Bedford Middle School Campus Project

Located in the heart of the Town of Bedford resides an opportunity to develop and reinvent a publicly owned piece of property that has stood as a beacon of education for many years.   As a result of reversion from a City to a Town, Bedford has a significant campus that no longer will be utilized by the school system and is prime redevelopment property. The imagination is the limit on how this multifunctional site could be repurposed into an economically viable entity. The property occupies a very prominent and visible site within the Town at the intersection of Peaks Street and Longwood Avenue and resides at 503 Longwood Avenue - identified by Tax Parcels 174-5-1-T, 174-5-2-T, 174-5-3-T, 174-5-4-T, and 194-A-70-T.

There is a large athletic field and four freestanding structures consisting of:

  1. Main Building: A two story building with a full basement, occupying a footprint of approximately 27,000 square feet. Constructed in the mid-1930’s, it has been used continuously as a public school facility.
  2. “Old Yellow”: A three story building occupying a footprint of approximately 11,000 square feet. Constructed circa 1912, it served as a public facility until approximately 1989. Since that time it has been vacant.
  3. Cafeteria Building: A one story building occupying a footprint of approximately 7,000 square feet. Constructed circa 1964, it has been used continuously for school meal preparation and service.
  4. Gymnasium: Two story building occupying a footprint of approximately 14,500 square feet. Constructed circa 1999, the gymnasium and classroom facilities have been used continuously since then.

Bedford Middle School Campus Photos

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Process-To-Date

STEP 1: The Town, in accordance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act, issued a call for Request for Proposal (RFP) for any entity who wished to submit a conceptual idea for the reinvention of this property to bid on. To view the original Request for Proposal, please follow Bedford Middle School Campus RFP 
STEP 2:  There were 3 respondents to the issuance of the RFP. Those respondents were: The Landmark Group, Waukeshaw Development, Inc. Proposal, and Bedford County Public Schools Proposal. (Please follow links to review each proposal.)
STEP 3: The Town then hosted a public meeting on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building to allow for the respondents to present their conceptual ideas and to host a Town Hall for citizen engagement and feedback on the proposals. Bedford Middle School Public Meeting Notes

Project Status Updates:

December 14, 2017 

Media Coverage: 

News & Advance  “Future of Bedford Middle Property Discussed at Public Meeting”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project -Dec 14 2017

January 9, 2018

The Town Council Property and Finance Committees held a joint meeting and went into closed session to discuss the process for moving forward in evaluation of options for redevelopment of the Bedford Middle School property.

February 2, 2018

Town representatives met with John Capps, President of Central Virginia Community College, in an effort to gauge any possible interest that CVCC may have in making use of all or part of the Bedford Middle School site.  Dr. Capps indicated that the College’s current arrangement in the Bedford Center for Business is adequate for the present needs of both the community and the school.  Due to the nature of state-level procurement, the college would likely be unable to enter into a long-term or multi-year arrangement in any event.

February 13, 2018

Mayor Wandrei visited active Landmark Properties residential sites in Lynchburg accompanied by Mayor Wandrei, Town Manager Bart Warner, Assistant Town Manager Sonia Jammes, and Public Works Director D.W. Lawhorne.

February 15, 2018

Town representatives held separate meetings with Landmark and Bedford County Public Schools to advise that Town is entering discussions with another entity as part of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

April 24, 2018

Dave McCormack of Waukeshaw Development met with Town Council.

August 16, 2018

Mike Lockaby, an attorney specializing in transfer of properties between public and private entities, met with Town Council.  Mr. Lockaby was retained by Council to provide legal advice related to the redevelopment process.

September 19, 2018

The Town Economic Development Authority reviewed the proposal made by Waukeshaw and subsequent information resulting from discussions with Town personnel.

October 23, 2018

Town Council held a called meeting.  One of the items of New Business was consideration of an additional proposal for redevelopment of the Bedford Middle School property.  The additional proposal was presented by a group consisting of George Aznavorian and his partners.  No action was taken regarding the proposal, which was subsequently withdrawn at a later date.

