Augusta County was presented with an opportunity to purchase property adjacent to the 1901 circuit courthouse in summer 2020. This opportunity would have given the county the ability to adequately provide a court system that met the space, safety and security requirements needed. This court house expansion would have housed a combined city-county juvenile and domestic relations court, general district court, and circuit court in addition to court-related services.
Representatives from Augusta County met with representatives from Staunton to discuss the potential property acquisitions and the county’s courthouse needs and limitations dictated by State Code. The County made clear to representatives of Staunton our constraints which included a failed referendum, a process that cannot be held again until 2026, expansion limited to only the existing parcels adjacent to or across the street from the county seat (1901 circuit courthouse), and concerns about Lewis Creek and its floodplain. Upon presenting the circuit courthouse expansion project to multiple city council members, they indicated general support for the project, which included demolition of smaller structures to provide way for a newly renovated circuit courthouse and expansion for three court systems.
In that light, in October 2020, Augusta County applied for a certificate of appropriateness with the Staunton City Historic Preservation Commission. This application included descriptions, drawings, photographs, plans and documentation as required. Meetings were held with Staunton’s staff and the liaison to the commission, also the director of the Historic Staunton Foundation who actively and publicly campaigned against this project. In addition, there was public outcry over demolition of the buildings within the purchase options and against the size of the proposed building. As a result, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission denied the County’s proposal. The Augusta County Board of Supervisors filed an appeal to Staunton’s City Council to approve the certificate of appropriateness. The appeal was deferred for two months at the request of Staunton’s City Council, and ultimately, City Council requested that the County withdraw the appeal. In the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, the County withdrew the appeal on January 8, 2021.
Since the filing of the certificate of appropriateness appeal, Augusta County has diligently worked towards resolution of providing a building that is adequate, safe, and secure. Augusta has had ongoing contact with representatives of Atlantic Union Bank to explore opportunities for purchase of their downtown building. Atlantic Union Bank set a purchase price of $8.19 million. The Augusta County Board of Supervisors has concerns about the high cost of the bank property, the time the bank needed to relocate, and potential flood plain issues. After attempts at negotiations to lower the price, Atlantic Union Bank has not been willing to modify their asking price, despite an assessed value of $1.9 million.
The purchase of the Atlantic Union Bank building is considered the last avenue to pursue. Again, there are legal limitations dictating the location of the new courts’ facility, that meet Staunton’s requirements as well as the public’s desires. Additionally, there are significant limitations on the demolition of buildings and the size as well as aesthetic view of the building due to Staunton’s historical preservation requirements.
The Augusta County Board of Supervisors has discussed the current issues and constraints with constructing a suitable, secure, and safe courts facility. After considering the limited options available and, in light of not obtaining a resolution acceptable to the county, the city, and its citizens, the Board of Supervisors feels it has exhausted all viable options available to the county for locating the court facilities in the City of Staunton.
Augusta County has been informed that the Circuit Court Chief Judge has entered an order against the Augusta County Board of Supervisors pursuant to Virginia Code § 15.2-1643 which begins the judicial process to address the needs for a secure and safe courts facility.
