BY JANET BERNOSKY, Eastern Shore Post
Accomack County has met all its requirements as part of a planning agreement with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for grant funds to develop a feasibility study for the Mary N. Smith Cultural Enrichment Center.
The county will take steps to close this phase of the project out by Dec. 31 to comply with the terms of the agreement, County Administrator Mike Mason told the Acomack County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Leslie West, owner of Beyond Numbers Consulting in Onancock, provided the board of supervisors with an update on the project.
Richmond-based Commonwealth Architects was hired to conduct the feasibility study, which included gathering input from the public, as well as the Mary N. Smith Alumni Association, owners of the building, West said.
Out of these meetings, along with on-site reports from various engineers and architects who took a close look at the building, several project goals were developed, with a phased approach in mind.
Initial plans include improving the building’s exterior, such as creating more curb appeal for visitors and installing energy efficient windows.
A big goal, West noted, would be to replace the existing roof of the approximately 50,000-square-foot building and also to elevate its pitch.
“There are challenges having a flat roof in a building that size,” she said.
Interior plans include providing additional adult, senior, and youth enrichment spaces, the creation of a Mary Nottingham Smith museum, dedicated multi-purpose and events spaces, and renovating existing restrooms and constructing new ones to meet required needs.
Long-term plans include the renovation of the current gym, plus the creation of approximately 15 residential apartments on the second floor, if it is determined the building can handle the weight load.
Renovations on the exterior and outdoor spaces will cost around $8.9 million, West said. The entire project is estimated to cost approximately $14 million.
Currently, the gym and cafeteria are leased or rented out short-term to various groups, including the Boys and Girls Club, generating ongoing revenue for the project.
West said the hope is to also make these spaces available for weddings, theater events, meetings, conventions, and workshops.
Plans also include space for a music room and a recording studio.
The feasibility study recommended updating or replacing the building’s mechanicals and establishing a long-term maintenance plan for its future.
West said the next steps in 2025 involve developing and initiating a capital campaign, including increasing programs and spaces offered to the public to continue to generate additional income for the project.
For fiscal year 2026, the goal is to approach the board of supervisors to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for funding to address construction costs.
