Church Hill North archive
March 13, 2010
St.John’s acquires another vacant lot
This house ar 1500-02 North 29th Street, sold to St.John’s United Holiness Church of 1507 North 28th Street in December 2009, was demolished in recent weeks. In addition to their church building, St.John’s owns at least 14 other properties in the area — all either vacant lots or in use as surface parking.
March 11, 2010
Church Hill Central Civic Association meets on Monday
The Church Hill Central Civic Association meets on Monday, March 15th from 7-8:30PM at the Robinson Theater (2903 Q Street). The focus of the meeting will be “Neighborhood Schools & The Census”; speakers include Pastor Marilyn Heckstall of Asbury Methodist Church, Ms. Cheryl L. Burke Principle of Chimborazo Elementary School, and Donna Lewis-Clayton with the U.S. Census Bureau. Join your neighbors after the meeting at the Hill Cafe corner of 28th and Broad Streets!
February 10, 2010
Pillars at Oakmont expected by July

A year behind schedule, the Habitat for Humanities’ Pillars at Oakmont is on track for this year:
Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity got the go-ahead yesterday from Richmond — and a commitment of $225,000 from the city, the largest to date — for its first mixed-income community.
The Pillars of Oakmont is a 15-home community that will be built at T and 33rd streets [...] The development is expected to be completed in July.
February 9, 2010
Restaurant building to own or rent on 25th Street
Restaurant building to own or rent on 25th Street:
Newly renovated restaurant located in the heart of Church Hill at 412 N. 25th Street. New upgrades include heat pump, electrical, windows, exhaust system, counter stools, and sinks. Tenant has 3 year lease which started May 1, 2009. [...] 412 1/2 has gas heat and central air and was leased by the restaurant thru Sept.30 @ $800/mo. It is now vacant and being offered for rent [...]
February 1, 2010
How the fork are you people losing so many cats and dogs?
Craigslist has word on a another cat that has been found:
Found at the intersection of 27th and O st. Need exact description so it can be rendered to original owner. ASAP please, I am allergic to cats but I will hold it for a couple of days. Call 804-874-7778
January 23, 2010
ElderHomes remakes a block of 27th Street
Just down the street from their 2008 Golden Hammer nominated renovation on the 800 block of North 27th Street, ElderHomes is building 2 new houses and has signed on to renovate 3 more.
January 22, 2010
Demolition on 29th Street

Richmond Slumlord Watch notes the demolition of 606-608 North 29th Street and offers a word of warning to owners of other derelict properties in the area…
January 15, 2010
ACORN working to expand Church Hill North National Register Historic District
The Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods today announced a partnership with French Consulting Company to work for the expansion of the Church Hill North National Register Historic District:
The 1100 block of North 31st Street and surrounds represent one of the few remaining historically intact areas of Church Hill that has yet to be listed in the National Register. This effort, if successful, will provide an incentive for the preservation and rehabilitation of this section, which is currently characterized by a number of vacant and neglected historic buildings.
January 15, 2010
Speakers announced for Monday’s Church Hill Central Civic Association meeting
The next meeting of the Church Hill Central Civic Association will be Monday January 18th from 7-8:30PM at the Robinson Theater (2903 Q Street). Speakers include Betsy Hart on the history/future of the Robinson Theater, Eric Anderson on the local impact of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and reflection on the impact of the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon & Robert Burton.
December 30, 2009
Some renovation started but…
This building on 25th Street is for sale:
This is a 3 story, 6 unit apartment building consisting of 6 one bedroom units. There is a certificate of occupancy on record. All units are curently unoccupied. Some renovation started but still needs a lot more. Offered by Robinson-Harris & Co. Inc. Realtors. Call Terry Crawley at (804)539-7461 for additional information or to arrange a showing.
December 27, 2009
A history of the Springfield School
The Springfield School was constructed at 608 North 26th Street in 1913, replacing an earlier school constructed in 1880 on the same site.
December 15, 2009
Help a family find a house
A reader writes in looking for your help:
Hi – I’m wondering if you could put up a post to put out feelers for a 4 bedroom house for rent in Church Hill. I’m looking for the family whose house was burned down on Q Street this week. We would need a month to month lease until their house is finished being rebuilt (appx 4-5 months). The family has lived in their home since the 1950’s and we’re trying to find something ASAP to get them out of a hotel. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated!!
December 11, 2009
Fire on Q Street
A house fire this afternoon at 3116 Q Street left the house in bad shape but “everyone got out and is ok“.
December 10, 2009
Church Hill Central Civic Association meets Monday Dec.14
The next meeting of the recently organized Church Hill Central Civic Association will be 7-8PM on Monday, December 14th, at the East District Initiative Center (701 North 25th Street). The meeting will be immediately followed by a social hour at Patrick Henry Pub & Grille. (flyer PDF)
December 8, 2009
Vacant properties deter Richmond redevelopment
Taking the Richmond Vacant Property Registry as a starting point, student journalist Maureen Link has pulled together a look at the impact of the high rate of vacant properties in the area:
“It’s not the urban issues that keep people away so much as the fabric is really destroyed in a lot of ways,” [he says]. “Sure people have the right to own property as a profit making venture but this is a community where people live. We’d have more kids in schools, more people buying stuff from our stores, restaurants…everything it would be better in every way if not for all these vacant properties.”
December 8, 2009
Petition urges changes in 28th Street project
There is a Laura Daab-authored petition circulating outlining a number of specific complaints about the the proposal for 504-510 North 28th Street. The developers of the project will be hosting a Forum of Discussion this Wednesday at 5:30PM at 1901 West Cary where further information will be presented and questions will be answered.
December 2, 2009
Fix it or sell it, Mr.Burrell
Richmond Slumlord Watch does it again, this time shining the light on Eric Burrell, owner of vacant houses in Church Hill North and Union Hill…
November 24, 2009
Where and how man and nature interact
A recent tip led us to a great post on photographer Gordon Stillman’s blog:
[Church Hill] inspired me to start photographing areas where nature reclaimed man-made structures. I was interested in the history that nature told about these structures. This interested expanded into a more general investigation of where and how man and nature interact. Images from my project Wild. Images will be on display starting February 26th, 2010 at Artworks Gallery in Richmond, VA.

















