UVA BOV considers turning Oak Lawn over to Charlottesville schools

Still smarting from the federal government's awarding to UVA of the Federal Executive Institute property after initially awarding it to Charlottesville City Schools, the University of Virginia's Board of Visitors Friday considers turning over its Oak Lawn property in Fifeville to the city school system.

By Jay Hart September 9, 2025 11:22 am


Oak LawnContributedCourtesy UVA
Health | Oak Lawn

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Still smarting from the federal government’s awarding to UVA of the Federal Executive Institute property after initially awarding it to Charlottesville City Schools, the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors Friday considers turning over its Oak Lawn property in Fifeville to the city school system. The historic home at 501 9th Street SW was built in 1822 for merchant and Virginia House of Delegates member Nimrod Bramham, designed and constructed by James Dinsmore whose services Thomas Jefferson enlisted in building Monticello and the University of Virginia. After Bramham’s 1847 death, the property was sold to James Fife and became the cornerstone of the current Fifeville neighborhood.

The item is on the Board of Visitor’s full meeting action items agenda, and Charlottesville Schools Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley sent out a Tuesday morning message “to report an exciting potential development thanks to the leadership and collaboration of our colleagues at the University of Virginia”. The UVA Board will vote on “a resolution to lease and eventually transfer Oak Lawn to the City of Charlottesville for the schools’ use at a nominal fee”, according to Dr. Gurley.
City and city schools’ leaders back in April held a jubilant press conference when the U.S. Department of Education announced initially it would award the FEI to Charlottesville City Schools at no cost. About a week later, city and city schools’ leaders were devastated when the USDOE reneged on that decision and awarded the Emmet Street property to the other applicant, UVA. However, Dr. Gurley told CvilleRightNow the University never hung the city out to dry.

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