Willow Lawn-Area Inn of Richmond Demolition to Begin, New Facility Should Open in a Year
Back in June, we reported that the Inn of Richmond on West Broad Street would be torn town to make way for a new residential/commercial development for adults with autism and other developmental delays, combined with retail space. The project, connected to the The Faison School of Autism, is unique in its mixed use of space, but also a portion of the residences will be available to rent on the open market as well. The new facility will be called the Faison Compassionate Community.
WTVR reports that the demolition should begin shortly and that the new residential facility should be open in about a year.
I loved watching this place slowly sink into urban decay. My favorite part was watching the large potted plant right inside the glass front turn from green to brown as it was deprived of water. I should go by and snap of pictures before it’s demolished.
I noticed the demolition. Its bittersweet. A similar hotel is being demolished on Brookland Park. Before I knew it was a goner, I plotted how to get inside and take photos in the decadent splendor of what I imagined would be deep red carpets and ridiculous amounts of transparent and reflective glass glaring down from chandeliers and out from walls. These hotels may seem like eyesores but they are reminiscent of some strange netherworld bridging a past in which people sought fantasy even when staying in middle of the road business hotels. I hope someone recorded them on film or in photo. One last memory of the hotel on Broad. A high school party. Two rooms under an assumed name. We arrive to inspect them and find a large blood stain on one of the beds. No yellow tape across the door, no smoking guns just an apology from the guy at the front desk and a night filled with wonderful discussions about the true story of the room.
Oh well, out seedy but suggestive hotel and in PaneraBucks childsafe multiplex. Thats life.
By the way, I made the mistake of not reading beyond the headline. Sounds like it will be a good use of the place. As long as its not more fast food and retail in that location it sounds good. Still sad to seed good fodder for literature/art disappear:(. On the other hand, more good educational institutions are always welcome.
Actually, there was a movie filmed at that hotel in the 1980s. I’ll think of the name of it one of these days!
It was the 90s and it was called Forces of Nature with Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck. There might have been a movie made in the 80s, but I don’t know about it.
[...] The Inn of Richmond is coming down slowly but surely. I caught this photo yesterday, and thought I’d share it with you. There were quite a few people watching them tear down this Richmond landmark. On another note, I’m hoping the new construction project allows the “aluminum foil building” to better shine. As of now, for the first time in many years, you can see it from Broad Street. Posted by Jonah_H at 7:24AM under RVANews-news [...]