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Last week, GOMM asked what you would like to see built on the old Fairgrounds property. A companion post was put on Facebook. The results were interesting.

On May 1, following an advertised  public hearing, with no comments from citizens, the Goochland Board of Supervisors authorized the county administrator to execute a contract with the developer of the Courthouse Commons Shopping Center, to purchase most of the vacant lot between Hardee’s and Fairground Road for $850,000. The contract includes a due diligence period of 270 days with two 90 day extensions before closing.

This parcel, at 3.162 acres is relatively small. After setbacks, parking, and access lanes are subtracted,  not all that much is left for structures. When the roundabout at that corner is built in the next three years—is has been approved and funded—the area will be even more noisy and busy. The contract excludes shooting ranges and fuel distribution, ruling out convenience stores.

Complaints abound when citizens learn of a new commercial venture, even though they claim to understand that there will be business in a certain location. When asked what they would like to see instead of the proposal, the result is all too often “I don’t know, but not that.” Such replies are not helpful to landowners searching for  “the highest and best use” of their property. People do not build things for fun, they expect a reasonable return on their  investment. There is nothing wrong with that.

Quite a few constructive suggestions emerged including: a dry cleaner; laundromat; urgent care medical facility; credit union or other banking options; day care center; and car wash.

Food was mentioned a lot. Some wanted more fast food, some no more; others only local restaurants with live music in a screened in porch or patio or a locally sourced farm-to-table eatery.

Several people lamented the passing of the old Fairgrounds Building, recalling dances and other events held there. Torn down in 2010, the Fairgrounds Building was a victim of austerity measures taken by county government in response to a drastic fall off in real estate valuations, the primary source of local revenue. The old structure cost far more to maintain than it generated in fees.

The Fairgrounds Building had a central location and was one of the few places where renters could hold events with alcohol after obtaining a liquor license.  American Legion Post 215 has a very nice hall just west of the high school offering all of those possibilities.

Other suggestions included a skating rink, arcade, or paintball, places where kids could hang out.

A causal coffee/sandwich shop along the order of the late Java Jodi’s, Goochland’s answer to an internet café, generated lots of votes. Others wanted a pool hall and bar for adults to hang out;  a community center with car shows.

One commenter declared that the property is a local treasure that the county should not sell, but rather convert to an open air gathering space with a gazebo, WIFI, and coffee supplied by Dunkin Donuts.  When you subtract out hot, cold, rainy, snowy, and pollen days, there might not be enough use to justify the expense. Photos posted with the suggestion were in cities.  As there are few homes within walking distance of the site, users would need to drive there instead meandering down the street.

A place to “bring the county together” was mentioned a few times, with no elaboration.  Would residents from all corners of Goochland travel here to interact with each other? What would that look like?

The thought of a local bookstore, where people sip coffee and read is delightful, but a vision for a time before eBooks and Amazon.

A visitors’ center was another notion. Goochland could use one. Tourism is a clean industry, one that we do not do enough to exploit. The question is, what do we have to offer tourists, how best to showcase our best, and where is the ideal location?

Some responders missed the point that the land will be sold for development by private enterprise. The cost of transforming the site, in addition to the purchase price, from a vacant lot to business space will result in stiff rents.

Before anyone commits to opening a business in a particular place, they do their homework. One criteria is rooftops, or population, within a certain distance of  the site in question to ensure an adequate customer base to generate profit. All of Goochland County has about 22,000 people spread out over 290 square miles. By  comparison Short Pump, according to Wikipedia, has 24,729 people in nine square miles.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with suggestions.  Keep an eye out to see what develops.