Augusta County, VA
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For more information, contact the County Administrator’s office at 540-245-5610.
Project Overview:
Augusta County has been studying the needs of its court systems for more than a decade. Current space needs, function and security are not being met at the Circuit Court, District Court, Juvenile & Domestic Relations court, or related court functions such as Commonwealth Attorney, Court Services Unit, or clerks offices.
In 2016, a campaign to consider building a courts complex at the Government Center in Verona preceded a referendum on the November 2016 election ballot. The referendum failed with 67% of the voters not in favor. The courts complex included all three courts and related court functions.
Since 2016, the County has considered many options to maintaining the County seat (Circuit Courthouse) in Staunton, along with General District Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Commonwealth Attorney and court related functions.
On May 23, 2018, the Board of Supervisors was presented a committee report with recommendations to include:
- Demolition and rebuilding of a courts facility to include related functions at the current District Building location,
- Renovation of the 1901 Circuit Courthouse for office space,
- Relocation of the courts and related function in the District Courts Building to temporary space at Beverley Manor Elementary School (BME).
On September 12, 2018, the Board of Supervisors voted to enter into a contract with Moseley Architects that includes architecture and engineering services for the three tasks outlined above.
The District Courts Building (above) was built in 1953 and houses the Augusta General District, the combined Augusta County / City of Staunton Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Commonwealth Attorney and Court Services Unit.
On January 22, 2020, the Board voted to purchase the Zapton property at 111/113 South Augusta Street, which is adjacent to the District Court building, in order to properly straddle the stream that runs through the property and increase the footprint of available space for the court.
On April 8, 2020, the Board voted to cease ongoing work connected to the courthouse due to the uncertain budgetary effects surrounding revenue impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
At this point, the site plan and construction plans for temporary courts space at Beverley Manor Elementary was nearing completion. A renovation bid had originally been anticipated for 2020.
Demolition of the current District Courts Building and construction of the new courts building and renovation of the 1901 courthouse was in the schematic design phase.
The total project cost for the three recommendations from 2018 is estimated at $60 to $70 million.