Madison County Supervisors have voiced their support for the future development of the former Criglersville Elementary School by way of a grant application.
Last month, supervisors adopted a resolution supporting Criglersville Elementary School, LLC owner Felix Schapiro’s application for an Industrial Revitalization Fund Grant. The grant program, administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), awards up to $1 million for the purpose of revitalizing derelict structures, allowing for redevelopment and enhanced economic opportunities. The funding is considered to be stop gap funding and is used by a private owner as the last piece of funding for a project. Localities can apply for one grant per year on behalf of a private owner. No local funding is utilized or obligated and if awarded, a performance agreement is executed between the developer and DHCD. The grant is a 20-year, fixed interest rate loan and will be handled by Locus, not the county’s IDA.
The board will submit the application on behalf of Schapiro before the deadline at the end of this month. Applications are reviewed in June with awards made in July or August.
Schapiro plans to turn the former elementary school into a boutique hotel. Similar projects utilizing former schools have proven successful in other areas. One, The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulfur Springs, WV is a popular destination, especially for those visiting the nearby Greenbrier. The circa 1912 property has retained its schoolhouse charm by naming rooms according to classrooms such as Physics, Band and Chorus. The former gymnasium serves as a banquet hall for private events including weddings.
Initial plans would have created an event venue at the Criglersville School. In June 2022, Schapiro submitted a rezoning request for the 5.83 acre parcel to change it from A1, Agriculture, to M1, Industrial Limited, to allow for a mixed use development. At the time, he intended to purchase the property which includes both the two-story school building and the former adjacent voting precinct. He hoped to create an event venue, boutique hotel, restaurant, retail establishment and community asset. Neighbors balked and the zoning request failed that fall with supervisors opting to pursue a request for proposals process to solicit proposals for the property in early 2023.
That process was abandoned when Schapiro submitted amendments to the sale contract, which supervisors turned down. A suit was filed by Schapiro in February 2023 and the property was sold for $25,000 to Schapiro that December. According to the terms of the sale, the county has a first right of refusal to purchase the property should Schapiro’s future plans prove unsuccessful. It also recognizes a survey conducted July 11, 2022 and clarifies a county-owned easement for both the Criglersville Mountain Museum and the memorial for the local families displaced by the creation of Shenandoah National Park. The county would be required to remove old playground equipment and the property could not be used for storage or a salvage yard. Rehabilitation of the main building must be started within 14 months.
The grant application is the next step in Schapiro’s development process. In January the property was added to the Virginia Landmark Register and in February, a rezoning application was approved, changing the property from A-1, Agricultural to B-1, Business allowing for use as a hotel by-right. Per the rezoning, there will be no accessory structures used as overnight lodging and outdoor sound will cease one hour after sunset Sunday through Wednesday and 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
