DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLANNING   Community Development > Master Planning > Crozet Development Area Homepage > Crozet Old Site School Reuse   Crozet Old School Reuse Study During the master planning process and in more recent public meetings, Crozet residents have expressed a strong desire that the County find acceptable and productive alternative uses for the old school building and site.  A valued institution in the Crozet community since 1924, the Old Crozet School served as a combined elementary and high school until the completion of Albemarle High School in 1954.  After the high school students were moved, the school was renamed Crozet Elementary and used by the County for another 35+ years, until studies finally determined that a new school building was needed.  Completed in 1990, the new Crozet Elementary stands across the street from the old school building.  In preparation for the project, General Services Staff has contacted other communities who have converted schools or other old buildings into useful government offices, community buildings, or private developments.  Like Crozet, many places around the country are working hard to find viable alternative uses for their historic buildings, to preserve the sense of place in their communities.      Stay Informed Get Involved Contact Us   Publications | Background Information | Maps  |  Project Milestones  | Contact Information   NEW! Old School Reuse Study Final Report Now Available The final report on the community's preferences for the re-use of the Old School is now available.  Prepared by the County's consultant, PMA Planners + Architects, the report summarizes the public participation process, community comments and preferences, history and condition of the building, the consultants' recommendations for next steps, and estimated costs. NEW! Old School Reuse Study Final Report 6/20 Great Valu (formerly IGA) Discussions: Community Ideas and Priorities (Scanned images) Sheet 1   Sheet 2    Sheet 3    Sheet 4    Sheet 5    Sheet 6    Sheet 7   Sheet 8   Sheet 9         Community Ideas and priorities from the Community Workshop held June 19-21.  Thank you to everyone who contributed ideas and attended the workshop.  We also want to thank the members of the Old School Reuse Study Committee who asked for citizen ideas on Friday at the Great Valu (formerly IGA), distributed flyers and worked very hard to get the word out. PMA's Powerpoint Presentation from June 19 Workshop Session  Printable List of Ideas and Priorities from June 19-21 Workshop/Outreach Activities  Additional Web Comments as of June 27 6-19 Workshop: Community Ideas and Priorities (Scanned images) Sheet 1      Sheet 2    Sheet 3     Sheet 4      Sheet 5     Sheet 6      Sheet 7    Sheet 8      Sheet 9    Sheet 10   Sheet 11   Sheet 12  6/20-21 Workshop Open House Days:  Community Ideas (Scanned images) Sheet 1    Sheet 2     Sheet 3    Sheet 4    Sheet 5 5/19-6/20 Community Ideas from County Website (Scanned images) Sheet 1    Sheet 2    Sheet 3    Sheet 4    Sheet 5    6/21 Final Workshop Activity:  Community Preferences for Old School Re-use Concepts Developed from Community Ideas/Priorities - in Order of Community Preference from left to right (Scanned images) Community Center                Farmer's Market and Gardens   County Offices-Athletic Fields-Community Office  Education                               Cultural Arts Center                     Recycling Center-Solar-Wind Teen Center-Skate Park      Housing                                         Festival Grounds                                 Community Workshop Summary:  June 19-21, Western Albemarle High School On June 19-21 at Western Albemarle High School, Albemarle County sponsored a workshop, conducted by consultants PMA Planners + Architects, to provide an opportunity for the Crozet community to identify potential new uses for the Old Crozet School building and site.  At the kickoff session on June 19, from 7:00-9:00 p.m., PMA gave a brief overview of the project, along with examples of successful school re-use projects in other communities around Virginia.  Citizens then worked in small groups to brainstorm reuse ideas specific to the Crozet Old School.  As the small groups shared their ideas with the larger group, PMA listed the ideas on large sheets of paper and posted them on the walls around the room. After all of the unique ideas were shared, recorded and posted, citizens then used dots to indicate their favorite ideas.  On June 20 and 21, citizens had the opportunity to drop in and discuss their ideas with PMA in a less formal setting.  During this time, PMA architects were also working on conceptual drawings representing how citizen ideas and priorities for the Old School might fit together in the building/on the site.  Also on June 20, members of the Old School Reuse Study Committee solicited ideas from citizens shopping at the local Great Valu (formerly IGA).  Comments were also submitted through the County's website.  The final workshop activity was held on June 21 at 3:00 p.m., where conceptual drawings of the community's ideas/priorities were presented back to the community, and citizens were asked to select their favorite concepts.  Next Steps:  PMA will develop a final study report that will summarize the evolution of the project process and the preferred alternatives identified by the citizens of Crozet, with evaluation and probable cost estimates for each option. The study will not select a specific use for the Old School or develop a facility design plan.  After the study is completed later this summer, the report will be available to the community for review prior to being presented to the Board of Supervisors for future consideration. Workshop Flyer  Publications    Summary of Old School Reuse Public Participation Activities Old School Reuse Study Public Participation Plan  Old School Reuse Fact Sheet  Crozet Master Plan  back to top Background Information Old School Reuse Study Committee Originally assembled in the fall of 2007 to select a consultant to conduct the study, and reconvened in April of 2008, the Old School Reuse Study Committee is a group of Crozet citizens and County staff whose purpose is to:    Work with County staff and the consultant on appropriate ways to engage the general Crozet community in the Old  School Reuse Study /serve as an important link with the community Respond to study results, give feedback as requested Communicate with and share perspectives from the groups they represent and/or reflect concerns and issues of the community and affected stakeholders Work with County staff and the consultant on providing guidance for the final recommendations staff and the consultant will be making to the Board of Supervisors Committee Charge Committee Meeting Dates: Advise consultant (PMA Planners + Architects) on community process for Old School Reuse Workshops:  4/18/08 & 5/12/08 Committee Membership - Study Phase Review/select proposals and interview candidates for architectural firms to conduct study, meeting on the following dates: 10/9/07, 10/24/07 & 11/13/07.  The committee selected PMA Planners + Architects to conduct the study and the community input process.  Committee Membership - RFP Phase back to top Maps Crozet Development Area  (This file may take a few minutes to download) back to top   Project Milestones       Action Date Old School Reuse Study Committee assembled with County staff and Crozet citizens Fall of 2007       Old School Reuse Study RFP Selection        Committee starts search process for        architectural consultant to conduct the       Old School Reuse Study with the       Crozet Community       Fall/Winter of 2007 Old School Reuse Study RFP Selection Committee Selects PMA Planners and Architects to conduct the community input process for the Crozet Old School Reuse Study. Spring of 2008       Community Workshops for the Old School       Reuse Study scheduled       June 19, 20, 21 of 2008       Study Report Completed       July 2008       Report made availabe to committee and       Crozet community       August 2008       Report presented to Board of       Supervisors       September 3, 2008       Report to be presented to the Crozet         Community at the Crozet Town Meeting       September 24, 2008   back to top Contact Information The Albemarle County Department of General Services staff contact person for this project is George Shadman, Director of General Services, who can be reached at (434)296-5816 or by email at gshadman@albemarle.org.   back to top