UVA senior John Pappas had been working on a beautifying project for the corner of University Avenue and 14th Street for more than a year. The dirty, “barren, squalid wall” needed a cheerful lift. With other UVA students and faculty, Pappas, president of the PhiEta Sigma Honor Society, introduced the idea of creating a mural depicting scenes from the city’s daily life.
According to the staff report, the design of the mural included six brick archways depicting the James River, the Corner, outdoor recreation, the Downtown Mall, Community Bikes, and Carter’s Mountain. Last November, Pappas presented the initial project to the Board of Architectural Review (BAR), which positively reviewed the effort, but requested changes citing concerns over the mural’s maintenance.
On Tuesday, April 21, Pappas went before the BAR one more time. On Phi Eta Sigma’s website, he called for students to voice their support for the mural. “We hope to beautify and reinvigorate this intersection by highlighting the unique aspects of our University and Charlottesville communities,” the group writes. “Already we have received the enthusiastic support of Corner stores and restaurants. Please show the Board that UVA students, too want to see this mural.” Pappas and friends also tried Facebook, and recruited 433 members to the group.
Instead of painting the brick archways, Pappas proposed to build them with actual brick. To meet the low-maintenance request, the mural was transformed into a stained glass mosaic commissioned to recent UVA fifth-year Aunspaugh Art Fellow James Dean Erickson.
Facing the board along with Pappas was Director of Neighborhood Development Services Jim Tolbert. “This is not John’s project anymore, it has become a city project and they are partners,” he told the board. Pappas had negotiated that the city would have paid half of the cost of installing the mosaic. The city would have also put lights on the 14th Street bridge for safety and decoration. The board, however, struck down both ideas.
“I initially supported this project when it first came to us,” said Eryn Brennan, a member of the board and historian. “It seems that it has taken a more architectural turn … but overall I support the project.” All other six members vehemently disagreed. “The intent here is just incredibly admirable, I don’t mean to detract from the good intentions behind this proposal,” said Brian Hogg, board member and UVA’s senior historic preservation planner. “But I think the long-term effect of this intervention would be a detraction to the character of that streetscape.” John Sydney Knight went even further. “I was lukewarm when I saw this the first time, I am adamantly opposed as I see it now. I think this is admirable, I think it’s painfully earnest, but I think it’s essentially misguided.” Local entrepreneur Amy Gardner said the mosaic “adds a layer of Disney to the Corner.” In a 6 to 1 vote, the board denied the application. “I am flabbergasted,” a visibly shaken Pappas told C-VILLE soon after the vote.
C-VILLE welcomes news tips from readers. Send them to news@c-ville.com.