Scaffolding has shrouded the bell tower since summer as work to repair storm damage continues. (Jonathan Spiers photos)
A “beacon” in Richmond’s Northside is temporarily dark less than a year after it was allowed, though not fully permitted, to shine.
The illuminable “VUU” logo signs atop the campus bell tower at Virginia Union University have not been turned on for months, further dimming the nearly century-old structure that’s been shrouded in scaffolding since summer.
Repairs are being made to the tower’s facade, which sustained storm damage earlier this year. A spokesperson for the university said the signs were turned off because of the repairs and will remain off until construction is finished. A time frame for completion was not specified.
But according to the city, the signs couldn’t be turned on even if the repairs were finished, because of a lingering permitting issue that as of this week remained unresolved.
The logo signs as they appeared illuminated. (File image courtesy WTVR)
While a special-use permit was awarded in February to allow the signs, which VUU had erected without the necessary local and state approvals, the university was still required to obtain sign and electrical permits to bring the signs into full compliance with city code.
As of last week, VUU had secured the sign permit, but not the electrical permit. Both were to have been applied for by Sept. 27, according to the city.
VUU also had not applied for a certificate of zoning compliance, which city staff said was also a condition of the special-use permit. Richmond spokesperson Petula Burks said the city informed VUU in late September that it had yet to receive an application for the certificate, which is required within two years of the permit.
Burks added that two weeks earlier, because of the noncompliance, the city issued a stop-work order to prevent the signs from being used or worked on until all permits and inspections had been completed or, she said, “the signs removed.”
“VUU still needs to comply with the building code,” Burks said.
VUU’s spokesperson, Erika Roache, did not address the stop-work order or the signs’ permit status when asked about the issues this week.
VUU erected the signage four years ago. (City of Richmond photo)
Erected illegally in late 2019, the signs violated not only city permitting requirements but also a preservation easement that VUU had signed with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which identifies the tower as historically significant.
Originally a pavilion designed by a noted Belgian architect for Belgium’s entry in the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the tower and adjoining Belgian Building were awarded to VUU over other competing U.S. universities when Belgium offered it because of the Nazi invasion of the country during World War II.
The structures’ architecture is considered representative of the International Style, with minimal ornamentation and colors. Richmond’s Commission of Architectural Review denied VUU a certificate of appropriateness that was needed for the signs, but an appeal from the university was granted by City Council.
Along with the special-use permit, an agreement with the Department of Historic Resources allowed the signs to stay, with mitigation measures including structural monitoring of the tower, efforts to preserve the tower and inform the public of its history, and an annual payment by VUU of $35,000 every year the signs remain up.
Repair work to the tower has been underway for months.
VUU has maintained that its campus has long lacked prominent signage and that the illuminated logos would be a “beacon of hope” for the university and the community.
Named the Vann Memorial Tower after VUU alum Robert Lee Vann, the 165-foot tower was described in Vann’s Pittsburgh Courier newspaper in 1941 as “the largest memorial ever built for a Negro in America,” according to a permit application from VUU, a historically black university.
The tower repair work is being done by Servpro of Chesterfield, a water damage restoration contractor, according to a permit filed with the city in June. The permit put the cost of the work at $400,000.
The city issued the sign permit the day it was received, Nov. 6. VUU had previously applied for that permit in 2019, before the signs were placed. The permit was denied by city zoning staff because the 17-by-17-foot signs exceeded size limits allowed under the university’s institutional zoning.
An application for the electrical permit had not been submitted by VUU as of Nov. 6. Burks said the city was willing to extend the deadline for the permit two weeks from that day. As of Thursday, she said an application had yet to be received.
Meanwhile, another notable VUU structure is under repair. Across campus, construction continues on a restoration and expansion of the century-old Industrial Hall building, where the university plans to house an art gallery and museum.
Scaffolding has shrouded the bell tower since summer as work to repair storm damage continues. (Jonathan Spiers photos)
A “beacon” in Richmond’s Northside is temporarily dark less than a year after it was allowed, though not fully permitted, to shine.
The illuminable “VUU” logo signs atop the campus bell tower at Virginia Union University have not been turned on for months, further dimming the nearly century-old structure that’s been shrouded in scaffolding since summer.
Repairs are being made to the tower’s facade, which sustained storm damage earlier this year. A spokesperson for the university said the signs were turned off because of the repairs and will remain off until construction is finished. A time frame for completion was not specified.
But according to the city, the signs couldn’t be turned on even if the repairs were finished, because of a lingering permitting issue that as of this week remained unresolved.
The logo signs as they appeared illuminated. (File image courtesy WTVR)
While a special-use permit was awarded in February to allow the signs, which VUU had erected without the necessary local and state approvals, the university was still required to obtain sign and electrical permits to bring the signs into full compliance with city code.
As of last week, VUU had secured the sign permit, but not the electrical permit. Both were to have been applied for by Sept. 27, according to the city.
VUU also had not applied for a certificate of zoning compliance, which city staff said was also a condition of the special-use permit. Richmond spokesperson Petula Burks said the city informed VUU in late September that it had yet to receive an application for the certificate, which is required within two years of the permit.
Burks added that two weeks earlier, because of the noncompliance, the city issued a stop-work order to prevent the signs from being used or worked on until all permits and inspections had been completed or, she said, “the signs removed.”
“VUU still needs to comply with the building code,” Burks said.
VUU’s spokesperson, Erika Roache, did not address the stop-work order or the signs’ permit status when asked about the issues this week.
VUU erected the signage four years ago. (City of Richmond photo)
Erected illegally in late 2019, the signs violated not only city permitting requirements but also a preservation easement that VUU had signed with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, which identifies the tower as historically significant.
Originally a pavilion designed by a noted Belgian architect for Belgium’s entry in the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the tower and adjoining Belgian Building were awarded to VUU over other competing U.S. universities when Belgium offered it because of the Nazi invasion of the country during World War II.
The structures’ architecture is considered representative of the International Style, with minimal ornamentation and colors. Richmond’s Commission of Architectural Review denied VUU a certificate of appropriateness that was needed for the signs, but an appeal from the university was granted by City Council.
Along with the special-use permit, an agreement with the Department of Historic Resources allowed the signs to stay, with mitigation measures including structural monitoring of the tower, efforts to preserve the tower and inform the public of its history, and an annual payment by VUU of $35,000 every year the signs remain up.
Repair work to the tower has been underway for months.
VUU has maintained that its campus has long lacked prominent signage and that the illuminated logos would be a “beacon of hope” for the university and the community.
Named the Vann Memorial Tower after VUU alum Robert Lee Vann, the 165-foot tower was described in Vann’s Pittsburgh Courier newspaper in 1941 as “the largest memorial ever built for a Negro in America,” according to a permit application from VUU, a historically black university.
The tower repair work is being done by Servpro of Chesterfield, a water damage restoration contractor, according to a permit filed with the city in June. The permit put the cost of the work at $400,000.
The city issued the sign permit the day it was received, Nov. 6. VUU had previously applied for that permit in 2019, before the signs were placed. The permit was denied by city zoning staff because the 17-by-17-foot signs exceeded size limits allowed under the university’s institutional zoning.
An application for the electrical permit had not been submitted by VUU as of Nov. 6. Burks said the city was willing to extend the deadline for the permit two weeks from that day. As of Thursday, she said an application had yet to be received.
Meanwhile, another notable VUU structure is under repair. Across campus, construction continues on a restoration and expansion of the century-old Industrial Hall building, where the university plans to house an art gallery and museum.
I live near Virginia Union and walk my dog on the outskirts either kicking the trash out of the way or picking up some of it up. I miss the electronic bell hymns that used to play at 8am and 6 pm. The jewels attached to the tip of the are an eye sore when lit. Maybe the $35k used to cover the fine could be used to trim the wax leaf privet that impedes the sidewalk that lines the side yard of the Presidents Mansion along Brook Rd.
35k could pick up a LOT of trash, for a long time.
I used to pick up tons of trash too — and knew others that did the same — funny how the litterers never get blamed for anything any more. Now, it is the people who make the containers who get blamed for everything.
Talk about code violations!
It really is a pretty boring structure, which was all the rage circa 1940… to me, it seems fine to put an illuminated logo on it because I think it makes it more interesting — this IS a city, after all.
So, is the issue that the paper work wasn’t all done, or is the Uni doing something that it won’t be allowed to do?
What about the giant VCU signs all over the city? Why are these not an issue?
Great point. And the VUU logo is quite dignified by comparison to the stupid “Be a basketball warrior by sitting in a seat and yelling at all these tall tattooed guys!!!” illuminated signs on the highways — makes you wonder if VCU is even a school, some of those signs.
I hope this gets resolved as soon as possible. I believe that it is a handsome addition to the character of Northside. I am student in the School of Theology and when you are on campus or in the vicinity of the University, it does stand out as a “Beacon of Hope.” Go Panthers !