Richmond School Board votes to make surplus Westhampton Building

The Richmond School Board voted last night to make surplus one of its more desirable properties.

On a unanimous vote, the board began the process of giving up its rights to the old Westhampton School and grounds. The two-building facility -- the brick schoolhouses, built in 1916 and 1930, are connected with an enclosed ramp built in 1949 -- and 6½-plus-acre grounds house Richmond Community High School through today. The property at Libbie and Patterson avenues is assessed at nearly $7.6 million.

With the Community High School program moving next year, the school system quickly began the process of selling a property on a high-profile corner but with a high-price to-do list.

"We found a home for the program, so it made sense," said School Board Chairwoman Chandra Smith. "It's a new way of doing business with the city."

In the past, the school system typically kept unused properties because it didn't benefit from selling them. But a change in city code in the past year means the system now gets proceeds from a sale.

The Westhampton property has proved troublesome for the school system in its attempts to settle a lawsuit over handicap accessibility. With seven separate elevations spread over the two buildings, the school would require two elevators and millions of dollars in renovations to make it completely accessible. For a school with fewer than 200 students -- in a space that once held nearly 1,000 students -- the board decided the cost wasn't worth it.

In March, the board voted to move the Community program to Chandler Middle School, a handicap-accessible building being vacated today.

Though the school system controls its properties, the titles are held by the city. For surplus property, the board has to formally return the property to the city, which can then sell it. Proceeds would then be sent back to the school system.

A community center housed in the rear of the property will continue to operate as long as the space is available, said Christy Everson, a spokeswoman for the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

Contact Zachary Reid at (804) 775-8179 or .