Courthouse renovations slowly discussed, but no plan yet

One of Botetourt County’s largest capital improvement projects is in the early planning stages – and it is expected to be years before its completion.

The renovation of the Botetourt County Courthouse, which houses the Circuit Court and vital records, is underway as the Circuit Court Committee meets frequently with the architectural firm of Architectural Partners of Lynchburg.

Members of the committee include two county supervisors, county officials, the Mayor of Fincastle, the Circuit Court Clerk, and the County Registrar. A member of the Botetourt County Historical Society also attends the meetings, Amsterdam District Supervisor Steve Clinton said in a recent phone conversation.

Discussion thus far indicates a desire to see the courthouse facade remain the same, Clinton said.

However, the structure will require an extensive overhaul in order to bring the Courthouse into compliance with current standards for justice facilities. That includes improving security, adding offices, changing the interior flow of traffic, upgrading aesthetics, and replacing the HVAC.

The facilities will house the Circuit Court, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Voter Registrar, the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office, and related functions. “The solution will probably be a renovated and enlarged courts facility, with perhaps a few “new” ancillary buildings, but NOT a “new courthouse,” Clinton emphasized.

Since the project is in its early planning stages, no dollar figure has been set, although Botetourt County in January sent out a press release estimating the new construction could cost at least $15 million. The project is not yet in the budget phase, although parts of it may turn up in the upcoming 2021-2022 fiscal year budget planning. That planning has not yet begun, County Finance Manager Tony Zerrilla said.

Funding for the project could come from bonds, the county’s existing funds, grants, loans, or whatever funding may be available when the time comes to implement the changes. “This project could take a while,” Zerrilla said.

As a result of the Courthouse project, the County consolidated administrative offices at the Greenfield Education and Training Center, now the Botetourt County Administration Center, in order to better serve the citizens and to make preparations for the larger Courthouse renovation project.

“The current Courthouse in its present configuration is reaching the end of its useful life,” County Administrator Gary Larrowe said in the January press release. “The opportunity to find a long-term solution to the Courthouse while also consolidating County offices for increased efficiency is a win-win.”

However, “it’s an expensive endeavor,” Clinton said, noting he thought the initial county estimates were low. He also thought it would be either winter of next year or early 2022 before the county actually began renovations.

The project is in its early stages. Clinton said a design proposal and initial report could go before the Board of Supervisors as early as the March 2021 meeting.

               — Anita Firebaugh, Special to The Botetourt Bee, file photo The Botetourt Bee