October 24, 2018  

Media Report: 

WDBJ  “Group of Developers Propose Multi-Purpose Facility at Bedford Middle School Site”

 Media Coverage - WDBJ - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Oct 24 2018

November 7, 2018  

Media Report:

Bedford Bulletin  “Public Hearing To Be Held on Former School Use Proposal” 

Media Coverage - Bedford Bulletin - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Nov 7 2018

November 11, 2018  

Media Report:

News & Advance  “Bedford Middle’s Future Debated”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Nov 11 2018

November 13, 2018

Town Council conducted a public hearing on a draft of a proposed performance agreement between Waukeshaw Development and the Town.  Twelve persons spoke at the public hearing.

Media Report:

News & Advance  “Bedford Hearing Draws Dozens to Debate Over Future of ‘Old Yellow’ Campus”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Nov 13 2018

November 20, 2018

The Town Economic Development Authority reviewed the latest draft of items being negotiated between Waukeshaw Development and the Town.

November 27, 2018  

Media Report:

News & Advance  “Bedford Town Council Holds Closed Session on Fate of Old Bedford Middle Property”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Nov 27 2018

December 11, 2018

Town Council met in closed session to discuss details of negotiations with Waukeshaw Development.

January 9, 2019  

Media Report:

News & Advance  “Bedford Boys and Old Yellow Just a Few Things to Look Forward to in 2019”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Jan 9 2019

February 13, 2019  

Media Report:

WSET  “Plans to Revitalize Bedford Middle School Moving Forward with $220K Grant”

Media Coverage - WSET - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Feb 13 2019

February 14, 2019  

Media Report:

WDBJ  “Bedford Awarded Grant for Redevelopment of Former Middle School Site”

Media Coverage - WDBJ - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Feb 14 2019

March 26, 2019

Town Council conducted a public hearing on the latest revised draft of a proposed performance agreement between Waukeshaw Development and the Town.  Eight persons spoke at the public hearing.  A motion to approve the proposed performance agreement was tabled by a unanimous vote of Town Council.

March 27, 2019  

Media Report

News & Advance  “Bedford Town Council Delays Vote on Development Agreement for Old Middle School Site”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - March 27 2019

April 8, 2019

The Town Economic Development Authority reviewed the latest draft of items being negotiated between Waukeshaw Development and the Town.

April 9, 2019

The Town Council and Town Economic Development Authority held a joint meeting to consider approval of a proposed performance agreement between the Town Council, the Town Economic Development Authority, and Waukeshaw.  The Town Council voted to approve the proposed agreement by a vote of six members in favor and one opposed.  The Town Economic Development Authority voted unanimously to approve the proposed agreement. 

April 10, 2019  

Media Report:

News & Advance  “Town Oks Development Deal for Iconic Bedford School”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - April 10 2019

April 12, 2019  

Media Report:

WSLS  “Town Council Approves Deal to Renovate Old Bedford Middle School”

Media Coverage - WSLS - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - April 12 2019

April 12, 2019  

Media Report:

WFXR  “Town Council Approves Redevelopment of Old Bedford Middle School”

Media Coverage - WFXR - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - April 12 2019

September 14, 2019  

Media Report

News & Advance  “Keeping History Alive: Petersburg Developer Bringing New Life to Schools”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Sept 14 2019

October 3, 2019

The Planning Commission held a public hearing regarding the proposed rezoning of the Bedford Middle School property (which was a requirement of the performance agreement between the Town Council, the Town Economic Development Authority, and Waukesaw).  Two persons spoke at the public hearing.  The Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed rezoning by a vote of five members for, one member against, and one absent.

Media Report:

News & Advance  “Planning Commission Votes to Recommend Rezoning of Former Bedford Middle School”

Media Coverage - News & Advance - Bedford Middle School Campus Project - Oct 3 2019

October 8, 2019

Town Council voted to grant a six month extension of lease and due diligence period under the provisions of the performance agreement executed between Town Council, the Town Economic Development Authority, and Waukeshaw.

October 22, 2019

Town Council held a public hearing regarding the proposed rezoning of the Bedford Middle School property (which was a requirement of the performance agreement between the Town Council, the Town Economic Development Authority, and Waukesaw).  Two persons spoke at the public hearing and written comments received from another individual were accepted as part of the meeting record.  Town Council approved rezoning by a vote of six members for and one member absent.