What else? A significant if not disclosed percentage of 18 Court St will be a PRIVATE MEMBERS ONLY SOCIAL CLUB mimicking the The Chase in The Burg in Leesburg! The remaining percentage -an 80 sq ft restaurant- Ughhh! On Mr Ash’s “The Burg” website he notes “Before you begin, please note current pricing for The Chase membership. Annual Dues $2,900 (or Monthly Dues $266) PLUS Initiation Fee $2,750. This means, the residents will hand over their Town owned Historic property (the only one left)to a couple restaurants and a social club. There are plenty of other adequate properties for Mr Ash’s social club and restaurant TO COEXIST with a multi-purpose WARRENTON ARTS COMMUNITY that actually brings 5 times more foot traffic (7000k per week) at minimum to boost the local existing retailers and restaurateurs in Old Town and surrounding shopping districts. We love the idea of the county-owned historic hotel becoming a revived hotel, but have other plans already in the works for 18 Court St.
What a ridiculous offer. An Arts center would bring 500K for the town year over year. Imagine Art shows, National, State and Local musics acts, a silver screen for movie nights and kids days, arts and crafts, Arts education, Tango and Ballroom dancing in a 100 year old space, Home-Schooler’s activities, Moms Clubs, Talent shows, Fashions shows, conferences, weddings, Open Mic night, souvenir’s shop, concession stand and so much more.
The developer envisions a lobby restaurant and a private membership social club with an 80-seat fancy restaurant. He can achieve this with other nearby properties and leave the Town property to enhance his business by becoming a thriving multi-purpose Arts and Community Center. Warrenton (& Mr Ash) need this more than we need his ideas.
In the opinion of WPAC, we welcome the boutique hotel at Warren Green on Hotel St; however, reject the use of 18 Court St since we have local resident benefits that depend on developing a vision of having Warrenton become a thriving NOVA Arts Town where arts are CENTRAL to the main street downtown proper providing immediate access to the Town’s central and Main Street business activity. The Town benefits of keeping 18 Court St far outweigh the multitude of alternatives that Mr Ash can pursue. How about the strip along Culpeper St…that would be historic and quite beneficial to his endeavors? We welcome that. There is no other property like 18 Court St to serve the residents’ art’s community needs.
Warrenton Public Advisory Committee Discussion 
Leave a comment