When Shirley Hawkins met preservationist Zarina Fazaldin in 2016, it was to share what she remembered about her former workplace, the Richmond Workshop for the Blind, once located inside 508 St. James St. in Historic Jackson Ward.
Writing a book about it was the last thing on Mrs. Hawkins’ mind.
The preservation and adaptive reuse of VUU’s Industrial Hall is one of the most important and challenging reclamation projects facing Northside Richmond.