Comments on: Town Sells Old School, Parkland to Private Developer for $10

By: Judy McKnight

Judy McKnight — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:50:46 +0000

Thanks Kearn for stating so bluntly what I have been feeling and thinking, but did not want to admit: “This is not and should not be a fight between the new and old population, but between those who favor transparent, honest government and those who don’t mind (or benefit from) behind-the-scenes deals.”

From the council’s secret negotiations, to their total disregard for the citizens who don’t approve of the sale, to the use of town staff time to support the efforts of the buyer, it makes a part-timer wonder!

By: Don & Deborah Bender

Don & Deborah Bender — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 13:35:26 +0000

Yes Dee, the town “sold” the 100-year-old historic school, basketball court and the parking lot for the playground and park for the grand sum of $10. This property is assessed at over $900,000! The town also cut the water & sewer hook-up fees by 75%! Plus they threw in $41,000 insurance proceeds from a earthquake that happened over a year ago that damaged the building. Instead of doing the repairs they just sat on the $41,000. You have no idea how much our small group Old School Cape Charles has fought this decision and we continue to fight it. We have two lawsuits pending and will have a hearing in January.

Sure wish you still lived here! We know you would have joined in the fight to save our school.

By: Mike Kuzma, Jr

Mike Kuzma, Jr — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:58:59 +0000

Ms. Pierce — A government big enough to give you anything is big enough to TAKE anything.

By: Dee Ewell Pierce

Dee Ewell Pierce — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:49:37 +0000

I must be confused by all of this back and forth. Do I understand that the Town sold our old school for ten dollars and paid the same developer they made this sale to $41,000? This just doesn’t sound believable. Why and how could this be approved? Did I do the math wrong?

You get an A+ in math. –EDITOR

By: Kearn Schemm

Kearn Schemm — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 14:46:33 +0000

I am not yet a “come-here” (expect to move down in 2013), but I love CC and own property there. This is not and should not be a fight between the new and old population, but between those who favor transparent, honest government and those who don’t mind (or benefit from) behind-the-scenes deals that appear to be…….

By: Don Bender

Don Bender — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 01:16:20 +0000

Steve: The last I knew, that building was for sale for around $100,000! Plus it is full of termites and not nearly large enough. No parking to speak of either. The Town already owned the school. The community center using the school is far more in keeping with the area where it is — in the park. As far as the size of the school, the additions could be removed. The rest of the space could be easily utilized.

By: Steve Downs

Steve Downs — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:58:24 +0000

How about putting the Community Center in the old medical center? It’s the right size . . . . The school building is much too big and would cost waaaayyyyy too much to maintain. History is nice — but the future is nicer!

By: Frankie Earman

Frankie Earman — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:08:24 +0000

I’m not from Cape Charles or Virginia’s Eastern Shore. I am from a small (unincorporated) town in Virginia. I have only visited Cape Charles a few times.
I would like to say that this issue is beyond belief. My town didn’t have much but it has used a part of its old wooden school for years as a community center. The remainder of the property is parking, tennis courts and a town pool. Fully supported by donations, it has served well. NO ONE would have ever thought of selling any of it at any time.
The entire town needs to vote ASAP to fire the Town Council, Mayor and anyone else involved and make this a do over. Hopefully the courts will fix this “sale” and end this issue. Even if the town wanted to unload this property, selling without a performance bond and buyback option is just asking for trouble.

By: Craig Zuidema

Craig Zuidema — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 21:27:43 +0000

Ahhhh, yet again. “Come heres”, the evildoers in Cape Charles. How dare someone not from Cape Charles have an opinion? How dare they think differently than someone else? How dare they pay taxes to the town and county, spend money at local businesses, volunteer in the community, and expect to have any voice in the affairs of this community? Oh the travesty, the humanity, I am outraged I tell you, outraged!

By: Deborah Bender

Deborah Bender — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 19:42:43 +0000

I am so glad that I am not the only one that finds this to be a dirty little deal. Under the cloak of darkness our town council, mayor and both town manager and assistant town manager colluded with an out-of-town developer to give away our historic 100-year-old school. This has been a dirty deal for the citizens of Cape Charles from the start. I have said it before and I will say it again — WE DO NOT NEED APARTMENTS IN THE PARK! We need a community center, but this group of “come here” town council members and most of the people running this town are only interested in tourism. . . . This is wrong on so many levels. This matter is far from over. . . . Those apartments will be a rundown dump in a few years’ time — and THEN WHAT?