History of Housing Inequality at UVA
Origin of Housing Inequality at UVA
The origins of housing inequality at the University of Virginia can be traced back to its historical ties to slavery. The University’s iconic serpentine walls serve as a stark reminder of this history, as they were originally designed to conceal the enslaved laborers who worked tirelessly to support its faculty and students. These eight-foot-high walls enclosed “garden sections” used for growing food and keeping livestock (Farish, 2022). Their curved structure functioned as a sound barrier, keeping both slaves and students ignorant of each other's presence (Neale, 2020).
This inequality is further exemplified in the architectural layout of the university’s pavilions. While professors occupied the upper sections of the pavilions, characterized by ornate windows and architectural detailing, enslaved laborers were confined to quarters in the basements below, which are visible only through narrow vents beneath the windows (Wolfe, 2020). These laborers endured overcrowded and inhumane living conditions. Compounding these inequalities, only landowners were permitted to attend the university, reinforcing economic and housing disparities. This stark division in housing not only reflects racial segregation but also highlights broader socioeconomic disparities, laying the groundwork for the enduring housing inequalities still evident today.
This original campus architecture demonstrates a long-standing socioeconomic divide that dates back to the 17th century. The legacy of this physical separation has transformed into modern-day inequalities, with race and socioeconomic status continuing to shape access to housing. These challenges are further complicated by the University’s influence on the local housing market. Today, this divide is visible in Charlottesville's wealth gap, where UVA's historical reliance on exploitation has evolved into modern inequalities. Gentrification and rising housing costs disproportionately impact low-income communities, while UVA’s expansion continues to favor affluent, predominantly white students and faculty. This further widens the gap, as access to resources and housing remains skewed, perpetuating the cycle of privilege and marginalization rooted in the University’s early foundations.
The University's Role in Perpetuating Housing Inequality at UVA
As the University continued to expand, the housing inequality continued to grow at the expense of lower socioeconomic communities. One example is the land once owned by Catherine “Kitty” Foster, a Black woman and freed slave who operated a successful seamstress and laundress business. The site, located in a neighborhood called “Canada,” was historically owned by freed Black individuals, with the name symbolizing the freedom associated with Canada (Ghazzawi, 2021). Kitty’s land and the surrounding neighborhood were eventually taken over by UVA, with the area razed to make way for over 300,000 square feet of new university buildings (Ghazzawi, 2021). Today, a monument stands on UVA’s grounds to commemorate Kitty’s home and business, yet the University fails to address the deeper implications of this history. There is little recognition of the tension between UVA and the displaced community, the significance of the Canada neighborhood, or the University's direct role in erasing it. While the monument acknowledges Kitty’s legacy through an informational sign displayed in the image above, it does not fully confront the systemic inequities and exploitation tied to the University's expansion.
UVA once again took over a land owned by black people to accommodate their wealthy incoming staff and students at Vinegar Hill. Vinegar Hill was a downtown neighborhood in Charlottesville that housed predominantly black people in which “600 Black families” and “more than 30 Black-owned businesses that, combined, generated a gross annual income of $1.6 million” lived before an urban development took action (Cameron, 2021). According to Cameron, “Charlottesville utilized eminent domain to acquire the Vinegar Hill neighborhood and business district, raze it, and attempt to redevelop it for a new thoroughfare and commercial development.” This pattern of infrastructure development primarily benefits the wealthy, predominantly White population that can contribute significantly to UVA’s economic growth. Meanwhile, marginalized communities, particularly Black residents, have consistently borne the brunt of these decisions. The displacement of Vinegar Hill underscores how UVA’s approach to expansion perpetuates housing inequality, a legacy that continues to shape its relationship with the surrounding community.
The construction of the Gooch-Dillard dorms provides another stark example of the University of Virginia's failure to fully confront its role in perpetuating inequalities. When the University surveyed the land for the Gooch-Dillard dorms, they found no evidence of a slave burial ground. It was only after Alice H. Clark, a descendant of the original landowner, informed the University that it came to light that the area contained a slave cemetery (McCue, 2021). In response, UVA surveyed the site, marked its boundaries with low stone walls, and placed a discreet plaque before proceeding with the dormitory construction. Due to the unobtrusive nature of the plaque and boundary walls, many students were unaware of the graveyard’s existence, using it as a shortcut. Over 40 years later, a student who had noticed the plaque raised concerns about the University’s insufficient acknowledgment of the burial ground and its connection to UVA’s history with slavery.This student-led initiative led to the creation of clear walking paths around the site and the addition of informational signs (McCue, 2021). While these changes showed progress, the signs once again fell short of properly acknowledging the burial ground and detailing the critical role of student advocacy in securing recognition. As the University continues to expand student housing, it must do so in a way that fully respects and acknowledges the historical significance of the land it occupies.
The University now has a strategic plan, The Great and Good Plan, that aims to accomplish several goals by 2030, including housing second-year students on grounds (UVA, 2019). While the construction of these upperclassmen dorms, they also have been directing a significant amount of resources towards other projects that don’t seem relevant. For instance, the AFC renovations, which are largely cosmetic in nature, have consumed a large amount of funding (Tubbs, 2023). Similarly, the university has recently installed a new scoreboard, costing $13.8 million. UVA claims this project will “significantly enhance the game day experience for Cavalier fans” despite the previous scoreboard functioning adequately (UVA Facilities Management, 2024). With the university’s ever increasing enrollment rate, the slow progress of upperclassmen dormitory construction, and Charlottesville’s housing market already strained, it remains uncertain whether the goal of housing all second-year students on campus by 2030 is achievable. Even if achieved, its impact on alleviating the financial pressure on students and the broader community may be minimal. Given the university’s history with housing inequality and its ignorance regarding the needs of the community, a more comprehensive and equitable solution is necessary to effectively address the issue.
The University of Virginia has historically favored wealthier populations that are capable of contributing more financially to the university, thus creating a housing inequality to accommodate their wealthy population at the expense of lower income individuals both within the UVA and the broader Charlottesville community. The University exploited economically disadvantaged populations, primarily black residents, by seizing their land to construct new housing and leaving these communities unable to afford the very homes built on their former property. This dynamic has created a divide between those who can afford housing around grounds, and those who do not have the means to live nearby. Despite this issue, UVA has not introduced a reasonable plan to help mitigate this housing inequality. Rather than allocating funds to address these disparities or support affordable housing initiatives, the University continues to prioritize nonessential projects and aesthetic modifications on grounds, neglecting a critical issue that many individuals living in Charlottesville face everyday.
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