MADISON HEIGHTS, Va. – A new developer is taking on a new challenge in Madison Heights. Phelps Road School closed in the early 90s. Amherst County officials say they want to turn the old school into apartments.
Some who live nearby the school don't want an apartment complex in their neighborhood.
Rebecca Hall has lived across the street from Phelps Road School for 15 years. Her late father went to the elementary school.
"He was talking about jumping out of the windows. Just being a childhood, you know, school,” Hall said.
Amherst County officials shut the school down in 1991 and since then the building has been neglected and from the outside looks irrepairable.
"It's hard to say what else is in there. It's just concerning once they start breaking it down. What's gonna come running out,” Hall said.
Over the years the school has been sold to several developers. None have been able to revitalize the building. Until now.
"There was a new developer who approached the current owner who'd said 'I would like to try and develop this.' It's a challenging project anytime you have an old and historic building,” Victoria Hanson, executive director of economic development for Amherst County, said.
The new developer, Waukeshaw Development, wants to take a shot at turning the old school into market-rate apartments for millennials. For Hall, she doesn't think their street can handle that kind of influx.
"We've already had a little hit and misses with buses sideswiping cars. So it's concerning the road is small to begin with. Then you have the water department at the top when you come in,” Hall said
County officials say if the project progresses it could cost $5 million and be finished within three years. They're estimating 80 residents could live in the building. And Amherst County says when the project is finished it could bring in more than $57,000 in local tax revenue, and more than a million for "economic activity."
"The Madison Heights neighborhood has not (had) a lot of development, redevelopment in many years. It's also starting to show signs of age. And we really feel like this influx of new people, new investment could really bring that beautiful old building back to life. And that's ideally what we would like to do,” Hanson said.
County officials say the new developer and current owner will sign the agreement on Oct. 27.