|
The Facility Planning and
Implementation Committee have reviewed plans pertaining to
the old Shadow Lawn building (70 Culpeper Street, 3,700 sq.
ft.) and the former offices of Parks and Recreation (62
Culpeper Street, 2.400 sq. ft). The previous Board of
Supervisors had considered refurbishing the buildings for
the use of the Library (“The Virginiana Collection”) and for
County office space. A report of June 2003 by Mosley
Architects evaluated the buildings and provided cost
estimates of $513,305 for 70 Culpeper Street and $225,000
for 62 Culpeper Street that would bring the buildings up to
current standards and provide an elevator for accessibility,
as well as address potential structural concerns related to
the proposed uses. The previous Board believed that this
was too high an investment; therefore, the Board determined
that the property should be sold. The Town of Warrenton has
a 25% interest in the property and thus issues pertaining to
the sale of the property require the consent of both
parties.
The Facilities Planning and
Implementation Committee have reviewed this matter and
believe that the buildings and property have both a
short-term and long-term value for the County. On a
short-term basis the renovations of the Courthouse,
scheduled to begin this summer, will be most challenging as
construction activity will be disruptive of on-going
Courthouse functions. The Culpeper Street properties may
serve as a temporary office location and storage resource to
facilitate Courthouse construction. There is also a
short-term goal of reducing the amount of private space that
is leased for County offices. The Culpeper Street
properties could house programs such as the Adult Court
Services Unit, the Registrar of Voters or the Economic
Development office that are all now in leased space.
Currently, these offices lease a total of 5,212 square feet
at an annual cost of $71,817. Longer-term the property
(1.28 acres) is strategically located near County owned
parking facilities and the Courthouse and provides a
potential resource for future public needs. Rather than
disposing of the property, the County should consider
opportunities to purchase additional property adjacent to
property now used for public functions.
The Culpeper Street
properties have received minimal investment in the past few
years. Plans for roof replacement and other repairs were
postponed when the County embarked on a process to sell the
buildings. In order to protect these facilities and make
them suitable for the relocation of County programs now in
leased space, immediate repairs are required at 70 Culpeper
Street, $91,000 and 62 Culpeper Street, $65,000.
It is therefore, recommended
that the staff be authorized to develop plans for
improvements to the buildings and that discussions be
initiated with the Town of Warrenton regarding its ownership
interest and future plans for the property. In order that
the buildings may function as a resource during work on the
Courthouse, it is recommended that the work be expedited. |