Chatham Elementary School’s fate up in air

CHATHAM — The fate of the old Chatham Elementary School remains up in the air.

The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors gave the building to the town of Chatham in May, but the town hasn’t decided whether to accept it.

Chatham Town Council met Monday night and discussed holding a public hearing on the matter. But the town’s attorney, Larry Gott, told the council it can accept the property for public use without a public hearing. However, if the town proposes it for private development, a public hearing must be held, Gott said.

The Town Council will hold a meeting next week to discuss the matter further. 

Chatham Town Manager Mike Jones said in May he is pursuing federal economic stimulus money to renovate the structure in hopes of moving the town’s post office there. Jones said he’d like to house town government offices there, and lease space to the post office and federal, state and local governments.

Jones estimated in May it would cost $1.5 million to upgrade the former elementary school. The facility would need lead and asbestos abatement, heating and cooling replacement, general maintenance, updated lighting and newly connected doors.