Eggleston Hotel collapses after decades of neglect (UPDATED)
With plans for its rebirth as an apartment building stymied due to lack of funding, the Eggleston Hotel at the corner of 2nd and Leigh collapsed early this morning after decades of neglect.
The RTD is reporting no injuries and that the remainder of the building will come down as soon as it is safe:
No one was believed to have been injured when the hotel collapsed, but Richmond fire officials are searching the wreckage after reports that a homeless person was staying in the building. Several people had to be rescued from an adjacent apartment building, but they were not hurt.
Listening devices inside the hotel are picking up sounds of creaking, and fire officials fear the other half of the building may collapse. Once they determine there is no inside, fire officials plan to tear the rest of the building down later today.
I can’t say I’m surprised at all, but I can say I’m very sad. This landmark was neglected for years. I only hope that there were really no persons living/sleeping in it.
The building will be coming down soon, within the hour they say. We’ll roll video if it does.
So was its historical value the reason that this obviously unsound building wasn’t condemned and demolished years ago?
It is my understanding that the building was on the slow track to redevelopment, towards being an apartment building.
This does not explain why the building wasn’t made to be more structurally sound while the process played out, nor why it was let to fall into such disrepair in the first place.
I’m not at the scene anymore because I was told it would be hours. I might go back out later and try to catch it.
We’ve got word that the demolition is imminent. Dominion has cut power to the surrounding area.
Daniel is back at 2nd&Leigh, follow the conversation at rvatweets.com–>ehotel.
Demolition is underway, updated photos on flicker tagged with “ehotel”.
one of the major factors contributing to the neglect of this building was a will dispute after Eggleston’s death. It was finally resolved after about 10 years but nobody moved fast enough to stabilize the building (had been open roof in portions for many years) once clear title was awarded.
Great coverage. I believe the Eggleston had some significance in the African American history of Jackson Ward.
It is featured in the Built by Blacks.
Maybe now the City will be forced to get on the ball and address other historical properties,some in CH, which are on the verge of collapse.
[...] demolition of the Eggleston Hotel [...]
This is sad. More Richmond history gone.
Say what you will, but am I the only one who finds it ironic that the EGGleston Hotel collapsed on Easter weekend?
Sad to see the building fall down. I remember researching the site when I worked for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. It had a rich history.
[...] RTD is digging into the pile of blame for the collapse of the Eggleston Hotel this past Saturday. The city lays the collapse on the owners’ for not taking action despite the urging of city [...]