Reclaiming Our Sacred Ground

Community Advisory Group proposes use for vacant building at African Burial Ground

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Originally published in the Winter 2024 edition of the Virginia Defender, issue 74, printed February 21. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Winter 2024 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For other issues dating back to 2012, see the Full Issues page.

Staff Report

Inspired by the community effort that has artistically transformed an old abandoned building at the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, the Defenders’ Shockoe Bottom Community Advisory Group is proposing a similar redoing of the old sandwich shop that sits at the corner of East Broad Street and the CSX railroad tracks. (See photo.)

Sitting at the southeast corner of the Shockoe Bottom African Burial Ground, this building that once housed a sandwich shop has sat abandoned and neglected for some 30 years. Covered with graffiti and with old restaurant equipment still visible through its open back doorway, this is the first thing visitors see when approaching the Burial Ground from East Broad Street. Advocates are now proposing a new use for the structure. Photo by Phil Wilayto.

The advocates have sent their proposal to city officials and, so far, have received an encouraging response.

The idea is to solicit input from community artists, especially Black artists, to conceive and execute a redo of the building in a way that is both educational and of benefit to the community.

The Community Advisory Group will formally raise the proposal at the Feb. 27 Shockoe Project Unveiled meeting. (See the announcement below.)

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