Latest on the Fate of Thirteen Acres

by Charles McGuigan 04.2023

Bob Balster, who has worked tirelessly in an effort to preserve the Thirteen Acres building, one of Northside’s oldest structures, recently released two reports: one from Historic Richmond; and another, which is essentially a response to the Historic Richmond recommendations, comes from the Hermitage Road Historic District Association, of which Bob is president. 

Topping Historic Richmond’s recommendations is almost exactly what David Hudson, the former principal of Holton Elementary School, had envisioned a decade ago. “Due to size (5310 SF + 1050 SF porch) could fit multiple offices, school programs, remote study rooms, early childhood development classrooms or school activities in existing structure,” according to the report from Historic Richmond. “Would not need to delineate parcel boundaries and RPS would retain ownership. Could create landscape plan to better connect historic building with school and relocate existing parking area.” Furthermore, the document says, “Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits may be available to offset rehabilitation costs depending on structuring or legislative change. Any exterior alterations visible from the public right of way will be subject to review of the Commission of Architectural Review.”

The Hermitage Road Historic District Association, which has been a long-time proponent of preserving the historic building, is on board with most of Historic Richmond’s recommendations .

“We are very pleased that Historic Richmond has listed several potential options for the redevelopment of the building and property,” the report reads. “We are especially pleased that all these options call for preservation of the building. In principle the HRHDA could support all these options. We are on record as preferring relocation to face Hermitage Road and redevelopment as a single-family residence in keeping with the residential character of our neighborhood.  Our least favorite option is the building of multifamily housing on the property, particularly the addition of more housing units on the property. The neighborhood is eager to retain the greenspace on the Thirteen Acres property, and the many Holton parents among our residents want to maximize the amount and shape of outdoor recreations space for students.”

Built in 1885, Thirteen Acres is one of oldest remaining homes in the Northside, and is the second oldest house on Hermitage Road. Back in 1967, the house and an accompanying thirteen acres was sold to the City of Richmond for $475,000 by the Virginia Methodist Home for the Aged, which operated its facility there. Richmond Public Schools (RPS), at that time, planned to build an elementary school on the site, but there was fierce opposition from the adjoining neighborhoods. They argued that the location was too close to the dense traffic along Laburnum and Hermitage, and children might be hit by speeding cars. 

For the next four years, the old house served as a school for children with special needs. Then, from 1973 until 1978 the building became home to the RPS community relations department. In 1978, RPS proposed using the site as a residential school for adolescents. The surrounding communities—Rosedale, Bellevue, Ginter Park—were vehemently opposed to the proposal, but two years later Thirteen Acres opened a five-day residential program for emotionally disabled students, ranging in age from six to twelve. It continued as a residential school until 2007, eight years after Holton Elementary School first opened its doors.

Since its doors closed permanently 16 years ago, the City has allowed the building to deteriorate. On the exterior, paint is peeling, exposed wood rotting, and window panes have been shattered and dentils pried loose from the fascia boards. The interior is in equally bad shape. The structure itself, though, is in very good shape and would be a perfect candidate for restoration.