Powhatan board approves partial demolition of Pocahontas Landmark Center after months of debate; community members urge preservation

The Powhatan County School Board on Tuesday voted 4-1 to award a contract to Demolition Services to remove portions of the Pocahontas Landmark Center, concluding a contentious discussion that drew dozens of public speakers urging the board to save and reuse the historic school building.

School staff and the board said the board-approved partial demolition targets the B and D wings, the adjoining cafeteria, the upper C hallway and a cottage that staff described as uninhabitable because of long-term water damage and hazardous materials. "We recommend that, to proceed, and award the contract to Demolition Services and begin work as soon as July 7," said Mr. Benway, a district staff member who presented the updated cost estimate and scope.

The vote follows a new round of engineering, testing and bidder proposals that produced a much wider range of estimates than the district earlier reported. Dewberry's 2023 facility study had placed a demolition estimate near $900,000 for the sections identified; after a later contractor pricing round and an expanded asbestos assessment, district staff reported a responsive low bid of $438,677 from Demolition Services and a construction contingency recommendation of $250,000. Adding engineering and abatement oversight raised the district's current recommended project total to about $788,614, within the $900,000 capital improvement (CIP) line the district had set aside.

Why it matters: The Pocahontas Landmark Center is widely used by community organizations, seniors and nonprofits. Residents told the board the site has historical and practical value, and they urged the district to consider adaptive reuse or to transfer parts of the property to the Board of Supervisors instead of demolishing the wings.

What the board heard

Dozens of community members addressed the board during public comment. Dave Robinson, who identified himself as speaking for the Powhatan County Republican Committee, asked the board to "reconsider your decision" and to poll district residents before demolition. "I challenge you to not only listen, but to spend your judgment," Robinson said. Elmore Cook, who said he has lived in the county for more than 80 years and recalled the building's role in local history, told the board: "A building should be repaired as opposed to torn down. You spend a little bit of money to fix those problems." Several speakers described community programs that currently use parts of the building, including a long-running "Christmas mother" program and a weekly senior center-style "community matters" program.

Staff explanation and costs

Benway told the board the contractor bids and an expanded asbestos assessment drove the updated price. He said crews found more asbestos-containing material in the mastic (the adhesive under floor tile) than earlier sampling had suggested, and that important electrical and fire-control lines run under the C wing; removing those wings would require rerouting the mains that serve the gym, chiller and other mechanical systems. He also said roof replacement to keep the upper C wing would cost roughly $262,000 and would not address other required electrical and plumbing upgrades needed to make the space usable. After bid review and reference checks, staff recommended awarding the contract to Demolition Services and adding a contingency to cover potential hidden conditions.

Public concerns and next steps

Several board members and many residents asked for additional time to seek a written offer from the Board of Supervisors and to hold a joint public meeting so the public could review any alternative plans for adaptive reuse. Board members pressed staff about contractor insurance and bonding, asbestos abatement subcontracting, scope clarity and whether the contractor price included rerouting of utilities; Benway said asbestos abatement and oversight are included and that the contractor would begin work as soon as July 7 with an expected completion date in early November.

The board approved the contract as part of the consent agenda. The vote on the contract was recorded by district: District 1 — yes; District 3 — yes; District 4 — yes; District 5 — no; District 2 — yes. The motion carried 4–1.

Ending

District staff said work would not commence until required permitting and asbestos abatement plans are in place. Community members who opposed the demolition said they would explore avenues to preserve more of the building and requested a public meeting with both governing boards to review alternatives.