From the Daily News Record, August 30, 2013....

Want To Buy An Old School Office?

By PRESTON KNIGHT
Daily News-Record

HARRISONBURG — The city is almost ready to see its former school headquarters graduate to a new life. The city is preparing a request for proposals for parties interested in either leasing or purchasing the building at 317 S. Main St., spokeswoman Mary-Hope Vass said Thursday. It has been empty since Harrisonburg City Public Schools left in early 2012 for a larger, more modern home at One Court Square.

The structure, which is next to the Municipal Building, once was a private home. It is part of the central business district, zoned for a number of commercial- and officetype uses.

“We would like to get it back into use,” Councilman Charles Chenault said. “One thought is, if we could find somebody willing to lease it, we might be able to do some type of deal, reduce the rent for them to do some improvements to it. In its current condition it’s not, I don’t think, inhabitable.” Chenault said local charities have expressed interest in using the building in the past.

The city’s request will come as council mulls constructing a new Municipal Building next door, including an option to construct a building on the south side of the existing one to meet space needs. John Mather, the architect working on that project, will give an update to City Council on Sept. 10.

At one time, city staff had the idea of demolishing the vacated school office and constructing an annex as part of the new municipal complex. That is no longer a consideration.

City Manager Kurt Hodgen also has said “

several different parties” have expressed interest in the former Harrisonburg School Board office.

The request could be out by next week, Vass said.

Contact Preston Knight at 574-6272 or pknight@dnronline.com