What is the goal of this process?
The goal of the feasibility studies for both sites is to understand:
- The unique features at each site, including the historic elements at Oak Lawn
- What types of programs and uses would be appropriate for each site
We aim to collaborate with the local community to pinpoint the best uses that meet both the community's and UVA Health’s needs.
What is the timeline for this process?
The design consultant teams started working in September 2024. The community engagement process for both sites began in October 2024 and will run through 2025.
- Grove Street’s feasibility study will run 9-11 months.
- Oak Lawn will have a multi-year schedule to work through an entitlement process with the City. The feasibility study, including the engagement required for the entitlement process, will run through fall of 2025.
Have the programs or uses for Oak Lawn or Grove Street been decided?
We haven't yet decided what will happen on either site. The feasibility studies, combined with the community engagement process (which is now happening), will inform the decisions.
UVA Health is committed to exploring a mix of programs that allow us to provide services, like childcare and community health and wellness services, that meet the community's needs.
Is there anything on the Oak Lawn site?
Yes. The site includes a historic house, land, another building, and two historic cemeteries.
How did UVA Health come to own Oak Lawn?
Oak Lawn was put up for sale on the private market in March of 2023. UVA Health bought the site in the fall of 2023.
Is Oak Lawn historic?
Oak Lawn is a 5.2-acre, historically significant property. It's listed on two National Register of Historic Places nominations. It's also listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) and is a City of Charlottesville Individually Protected Property (IPP).
Addressing the historic preservation of the existing house and landscape, including the two historic cemeteries, is an integral part of this project. We're currently exploring that process through a Historic Structures Report and a Cultural Landscape Report, both of which will be completed in December 2024.
How are you engaging the community in this process? Who is involved?
We're holding several in-person conversations and asking for feedback through an online form. All residents and community partners are encouraged to engage.
We're also working together with the Fifeville Neighborhood Association and other community leaders to understand community concerns, get feedback, identify engagement gaps, and make sure that all residents can lend their voices to this process.
How are you sharing information about this process?
This website is a central place for online communication about all parts of both projects, including community engagement. These pages will be updated regularly. If you can’t make an engagement opportunity, use these pages to find relevant materials, presentations, and other information.
We're also working closely with local community leaders throughout Fifeville to share information about this process within the community on a regular basis.
How can I participate in this process?
We encourage all community members to engage in this process through our community walks, workshops, or webinars. We're also inviting some community members to participate in targeted focus groups with the design teams to share their professional or personal expertise. Lastly, we're exploring more ways to engage harder-to-reach community members through events like community pop-ups or other, more focused neighborhood meetings.
Image provided by Mitchell/Matthews Architects.