While the Middlesex Water Authority (MWA) is working towards building the Eastern Middlesex County Water System, construction began last week on an interim water system to serve Cooks Corner.
Middlesex County will be receiving about $3 million in grant funding to revitalize the area around the Cooks Corner Office Complex. In order to have water ready for the project, the county will pump water from its well near the former Rappahannock Central Elementary School to the north side of Route 33.
When the MWA system is online, the pipe will be used to distribute MWA water to the south side of Route 33 and the well will be taken offline.
The Cooks Corner Revitalization Project will include the renovation and repurposing of a historic school building, the establishment of an event center facility, and the construction of water and sewer infrastructure.
The big picture
A joint venture by Travis Croxton of Rappahannock Oyster Company (owner of Merroir on Locklies Creek) and Jay Shah of Shamin Hotels will transform vacant buildings in the area. The project by Cooks Corner Partners includes a new commissary kitchen located in the former Rappahannock Central Elementary (RCE) School cafeteria. In addition, a new brewery and restaurant will be built in the relocated and renovated historic African-American schoolhouse, formerly known as the St. Clare Walker High School agriculture and vocational building. This building will be moved across Route 33 and be placed near the former elementary school. The project will include the establishment of an event center at RCE.
The Cooks Corner revitalization includes construction of 24 units of affordable, workforce housing to help attract and retain skilled workers in the region. The housing units will also be open to all residents and employees from adjacent counties, with teachers, law enforcement officers, and public employees targeted to fill many of these residences.
The project includes construction of water and sewer infrastructure, which is being engineered at this time.
$3 million in grants
The Cooks Corner project to date has received funding from multiple state and federal resources. Governor Northam approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) Fund, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), and will be matched by funds from Middlesex County. In addition, the Governor approved $2.25 million in Vibrant Community Initiative funding and $480,000 in Industrial Revitalization Fund awards, both administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) has awarded $50,000 for a nature trail, and $200,000 to the Middlesex Foundation for the 24-unit workforce housing apartments. VHDA will also provide permanent land and grant financing for the apartments.
On October 10 workers began installing an auger bore casing that will contain a water pipe. The casing is being installed by Atlantic Underground, a woman-owned business which has been based in Deltaville for 11 years and is VDOT prequalified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, said owner Beverly Kidd. The contractor is William Wills of Locust Hill.
