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What is Happening at 401 N 27th St?

Updates??? Does anyone have any insight?

Wills Grocery Store at 401 N 27th built in 1815 (the oldest commercial building in Richmond) is in trouble. After 15 years following the building’s progress and decay, Eric wants some answers.

A post from Eric H. shared with us on our FB Page.

So what’s happening? Does the City seem aware?

From what I know, the owners are always under the radar doing “just enough” to get by with the city.

The wall started splitting because of the bricks under the stucco had fallen apart due to all of the mortar having disintegrated to a point there was none left. The owner just slathered some new mortar over them instead of fixing the issue. More recently, they removed the stucco on the lower section and “quickly” placed more on it . However, now you can see more loose bricks in areas they didn’t completely cover. This was apparently done without a permit and so work stopped.

Has the building been inspected?

The Historic Richmond Foundation supposedly hired an independent contractor to inspect the building who said it was safe. However, I do not know how they could make such a claim considering the hidden damage under the old stucco and see corresponding cracks on the interior brick wall for those on the exterior… not to mention what I have seen and know about the foundation, back wall, and previous serious damages simply “patched”. I have tried to get a response from the HRF, the city, the CHA and others to no avail.

What’s the significance of this?

With this being a historic building, considering that several years ago it was greenlighted by then, former governor (then mayor) Doug Wilder, and spot blighted but never followed through, (was to be spot blighted no matter what the owners did to fix issues at that point but backed out). I would think someone or some organization could step in to do something?

What else should we know?

Question that “inspector’s” findings! They are obviously blind only going by what they saw on the inside. One layer of multi-layers of brick and could crumble down due to weight at any time.


What do you think neighbors? This is one of the oldest buildings in the City and it’d be a shame to see it crumble. Some argue that it’s too expensive a project. At one point, Grisette was supposed to open in that building and complications led them to their current spot.

3 comments

Joshua 11/18/2019 at 9:08 AM

There continues to be complaints on the CHPN about what people do with their property; be it development or lack there of. I see time and again that residents want to dictate to property owners how to manage their investment. Here is a news flash; the property is not yours and their investment is not open to committee discussion and decision making. If one does not want an apartment complex to be developed near the river, if the development of a large house in the hysterical district does not meet your standards, or if maintenance does not happen at the pace you wish then buy the property and do what you and the neighborhood committee want with it. In the meantime, if they are not violating the city ordinance/zoning, leave people alone and mind your own business.

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Eric Huffstutler 12/17/2019 at 12:09 PM

I am not sure who HRF hired but they must have been wearing sunglasses for the inspection. The walls are only a few bricks thick and most no longer have mortar. Slapping some mortar over loose bricks is not “fixing” issues and corresponding cracks can be seen on the inside of the building. Now, there is a major crack that has developed through and over the front side (27th Street) second-floor window that goes all the way up to and through the parapet. Others can also be seen. How is this a “SAFE” building?

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Eric Huffstutler 03/16/2024 at 9:30 AM

It has been a couple of years since I left Church Hill and a lot has happened but continue to be curious and concerned about this historic structure, one that I have been fighting to save, preserve, and restore since 2004 and wrote an article in the CHA Newsletter and posts on CHPN. What is the latest?.

Reply

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