Plan to change old school to housing goes to Lynchburg council

Rush Homes is proposing to buy the old city-owned Armstrong School and convert it into housing for people with disabilities.

The project, if approved by City Council, would bring 28 residential units to the currently vacant school property on Monsview Place.

Rush Homes is a local nonprofit providing rental housing for low-income people with disabilities. Its last development, the 24-unit Victoria Ridge project in Lynchburg, opened last summer and quickly rented out.

The group has another 340 people on its waiting list.

“We find there is a huge need in our community,” said Rush Homes’ assistant director, Jeff Smith.

The Armstrong School once was an all-black elementary school. It closed in 1977, but remained in use until a decade ago.

Rush Homes is proposing to buy it from the city for $250,000. The sale would be contingent on several factors, including council approval, rezoning the property for multi-family housing, and securing tax credits and other necessary financing.

If the project moves forward, Smith said they tentatively expect to spend $5.9 million renovating and adding onto the building. Changes would include building a four-unit addition onto the school and constructing one stand-alone duplex and two triplexes.

Rush Homes is pursuing state and national historic designation for the school building.

“Honestly, I’m as excited about the historic part of this as much as anything else,” said Smith, adding it’s been fascinating to learn about the school’s connection to segregation.

“To be able to learn about what discrimination does to people, I think that is really important,” he said.

On Tuesday night, Rush Homes held a community meeting to discuss the project with neighbors. Of the 15 people who attended, many had grown up in the neighborhood and once went to the Armstrong School.

“I would love to see this neighborhood revamped,” said one resident, Veda Brown, adding she’s excited about the prospect of seeing new activity in her alma mater. “… I’d like to hear people over there and hear children laughing again like they used to. Bring some joy to the neighborhood.”

Brown said she liked Rush Homes’ proposal and was pleased it would serve a historically disenfranchised group — much like the school did it was founded.

During Tuesday’s hour-long meeting, neighbors quizzed Rush Homes about every aspect of the project from who would shovel the walks to how storm water runoff would be managed. The final verdict was largely favorable.

“I think the whole thing is positive,” said JoAnn Martin. “The school has been sitting empty for a long time, and it’s deteriorating.”

Martin added she preferred Rush Homes’ plan to another developer’s circa-2010 proposal, which would have brought in 60 low-income apartments. Neighbors felt that was too dense. The planning commission agreed and voted against the proposal; it was withdrawn shortly afterward.

Several neighbors said they hoped Rush Homes would preserve some community space in the project. The city plans to retain ownership of the athletic fields and use them for youth programs. Officials are discussing possibly keeping the gym open for public use.

One neighbor, Alfred Farrar Sr., spoke against any multi-family housing and said he’d prefer to see the school torn down and single-family homes built in its place.

“I don’t want to see a bunch of multi-family housing over there,” Farrar said. “… It’s right at my front door. I don’t need it.”

Rush Homes’ offer to buy the old Armstrong School will be submitted for City Council approval during a meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, 900 Church St.

A public hearing will be held prior to council discussion. If the offer is approved, an application to rezone the property will come back to council in May.

After the neighborhood meeting, Smith said he was pleased with the comments made. He added Rush Homes was excited about the opportunities this property offers, and would work hard to create a community-orientated development.

“We see this as a community project,” he said. “We want our folks to be integrated with the community and we want the community to integrate with this project. That’s what we always want. It brings everyone closer together.”