A Jackson Ward office building soon may provide expansion space for the VCU Health System.

The current owner of the four-story Jackson Center has indicated it is in talks with Virginia Commonwealth University about renting a large part of the building at 501 N. 2nd St. for clinic space and medical offices.

The building’s current owner is the United Network for Organ Sharing, which manages the nation’s human organ transplant network. UNOS bought the building four years ago.

Richmond City Council lifted a barrier to the talks earlier this month by allowing medical uses in the building. Medical, dental and other such services had been barred since the building was constructed in 1991. For years, the building’s main use was home to the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

VCU has yet to confirm or deny an interest in opening medical or dental clinics in the building and in using it for offices for physicians associated with its system.

The disclosure was included in the information that UNOS’ law firm attached to the application seeking city approval for the building to be used for medical services.

According to that information, UNOS is in talks with VCU about leasing part of the first floor and the third and fourth floors of the building for medical or dental uses.

If the talks are successful, the move would bring more people daily into Jackson Ward and could provide a boost to restaurants and other stores on 2nd Street, once the business, retail and social heart and soul of Richmond’s black community.