By CHAD COOPER
Renovations to the long-vacant Richardson Building are entering the final stretch, and town officials are inviting the public to see the progress firsthand rather than relying on social media speculation.
During the Grundy Town Council meeting on July 14 at the Grundy Town Office in the Grundy Plaza, Town Manager and Town of Grundy Industrial Development Authority Properties Manager Dennis Ramey addressed recent criticism over the pace of work on the downtown restoration project.
Ramey acknowledged that some residents have questioned why renovations have taken longer than expected but said the biggest obstacle has been finding enough skilled workers to keep the project moving.
“The biggest problem that we face, and I think a lot of people in this county face, is hiring people to do work,” Ramey said.
Although only one worker has often been on site at the Walnut Street location in front of the Buchanan County Courthouse, Ramey explained that the contractor has been managing multiple projects simultaneously.
He also noted that the building sat vacant for years before renovation efforts began.
“Where were the complainers when it sat there empty for years?” Ramey asked. “Now that we’ve got started…”
Rather than criticizing the project online, Ramey encouraged residents to attend town meetings or contact him directly with questions.
“If they want to know what’s going on… come to our meetings,” he said. “I’ll take them through the building. I don’t have a problem at all.”
Ramey said he is willing to personally give tours of the building and show residents the work completed, including photographs documenting the structure’s condition before renovations began.
Despite the challenges, he said that progress continues every day and that the project is now close to completion.
“There is somebody there every day,” Ramey said. “It’s really, really, really close.”
If construction continues as planned, he said the renovation could be finished by September.
The Richardson Building is one of several revitalization projects the Town of Grundy and its Industrial Development Authority have undertaken as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the downtown business district.
In his town manager’s report, Ramey also updated council members on several other projects and upcoming initiatives.
Ramey also informed the council that three proposed ordinances are being prepared for future consideration. The proposed measures would regulate parking around fire hydrants, establish rules for use of the Michael D. Young Trail Special Use Trail and address the burial of human remains on private property within the Town of Grundy.
Council members decided to postpone scheduling public hearings on the ordinances to allow additional time to review the proposed language before moving forward.
Ramey encouraged council members to submit any questions or suggested changes before the next meeting so revisions can be made before the ordinances are advertised for public hearings. Copies of the ordinances are available at the Town Offices at the Grundy Plaza.
As part of his IDA report, Ramey also highlighted continued improvements at the Grundy Community Center Cinema 3.
He said attendance has increased significantly over the past month, with ticket sales climbing from 1,622 in May to 2,283 in June as more popular movies have returned to the theater.
“The better the movies, the better the attendance,” Ramey said.
After operating at a loss of nearly $70,000 last year because of a lack of major film releases, Ramey said the theater has experienced a noticeable turnaround, with several recent showings selling out.
He said the town continues to invest in the facility by replacing lighting with energy-efficient LED fixtures, installing a new $16,000 fire alarm panel, and replacing three deteriorated exterior metal doors at the parking building.
Town Council member Rebecca Elkins also praised theater staff for selling popcorn and drinks during the town’s recent fireworks celebration, saying the concession sales were well received by those attending the event.
Ramey credited theater manager Dusty Childress and the cinema staff for their efforts to improve both the theater’s operations and customer experience as attendance continues to rebound.
PHORO CUTLINES:
Chad Cooper | Virginia Mountaineer
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Town Manager and Town of Grundy Industrial Development Authority Properties Manager Dennis Ramey updates the Grundy Town Council on the progress of the Richardson Building renovation during the council’s July 14 meeting at the Grundy Town Office. Ramey said the downtown revitalization project continues to move forward and could be completed as early as September.
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Renovation work continues on the historic Richardson Building in downtown Grundy. During the July 14 Grundy Town Council meeting, Town Manager and Town of Grundy IDA Properties Manager Dennis Ramey said the project is nearing completion despite contractor staffing challenges and could be finished by September.
