Eggleston Plaza: A beacon for decades of Black history in Richmond’s Jackson Ward
This February, we are celebrating Black History Month by telling Black stories in our communities that exemplify a rich and important piece of our country’s history. VCDC’s home base in Richmond, VA, is known for its prominent Black culture, entrepreneurship, music, entertainment, and cuisine that shape Richmond’s identity. Specifically, tucked away in the neighborhood of Jackson Ward lives decades of Black history. Jackson Ward is nicknamed “the Harlem of the South” due to its strong heritage and culture that was enlivened by black-owned restaurants, theatres, clubs, banks, hotels, and entertainment in the early 20th century. One of those businesses, a former hotel, is Eggleston Plaza, which now offers affordable housing opportunities for 31 households in Richmond.
The Eggleston Hotel was first opened in the 1930’s by Neverett Eggleston Sr., whose family still owns and operates businesses in Jackson Ward. The hotel was well known for providing comfortable, safe lodging for African American travelers passing through the city, particularly during the Jim Crow era. According to an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Eggleston Hotel was one of only three hotels in the city that permitted black guests. Featured in the 1947 edition of the Green Book, the Eggleston’s guests included music legends James Brown and Duke Ellington, comedian Redd Foxx, and baseball’s Joe Black. Other guests throughout the years included Jackie Robinson, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie. In its prime, the Eggleston was known as a hub for some of the best soul food and entertainment that Richmond had to offer.
In an interview with Richmond Magazine, Neverett Eggleston Sr.’s son, Neverett Jr., noted: “[My father] worked to make it the finest establishment in town.”
Location:
Richmond, VA
Developer:
The Hanson Company
Total Homes:
31
Community Served:
Low-income senior citizens
VCDC Equity Invested:
$1,477,000
Beyond the hotel, The Egglestons have been at the forefront of Richmond entrepreneurship and community action since the early 1900s. Neverett Sr. was prominently involved in anti-segregation movements in the 1950’s, joining the Richmond Democratic League to help register African American voters. Neverett Jr., who once served as General Manager at the Eggleston, was also involved in local action, helping to form and African American political action group called Voters Voice in 1964. Neverett Sr.’s grandson, Neverett III, is a founder of soul food chain Croaker’s Spot and the downtown Richmond seafood spot Sugar’s Crab Shack.
The Eggleston Hotel eventually closed in the 1980’s after Richmond desegregated and the hotel began losing customers, and the building collapsed in 2009. Eight years later, Eggleston Plaza, which now sits on the former hotel site, celebrated its grand opening as an affordable housing apartment building developed by The Hanson Company. Kelvin Hanson, the owner of The Hanson Company has deep roots in Richmond and worked with the Eggleston family to develop Eggleston Plaza as a space for long-time residents of Jackson Ward to age in place. All apartment units are designed specifically for low-income residents who make no more than 60% of the Area Median Income. Each apartment was designed with high efficiency appliances to reduce utility costs for residents. The building also features a community room and fitness area for resident use.
In the past decade significant investments have been made in Jackson Ward, drawing new business and development. While the expansion of VCU into the neighborhood has raised concerns about gentrification, it has also drawn attention to important revitalizing cultural projects like the renovation of the Hippodrome Theater and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, and the creation of the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, all integral to preserving Jackson Ward’s heritage. Another staple of the neighborhood includes Southern Kitchen, an award-winning, nationally recognized Black-owned restaurant specializing in soul food, which coincidentally takes up the ground floor space of Eggleston Plaza.
The creation of Eggleston Plaza was made possible by funding from The City of Richmond, Virginia Housing, and $1.5MM in LIHTC equity from VCDC’s Housing Equity Fund of Virginia XVIII.
Stop by Jackson Ward someday to get a taste for the unique culture and history cultivated by families like the Egglestons and Richmond’s Black community!
Sources:
https://richmond.com/business/eggleston-plaza-opens-in-old-hotel-spot-across-from-hippodrome-in-richmonds-jackson-ward-neighborhood/article_2fe75cc0-7557-5cc3-90b7-be4eec04c777.html
https://richmondmagazine.com/news/features/a-haven-on-the-deuce/
https://community.village.virginia.edu/greenbooks/content/eggleston-millers
