NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY
Article date: June 15, 2002

Staying Original

EDA making progress in rehabilitation of administrative building

By: Mary Jordan

After having to wait about seven months to get historic preservation approval, the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority is making progress on the rehabilitation of the former Avtex administration building.

Under the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Historic Rehabilitation, the EDA had to make sure that the building was restored in a way as to keep its original features, said EDA Executive Director Stephen A. Heavener.

The large building on Kendrick Lane is surrounded by a green fence. A large gate bears the entrance to the building, which already has seen a new roof and windows.

The EDA is preparing to award contracts for plumbing, electric, heating, ventilation and air conditioning work, Heavener said.

The total cost of these renovations is estimated at $500,000, he said.

In addition, site work- including grading of the land behind the building and construction of a parking lot- will go out to bid later this month at an estimated cost of $200,000.

Once the heating, plumbing and ventilation work is done, dry wall will be put up and the high indoor ceilings will be dropped. Heavener said the latter work will not take long.

"Once they get started, things will move pretty quickly," he said.

The former administration building will house five offices, ranging from 788 square feet to 3,150 square feet.

The EDA will house its offices there, and the other offices will hopefully be filled with technology related businesses, engineering firms or service providers, Heavener said.

The offices are scheduled to be completed and ready for occupancy at the early part of next year.

This will mark one of the major milestones in the redevelopment process at Avtex. As it will be the first portion completed, Heavener said.

"This will be the first new redevelopment on the Avtex site," he said, adding that it will signify the first jobs onsite since the plant was shut down in 1989.

Plans also moved forward Monday night when the Front Royal Town Council unanimously approved a sewer line extension from 11th Street, across Monroe Street extended, through the former Avtex parking lot to Kendrick Lane to serve the former Avtex administration building.

Town documents indicate the EDA plans to award the contract for site work and construction of the sewer main next month.

Heavener said the EDA's goal is to use the parking lot across from the administration building for restaurants, shops and services to benefit administration building employees and the surrounding neighborhood.