Justin Faulconer
A real estate firm recently has been hired to roll out a strategy on attracting potential developers for the former Central Virginia Training Center, according to a recent staff report to the Amherst County Board of Supervisors.
CVTC, at one time the county's largest employer, closed in 2020 after relocating its last remaining resident. The state-owned campus on Colony Road in Madison Heights served residents with disabilities and has close to 100 buildings on site.
County Administrator Jeremy Bryant said during the board of supervisors' Sept. 3 meeting the state has hired JLL, a company headquartered in Chicago, and two representatives toured the Madison Heights campus in late August.
"They are working on a new plan on how to market the property," Bryant said.
Bryant said the company is working to "cast a bigger net" for potential developers. The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance unveiled a master plan for the property in April 2022 that envisioned a mix of townhomes, single-family homes, a village center and commercial retail uses among other attractions and amenities.
Supervisor Claudia Tucker asked Bryant if there has been any movement on potentially using one of the newer CVTC buildings for medical uses following a recent announcement from the state that the Hiram W. Davis Medical Center in Petersburg is set to close by no later than 2027.
Bryant said in response he doesn't think reusing a building for medical-related purposes is very likely.
"Everything we heard from the state is they're working to sell the property," Bryant said.
After the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services vacated the property following the 2020 closure, the land was transitioned to the Department of General Services for the purpose of being declared surplus and prepared for sale. Former Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg, in a spring 2023 interview said he was honored to be part of acquiring $25 million to pay off the outstanding property bonds 14 years ahead of schedule so stakeholders could proceed with redevelopment efforts.
The Amherst County Service Authority board on Sept. 3 heard from authority director Tim Castillo on ongoing talks with the state on possibly taking in CVTC water and sewer infrastructure. Authority staff reviewed mapping that highlighted "only the main backbone infrastructure that ACSA would consider accepting into its system," Castillo's report states.
ACSA has submitted to the Virginia Department of General Services (DGS) to take into its system utility service from the city of Lynchburg, storage tanks and a loop to serve a trailer park nearby that includes ACSA customers, the report states.
"We are not including any lines that serve buildings," Castillo's report states. "Staff has submitted to DGS suggested sewer infrastructure we would consider accepting into ACSA system. We are including gravity mains to serve the property, not buildings and many areas that need significant upgrades."
Castillo said ACSA has received verbal confirmation that DGS is willing to give the infrastructure to the authority at no cost and the next step is the issue will be turned over the recently hired real estate group. ACSA will seek funding for sewer system improvements and is working with DGS on selling the campus to a potential buyer, the report added.
Turner Perrow, the ACSA board's chair, said it makes sense for the authority to take into its system the primary lines that serve the CVTC property, not the secondary ones.
Drought disaster measure OK'd
The board of supervisors on Sept. 3 also approved a resolution to declare the county a disaster area due to experiencing below normal rainfall in conjunction with higher than normal temperatures resulting in a severe drought, which has caused hay and crop loss for county farmers.
Amherst County experienced below normal rainfall since March and was upgraded to a severe drought area July 2, the resolution states. The drought warning advisory for the county and more than 70 other localities was lifted last month after rainfall from Tropical Storm Debbie.
Summer crops, such as corn, did not develop normally due to the high temperatures and producers had to feed hay to replace lost pasture grazing, the resolution states. The measure will seek funding relief from the state for producers.
In other news:
The board also approved appropriation of $9,200 from the county's solid waste fund to pay bonuses for public works employees from miscellaneous revenue earned but not appropriated during the fiscal 2023-24 year. The measure will give $500 bonuses to 17 employees this month, according to the carryforward appropriation for public works.Supervisors agreed to cancel a board meeting scheduled for Nov. 5 due to its conflict with the presidential and general election.
Justin Faulconer,
(434) 473-2607
jfaulconer@
newsadvance.com
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