The Northern Virginia Daily

Article date: December 8, 2004

Roanoke company is likely choice to develop Avtex park

 By: William C. Flook

Though a presentation by an architectural firm at Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors left a number of unanswered questions, Warren County officials say the company will most likely be approved to develop the Avtex conservancy park.

Roanoke-based Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern outlined its approach Tuesday morning for the planned 240-acre conservancy park that occupies a large portion of the Avtex Superfund site.

How much the project will cost, what it will look like, and how long it will take still remain up in the air, however.  Shenandoah District Supervisor Dick Traczyk expressed confidence that HSMM is capable of accomplishing the ambitious task.

“The recommendation is to choose them, and I think they are a good resource and will probably be the selected people,” Traczyk said.  “It’s just a mammoth project, with that many acres, to put that together.”

The firm beat out two others to secure a recommendation from the Avtex Redevelopment Advisory Committee in October, but awaits formal approval from both Warren County and Front Royal.  It is unknown at this point when or if the firm will be approved, or which government entity will oversee its progress.

“We need to determine who is going to take the lead and who is going to be the primary contact on this,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Tony Carter said.

The Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, which has been charged with redeveloping the approximately 440-acre site, may also be a viable option for handling oversight of the firm, according to County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley.

“Probably the logical choice is to work through the EDA, since they are supervising the redevelopment of the rest of the site,” he said.

HSMM employs more than 500 people in 17 offices, according to a presentation given by Troy S. Kincer, who would serve as project manager for the conservancy park if the company is selected.

Carter said the group was singled out not only for its size and capability, but also because it employs funding/grants coordinators who could potentially secure money for the project.

Brian K. Brown, one such coordinator, suggested a number of possible grant sources to the board, including the Virginia Outdoors Fund, the Virginia Recreational Trails Fund, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Stanley said the issue will be discussed further at Friday’s town/county liaison session at the Warren County Government Center.