VCU group cleans up, works to adopt city block

Several dozen people showed up Saturday for a cleanup of the 1100 block of West Grace Street, known by many as Hell Block. VCU environmental group Green Unity organized the event, the third of four needed for the group to officially adopt the block.

Participants spread out over both sides of Grace Street, picking up mostly broken glass and cigarette butts.

Gabbie Cauchon, theater performance major and Hell Block resident, said the area gained its nickname from years and years of large, wild parties. She also said that she was very much for the student-organized cleanups.

“Its wonderful for us to do them,” Cauchon said. “(The cleanups) are our responsibility honestly, and it’s a responsibility we can find on our own, you don’t have to be told to do it.”

Amanda Schutt, an environmental studies major and Green Unity officer, said she was pleased with the large turnout and said the group planned to continue doing the cleanups

“If we have this kind of manpower, then we’re probably going to do it four times again next year,” Schutt said. “We finally got some teachers and coaches involved, so we’re going to keep up with them and notify them when we’re cleaning up.”

Among the participants of the event were more than 10 members of the VCU women’s soccer team.

Even as the group was picking up trash, residents of the neighborhood were out in the street riding BMX bikes and skateboards while others stood on their porches with stereos playing loud music.

Environmental studies major and Green Unity officer Will Isenberg said the cleanups are his favorite part of Green Unity and the organization was working with local community members to build recycling bins for the area.

According to Schutt, the grabbers, gloves and trash bags used in the cleanup all were donated by Darlene Mallory from the Richmond Clean City Commission. The commission is in charge of the Adopt-A-Spot/Street program.

Green Unity’s next cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 4 at 2 p.m.