Culpeper Considers $115M Courthouse Project Options
Culpeper Considers $115M Courthouse Project Options
Culpeper County officials are evaluating three proposed plans to address the space and functionality challenges of the aging courthouse, with costs estimated at up to $115 million. Moseley Architects conducted a detailed study to assess court services’ needs, revealing that the current courthouse, built in 1874, is nearly 50% undersized. While the building contains 49,000 square feet of space, court service demands require 96,601 square feet now and 117,706 square feet by 2045. The lack of secure parking, inadequate inmate holding areas, and overlapping circulation for the public, prisoners, and staff are among the critical issues identified.
The Proposed Options:
- Option A (Cost: $113.2M): A 108,000-square-foot, four-story facility would be constructed in phase one, with an additional 19,000 square feet of renovation to the 1970s courthouse wing. This plan involves demolishing two nearby structures and includes a temporary entrance on West Street and a new main entrance on Davis Street.
- Option B (Cost: $114.8M): This alternative includes a four-story, 104,000-square-foot facility built initially, followed by the demolition of the 1970s wing and the construction of a new 23,000-square-foot addition. The entrances and demolitions mirror Option A.
- Option C (Cost: $102.9M): A newly constructed 118,000-square-foot courthouse located at Spencer and Main Streets, incorporating the historic post office façade and providing secure parking off Edmondson Street. This option requires the demolition of four structures, including two county-owned buildings.
All proposed plans target completion of the courthouse’s first phase by 2030, with additional work for Options A and B completing by 2033.
Parking Requirements:
Two parking structure options have been proposed:
- A 180-space structure on Blue Ridge Avenue ($18.9 million)
- A 350-space structure on Cameron Street ($36.6 million).
Both would be completed by 2035 to support expanded courthouse operations.
Next Steps:
County supervisors are exploring how to advance the project while balancing other multimillion-dollar priorities, such as building a new elementary school, renovating the middle school, and addressing jail infrastructure. Chairman David Durr suggested forming a committee to review the proposals, with a targeted timeline for feedback in May or June. Supervisor Tom Underwood raised considerations about the potential savings if the historic courthouse designation factors were excluded, although Moseley Architects noted construction cost variances may be minimal.
West Fairfax Supervisor Gary Deal emphasized aligning the courthouse rebuild timeline with economic revenue plans, particularly the county’s tech zone development over the next decade, while acknowledging broad support for the new facility. Discussions will continue as supervisors aim to merge practicality and budget constraints to finalize the design by 2028.
KATIE WEDGE
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