Officials, preservationists and city outline reuse plans for Jefferson County’s Washington Street properties

Jefferson County commissioners heard a packed public discussion on July 17 about the future of county-owned buildings on the 100 block of East Washington Street in Charles Town, including the historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Presenters — including the county attorney, the county’s facilities director, the state historic preservation office and local redevelopment groups — outlined legal constraints, funding tools and a range of reuse ideas while local residents pressed for transparency and protections for downtown businesses.

Nathan Cochran, the county’s assistant prosecuting attorney, framed the options at the start of the discussion, stressing that "we are a Dillon's rule state" and that the commission can act only in ways expressly authorized by statute. He cited "West Virginia Code 733," explaining that the default statutory sale methods are public auctions (on-site or internet-based) but that the statute exempts transfers to certain public or nonprofit entities — a distinction that shapes whether the county could sell directly to a private buyer or should seek a public-purpose transfer.

That legal constraint informed subsequent presentations. Laura Kuhn, director of Fleet and Facilities Management, and former commissioner Patsy Noland walked the commission and the public through the properties — Hunter House, the Mason, Smoot, Moffitt and Reininger buildings, attached courthouse spaces and nearby auxiliary parking parcels — and summarized past and current uses. Kuhn said the county seeks to move operations into modern facilities and to find sustainable reuses for the downtown buildings; she and others repeatedly described the courthouse as a candidate for a museum if court operations relocate.

Attorney Kanette Petry, who reviewed historic deeds, said the four lots forming the square at Washington and George Streets were conveyed in an August 1, 1801 deed "to be used" for public purposes, and that earlier corners were later transferred by court process to other public uses (city building commission, post office). Petry advised the commission that some transfers historically required court determinations and that, depending on prior conveyances, a declaratory judgment or court review might be needed before changing title or leasing for non‑county uses.

The preservation community described concrete financial incentives for rehabilitation. Meredith Dreistadt, acting deputy at the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, urged the county to pursue available grants and tax incentives — planning and emergency grants, National Park Service programs (including Save America's Treasures), and state/federal historic rehabilitation tax credits that can amount to a combined 40–45% of qualified rehabilitation costs — and offered SHPO assistance with surveys, feasibility studies and tax-credit processing.

Assessor Angie Banks presented the county’s valuation perspective and warned that 2026 assessments were still being finalized. Using the 2025 figures she noted during the meeting, she summarized assessed and appraised values for the downtown parcels and parking lots and estimated the county’s parcel inventory in the Washington Street block at roughly $3.2 million in assessed value (2025 basis), with final 2026 numbers pending.

Local economic-development and civic groups urged coordinated redevelopment. Angela Cable Johnson of Charlestown Now emphasized that careful reuse, paired with historic tax credits and professional project planning, can raise long-term tax revenue and protect downtown retail and restaurants. Ben German of Strong Towns urged alignment with the county’s vision plan and floated alternative anchors — for example, small educational or trade programs that would bring steady foot traffic into downtown.

Several potential public-sector partners described roles they could play in enabling reuse. Lori Wysong, director of the Jefferson County Museum (Old Charlestown Library, Inc.), said her nonprofit would pursue relocating the museum into the courthouse and jail, offering examples of mixed revenue models (rented courtroom events, leased office space) and pledging to lead fundraising and grant work if the county signals formal interest. Mayor Mike George told the commission the City of Charles Town has contracted a consultant and asked for limited, staged access for walkthroughs so the city can prepare pro formas to recruit investors. Scott Sudduth of the Jefferson County Building Commission summarized that body's statutory powers to hold, sell, encumber and lease property and to accept grants and private donations; he said the Building Commission could have a role in structuring financing or holding encumbrances. The Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA) said staff would test capital-stack scenarios (opportunity-zone capital, historic tax credits, new markets tax credits, TIF, grants and philanthropic capital) but cautioned the Authority has limited direct capital and that a successful redevelopment likely needs layered public-private finance and derisking funds.

Residents voiced a mix of optimism and caution during the public-comment period. Several commenters urged the commission to preserve the courthouse and to pursue a museum option; others demanded more transparency about how the county acquired the properties, who bears the cost of the proposed courthouse security upgrades (meeting presenters gave a working estimate of roughly $11.5 million for security and circulation improvements), and what formal legal steps would be taken before any sale. Downtown business owners delivered a joint letter asking the commission to coordinate with the city and with Charlestown Now, to prefer redevelopment paths that protect walkable, retail‑oriented ground-floor uses, and to use an RFP or competitive selection process rather than an ad hoc disposal.

Votes at a glance (meeting actions referenced during the full agenda): the commission approved routine business by roll call or unanimous consent, including approval of minutes, accounts payable for the periods presented ($361,503.78 and $941,075.23), manual checks ($1,743.68 and $526,059.35), payroll for July 18 ($527,022.58), requisitions totaling $387,296.87, bond releases for Beallair Homes, and several routine personnel actions. The commission approved a rezoning request (Hoxton Center, File #25-2-Z) with a 4–0 vote (Commissioner Keys recused). Commissioners also approved resolutions directing next steps for the Jefferson County Development Authority and a resolution supporting the West Virginia Goes Purple initiative; they authorized the Sheriff to apply for the Governor’s Highway Safety grant and expressed support for the Purdue bankruptcy settlement plan (motion approved unanimously). The meeting included authorized executive‑session entries for legal advice and personnel matters.

What’s next: county staff, the city and local nonprofits proposed near-term technical steps — a targeted set of building walkthroughs and feasibility/pro‑forma work to establish market and financial models, and a possible joint convening (opportunity-zone or redevelopment charrette) to identify investors and funding layers. Multiple presenters recommended a formal, transparent process for selecting redevelopment partners (an RFP and clear criteria), combined with early SHPO engagement to qualify projects for tax credits. Commenters asked the commission to publicly document title and deed research, to publish cost estimates for court security upgrades and to commit to preserving the courthouse’s public access if a non‑county use is approved.

The commission did not take a final disposition vote on the Washington Street properties on July 17; members signaled interest in pursuing further study and partnerships and asked staff to coordinate next steps with the city, JCDA, the Building Commission and potential nonprofit partners.