Could Children’s Hospital Be Coming to Westhampton School Site? Tyler Holds Town Meeting Tuesday, May 25

The entire Near West End community is encouraged to attend a town meeting tomorrow night held by City Councilman Bruce W. Tyler, West End 1st District, Richmond City Council.

This meeting will include:

· Citizen feedback on the future of Westhampton School Site

Meeting will include a presentation and discussion regarding the future use and development of the former site of Richmond Public Schools Richmond Community High School, which is now known as the Westhampton School site, located at 5800 Patterson Avenue in Richmond. Vacant and not functioning as a school as of the 2009/10 school year, the property was transferred to the City of Richmond by Richmond Public Schools. The site, including the former Colonial Revival style school building, is 6.6 acres. The original building was built around 1917.
Also on hand will be: Mr. Brooke Hardin, Deputy Director
Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review

WHEN Tuesday, 25 May 2010
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Public Schools - Mary Munford Elementary School
211 Westmoreland Street (Between Cary Street and Grove Avenue in Richmond’s West End)

For more information, please contact Councilman Bruce Tyler, at 804.357.6007; or bruce.tyler(at)richmondgov.com; or, Jennifer Walle, at 363.3442 at jennifer.walle(at)richmondgov.com.

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Kim Bridges, 1st District School Board Representative,  says there is a city ordinance that says that proceeds from the sale of the property will go back to Richmond City Schools for capital improvements.  These could include ADA compliance for city schools or other improvements. There has been some discussions in the community of a gym addition to Mary Munford Elementary School, to help fill a need that school has had for some time, that gym could also serve as a community center and recreational facility for the community.  With the sale of the Westhampton School property, the community center and playground at that site may be lost, and if that is the case, there would be an even greater need.

There has been talk in the community that  Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital is interested in buying the property for a Children’s Hospital. They seem like a likely buyer, considering the large price tag for the property — estimated proceeds are  about $5 million dollars. Bon Secours owns many of the houses on the blocks between the hospital and the Westhampton School property already.

Repeated requests were made over  the past week by the Near West End News to speak with Mary Anne Graf, Vice President, Women’s & Children’s Servcies of  Bon Secours Health System, St. Mary’s appointed spokesperson for this project,  but as of the time of publication, calls were not returned.

Stay tuned to the Near West End News for additional details and updates.