News Virginian: "Saxman praises announcement of Western State Hospital project"

By Jimmy LaRoue
Waynesboro News Virginian
Published: June 26, 2009
http://www.newsvirginian.com/wnv/news/local/article/saxman_praises_annou...

Del. Chris Saxman praised the vote of the Staunton City Council in adopting a memorandum of understanding at its Thursday meeting regarding the Western State Hospital project, calling it “huge for our area.“

“I am very pleased that Staunton City Council members voted unanimously to move forward with these important projects that will not only benefit those Virginians who receive critical care services from Western State Hospital, but also our community as these projects will bring hundreds of jobs and economic development opportunities to the area,“ Saxman said in a written statement.

The deal allows for a smaller hospital to be built on 70 acres within the city’s Crossroads Business Park - property that is adjacent to the current location along Interstate 81 and Route 250.

In exchange for the city’s Industrial Development Authority deeding the city property in the business park, the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services will deed 266 acres of the existing hospital campus - excluding the 31 acre property where the Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents is located - to the IDA for future private redevelopment.

City leaders are hopeful of the project’s economic benefits to the city - particularly with increasing sales tax revenue. It also allows Staunton to keep pace with competing projects recently announced in Augusta County and Waynesboro, though Vice Mayor Dave Metz noted the project has been four years in the making.

“It helps to keep Staunton competitive,“ said Councilwoman Andrea Oakes following Thursday’s council meeting. “If the city’s not growing, it will die. And this gives us the opportunity to grow and remain competitive with Waynesboro as well as Augusta County. Again, it’ll bring in a lot of revenue for the city of Staunton.“

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http://www.newsvirginian.com/wnv/news/local/article/saxman_praises_annou...