Bristol City Council adopts ordinance to sell two former school sites to developers

The Bristol City Council voted 5‑0 on Sept. 10 to adopt Ordinance 24‑14 approving the sale of two city‑owned former school properties, Stonewall Jackson and Washington‑Lee, to development entities identified in staff materials as Old School One and Old School Two.

City Manager Randy Eads summarized the proposals and told the council that the Department of Economic Development had solicited interest in three vacant school properties (Washington‑Lee, Highland View and Stonewall Jackson) and received five proposals by the June 28 deadline. "This ordinance is to approve the sale of Stonewall Jackson and Washington‑Lee to Old School One and Old School Two for development," Mr. Eads said during the staff report.

Resident Lee Jones spoke to the council and asked questions about the sale and prospective development near his home, raising concerns about impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. Council members did not record extended debate in the meeting minutes; Vice‑Mayor Jake Holmes moved second reading and adoption by caption only, and the motion passed unanimously. The official ordinance was recorded as Ordinance 24‑14, "An Ordinance Approving and Authorizing the Sale of Property Owned by the City of Bristol, Virginia."

The ordinance and the staff report did not specify detailed terms of sale (purchase prices, closing dates, or redevelopment covenants) in the minutes; those details were represented in the staff proposals and are not included in the meeting record. Council action at this meeting authorized the sales by ordinance; implementation (timing, conditions, and any required follow‑up approvals) will be handled through the city’s development review and closing processes.

The council took the vote after the second reading; the clerk recorded the vote as "Voting For: Osborne, Pollard, Holmes, Farnum, Nave."