Hannah Graham’s name was not mentioned in the University of Virginia press release about a safety advisory committee’s recommendation for a police substation on the Corner, but the second-year’s national-spotlight disappearance from the Downtown Mall in September and the subsequent discovery of her remains was clearly the impetus. It’s also driving a heightened awareness of the need for greater security near Grounds that has Corner businesses adding cameras and lighting.
“That was a catalyst,” said University Police Chief Michael Gibson. “We look at things we can do better.”
The proposed police substation would be staffed from 9pm to 3am during prime partying times: Thursdays through Saturdays. Temporary structures, including a kiosk, are being considered, said Gibson, especially to get something in place mid-January, around the time UVA students return from the holiday break. A rental property is another option, he said.
According to Gibson, nothing is off the table, including hiring additional police and security officers, increasing patrols in the neighborhoods around the University and installing blue light emergency phones.
How seriously the community was shaken by Graham’s disappearance is evidenced by the top officials sitting on the advisory committee: UVA executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Hogan, Charlottesville City Manager Maurice Jones and Albemarle County Executive Tom Foley.
“We believe the new police substation will greatly improve the ability of law enforcement to protect and serve the area adjacent to the Corner during what is arguably the busiest time of the week,” Hogan said in the release. “This is an important first step in our renewed effort to partner with the city and county as we all work together to enhance the safety for students, faculty, staff and local residents.”
Graham’s disappearance and the discovery of her remains a month later has galvanized some Corner landlords, such as former Board of Visitors member Hunter Craig, who added lighting and security cameras, according to two of his tenants.
Poe’s Public House now has security cameras out front and new outside lights in the back of the building, according to owner Joe Fields. “He really took it to heart,” he said of Craig, who did not respond to a request for comment.
“We made dramatic changes at the store with lighting,” said Mark Lorenzoni, owner of Ragged Mountain Running Shop on Elliewood Avenue. “Hunter Craig—he took the initiative with that.” The lights go on as soon as it’s dark. “It’s amazing how lit up it is,” added Lorenzoni.
The White Spot also added a camera in the wake of Graham’s disappearance, said Daniel Sanchez at the restaurant.
Other businesses already have cameras. For instance, Boylan Heights has 12 cameras that were installed over the past three years, said bartender and server Chauncie Thrift.
“We feel very strongly about kids taking care of themselves,” said Lorenzoni, who after nearly 33 years at Ragged Mountain Running, has seen a lot of UVA students come through, and has 35 working at the store now.
“We have had an ongoing message with them about personal safety, taking care of their bodies and drinking safely,” said Lorenzoni, who with his wife takes on an almost parental role.
Many Corner businesses are also participating in the University’s bystander awareness campaign known as Hoos Got Your Back, which emphasizes the responsibility of everybody in the community—including restaurant and bar staff—to be vigilant when it comes to sexual assault.
That mission “has stepped up with the tragedy this fall,” Lorenzoni said, even though Graham’s alleged abduction happened more than a mile away from the Corner. “Watch your back, and check who’s looking after your friends,” he said.
Not everyone said that safety is a problem near Grounds. “We don’t want to be involved in a story about safety on the Corner,” said Chris Hendricks at Mincer’s. “We think it’s very safe.”
And even in the wake of Graham’s death, some things haven’t changed, said Fields at Poe’s Public House. “We’re getting out of here at 3 and see girls walking by themselves,” he said. “We try to get them in a cab.”
The young women, said Fields, “think they’re invincible.”