Mayor Signs Contract to Sell School and Parkland as Opposition Mounts

By DORIE SOUTHERN
Cape Charles Wave

July 3, 2012

The Cape Charles Wave has learned that Town Mayor Dora Sullivan has signed a contract to convey the old Cape Charles school and a portion of Central Park to a real estate developer.

Cape Charles Town Council approved the contract in a unanimous vote June 14. The contract then was signed by Echelon Resources, Inc., a Richmond developer, and returned to the mayor, who signed it June 29.

The contract also conveys a portion of Central Park now used as a basketball court, which the developer intends to use as a parking lot.

The school building is to be converted into 17 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments.

The contract requires the Town to give the developer all federal disaster funds that may be received following earthquake damage to a portion of the school building’s wall. How much money may be conveyed is not known, but the Town has estimated damage to the wall at $200,000.

Echelon Resources first approached Town Council last summer, but the plans were kept secret until February 9 of this year.

The Town Council decided to accept the Echelon Resources nominal offer of $10 for the school and basketball court without requesting bids from any potential competitor.

When plans for the school became known, a group of town residents formed a legal entity, Old School Cape Charles LLC, with the intent of buying the school and using it for a community center. Old School Cape Charles made two offers to Council, with the more recent being for $10,000.  Town Council did not formally vote to accept or reject either of the group’s offers.

Old School Cape Charles President Wayne Creed said he is disappointed that Town Council did not even respond to the $10,000 offer and instead was moving forward with plans to sell the school.

Creed foresees many hurdles for the Town before the developer could actually take possession of the school, including zoning, procedural, and political issues. Some issues may go to court. “The skids are greased and the fight is really just beginning,” Creed said.

Old School Cape Charles plans to appear at the Town’s Fourth of July Parade, and asks that supporters assemble at the Fire House on the Plum Street side at 9:45 a.m.

The group also plans a Crab Feast and Music Festival fundraiser on Saturday, July 21 from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Wendell Distributers building on Madison Avenue.