Old Town Hall Could Go Back To ‘Plan A’

HARRISONBURG — The former Port Republic town hall may soon get new life by getting back to its roots as a public meeting center.

The Walter and Martha Curt Family Foundation is seeking a special-use permit from Rockingham County to renovate the building at 8597 Water St. for use as a community center for local residents.

The Board of Supervisors will consider the request at its meeting today, following a public hearing scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the County Administration Center on North Main and Gay streets in Harrisonburg.

According to its application, the foundation wants to restore the property, which has sat vacant for years and may have been used for storage. The applicants are also seeking to build a 320-square-foot addition for a restroom, kitchenette and breezeway.

The restoration would maintain the appearance and “primarily residential character of the neighborhood,” the application says.

If approved, it would host events for up to 45 people, with use “similar to but less intensive than a church meeting structure,” the application says.

Built in the late 19th century, the two-story, two-bay building has a gable-end façade with entry in “engaged corner tower,” a gable roof, and sawnwork porch, according to documents from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

It had been used as a residence since its days as town hall ended, though it couldn’t be confirmed when exactly that was.

Neither a representative of the foundation nor Walter Curt, a retired local businessman, could be reached for comment Tuesday.

In other business at today’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors will recognize Cpl. Craig Herring with the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, who is retiring after 25 years.

Supervisors also will see a presentation regarding the county’s redesigned website, which launched this week.

Contact Jeremy Hunt at 574-6273 or jhunt@dnronline.com