Warrenton Public Advisory Committee Discussion

…a conversation to promote truth, transparency, and preservation of Warrenton Virginia

[
[
[

]
]
]

500K?. ARE you kidding us? Houses along Main Street are worth more.

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.

https://www.fauquiernow.com/news/business/warrenton-receives-500k-offer-for-old-town-hall-developers-hope-to-build-hotel-restaurant/article_af8b7b02-f2ba-49d0-a06e-82dcc0a849bd.html

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.

3 responses

  1. Winston Watt Avatar
    Winston Watt

    The 18 Court Street building has been vacant for 5 years. Where have all of the Arts Community been during this time? What kept them from forming an organization to accomplish the goals stated here? Are they willing to purchase the building and assume the responsibility for its maintenance, repair and updating it to current code? Who is going to manage it? What is the budget? What will be the source(s) of income? What about parking? How about the staff? What is the legal status of the organization that will own and operate the building? There are a bunch of questions here and more to answer before such an undertaking can be seriously considered.

    Reply
    1. Patty P Avatar
      Patty P

      Hi Winston, Thank you for your comments and questions. As a matter of fact, the town was still using the property for overflow office space until 2024, so your comment that 18 Court St has been empty for 5 years is false. Gloria Faye Dingus Music Alliance submitted a proposal 3 years ago and the Town Council for some reason voted it down. The various Arts groups that have been organizing recently found out about the Gloria’s Alliance proposal. Our mission is to bring foot traffic to Old Town Warrenton and to the outer limits of Warrenton. Our vision is to help the Town turn this historic 100-year old asset into a thriving business entity filled with several Warrenton nonprofits and one Fauquier County nonprofit including Gloria Faye Dingus Music Alliance. This new council perhaps sees the benefit of a multi-purpose revenue-generating asset in excess of the needed operating and maintenance costs. Full details addressing ALL of your concerns and questions will be presented soon. Thank you again for your questions. We are a group of highly educated and skilled individuals who see the possibility and long term benefits of a downtown Neighborhood Arts Center.

      Reply
      1. Winston Watt Avatar
        Winston Watt

        Thanks for your response, Patty. I’ll be interested in seeing the details of the group’s proposal to the Town.

        By the way, have you considered the Warrenton Middle School as an option when it becomes empty next year? It has everything the group is seeking to include a large auditorium, large rooms for displays/classes, and plenty of off street parking of which the Court Street building does not have. I think you will find some receptive ears on the Board of Supervisors.

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Warrenton Public Advisory Committee Discussion

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading