March 3, 2009 - UR Downtown, which offers legal and other social services to Richmond residents, will meet an acute community need, Mayor Dwight Jones said at the open house.

Jones said he hopes the center will be the first of many collaborative opportunities "as the University of Richmond reintroduces itself to the city of Richmond."

"We're looking forward to being your neighbor for a long time to come," UR President Edward Ayers told Jones.

The 5,000-square-foot space is housed on the first floor of the former Franklin Federal Savings & Loan building at 626 E. Broad St., near the new federal courthouse. UR Downtown, which had been scheduled to open in the fall, began limited service in January.

Today's open house was the first in a series for the community. Others are planned from 2 to 4 p.m. March 16; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 18; and 2 to 4 p.m. March 19.

UR Downtown will offer three programs that involve UR law students and undergraduates as well as graduate students from Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Richmond Families Initiative will study ways to enhance programs run by local agencies to support families.

The Harry L. Carrico Center for Pro Bono Service will provide legal services to low-income victims of domestic violence seeking protective orders or those seeking no-fault divorces.

The Family Law Clinic will be a collaboration of UR law students and VCU graduate students in social work and psychology.

UR's law school and its Bonner Center for Civic Engagement developed UR Downtown to allow for practical education that also assists underserved citizens.

The Wilton Companies spent $6 million to renovate the building and is providing use of the space for UR Downtown.