that property owned by the university should be developed with students in mind first. I have read in Richmond newspapers that the plan for the former Richmond Community Hospital is demolition in order to build market rate apartments, (which) effectively (would price) VUU students out of occupancy.

I implore President Lucas to honor the decision of past presidents to repurpose VUU buildings for the benefit of the students and the university.

SHERYL E. ELLISON-BLUE, ESQ.

Washington

VUU Class of 1976