The Shadow
LOW MOOR — Boiling Spring Elementary School is drawing interest from an entrepreneur.
The Alleghany County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing Wednesday to begin a process that could lead to a lease or sale of the building.
“After some work with the state, we hope to make a very positive announcement on the reuse of that facility,” County Administrator Jon Lanford said.
Boiling Spring Elementary closed in 2013 as the school board dealt with shrinking student enrollment and ever tightening budgets. Ownership of the building was transferred to Alleghany County.
“Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, we will be able to make a formal announcement on that building,” Lanford said.
Wednesday’s public hearing was the first step in a legal process that may lead to an agreement to lease or sell the property, which totals 10.21 acres.
There were no comments during the public hearing.
Boiling Spring school was one of several economic development matters discussed by supervisors Wednesday.
The board held a separate public hearing on designating areas in the county and Covington as economic growth areas.
The process is part of an agreement signed between the county and Covington two years ago. The agreement calls for the city and county to jointly invest in economic development properties and share revenues.
“This is the last step to potentially make a joint investment with our partners in Covington,” Lanford said.
In reviewing a list of properties that have been targeted for economic development, Lanford said: “These are not areas that have active or perspective prospects on them. These are just some areas that have potential in the future.”
The sites identified for potential joint development are:
— The Alleghany Innovation Park at Interstate 64, Exit 29. The property consists of 317 acres.
— The Alleghany Regional Commerce Center at Low Moor and adjacent property. The property totals 327 acres.
— Approximately 257 acres of property at I-64, Exit 27.
— The Clifton Forge Business Park on U.S. Route 60. The park totals approximately 50 acres.
— Land at the southeastern corner of I-64, Exit 29, totaling 38 acres.
— The Rail Over River Industrial Park in Covington, totaling 220 acres.
— Property near Mountain View Elementary School, totaling 221 acres.
Supervisors voted 6-0 Wednesday to designate the properties and growth areas suitable for joint investment with Covington.
Falling Spring Supervisor Matt Garten abstained from voting because his family has business interests in the Rail Over River property.
Supervisors were also updated on an ongoing process to identify so-called Brownsfield sites for potential economic development.
Two years ago, the Highlands received a $600,000 grant to identify Brownsfield sites.
The money can be used for remediation of contaminated property to remove hazardous substances and waste and the demolition and removal of existing structures.
“We should have a lot of sites, because we are on a river, and we are on a rail. So we have a lot of old industrial sites,” said Supervisor Chairman Steve Bennett.
Lori Kroll, an engineering consultant with Draper Aden Associates in Christiansburg, said Brownsfield sites are commonly overlooked by developers due to fears of environmental contamination.
“If there is a potential for some concern about contamination or some sort of presence on these sites, people will shy away,” she said. “It is a perceived perception that people have about these sites that make people hesitant about moving forward with a project.”
Kroll said Brownfields can be cleaned up and redeveloped for new industries, businesses, housing and open space that creates jobs and improves property values and quality of life.
“You have had a lot of closures here over the last 20 years that have sort of left some unfinished business that needs to be revitalized,” she said.
Kroll suggested that local officials visit the town of Pulaski to view some successful Brownsfield projects.
“These properties don’t have to be vacant. They can be underutilized properties,” she said.
Local officials have used the $600,000 grant to assess potential Brownsfield sites in the Highlands.
Potential sites include:
— An abandoned school alongside U.S. Route 220 in Iron Gate.
— The former Jefferson High School in Clifton Forge, which is attracting interest from a residential developer.
— An abandoned motel and gas station in Cliftondale Park.
— A vacant storefront at 105 W. Main in Covington. Kroll said the property may be used as a “celebration depot” and children’s party venue with retail apace in the front of the building.
— An old warehouse on Oak Street in Covington that’s located near railroad lines.
— The former Selma Elementary School.
“This makes sense for this region, because your land use is limited,” Kroll said in explaining the benefits of Brownsfields.
Supervisors also approved appointments to the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Corp. board Wednesday.
Appointed to the board were: Ray Lipes of Lumos, Greg Madsen of Carilion, Bill Withrow, who is a retired certified public accountant, and James Griffith, a member of the board of supervisors.
