NEWS RELEASE
Buena Vista, VA (May 2025) — The City of Buena Vista is calling on residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to help shape the future of the Buena Vista Company Building, also known as Old City Hall. This iconic building, currently serving as the public library, is the focus of a study funded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. An interactive public session will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd, inviting the community to share ideas and collaborate on possibilities for the building’s future.
Constructed in 1890 during the Shenandoah Valley land boom, the Buena Vista Company Building is one of the City’s few remaining buildings from its early boom period and a key part of Buena Vista’s architectural heritage. Originally the headquarters for the Buena Vista Company, the building later served as the city’s courthouse and municipal offices until 1971, when it was repurposed as the public library. Today, as the City aims to address the building’s structural and maintenance challenges, it is carefully exploring its continued use as a library alongside other potential options to ensure it best serves the community moving forward.
“This project is about more than preserving a building—it’s about preserving a vital piece of our city’s history and creating a vision for its role in Buena Vista’s future,” said Kristina Ramsey, Director of Economic Development. “We are committed to exploring all possibilities, including its continued use as a library, and we need the community’s input to ensure this study reflects their priorities.”
The current study builds on a 2015 assessment and will include a detailed evaluation of the building’s current condition, renovation options, and potential future uses. Combining technical analysis with community input, the study will provide a framework to guide the building’s rehabilitation while supporting Buena Vista’s continued growth and revitalization goals.
To gather ideas and feedback, the City is hosting a two-part public session on June 3, 2025 at the BVCPS Ramsey Center (2040 Magnolia Ave, Buena Vista, VA 24416):
- Stakeholder Session (3:00 PM to 5:00 PM) This session will review prior City plans, include a brief walking tour to review Buena Vista’ broader revitalization efforts, and offer community and business leaders an opportunity to share their perspectives on the building’s current role and potential uses.
- Public Input Session (5:00 PM to 7:00 PM): This hands-on design charrette will invite attendees to vision, brainstorm, sketch, and evaluate potential ideas for the building’s future.
Both sessions are open to all, and the City encourages community members to participate in as much as they can.
“This initiative is part of a broader effort to evaluate and plan for downtown properties, ensuring Buena Vista is positioned for sustainable growth,” said Tom Roberts, Director of Community Development. “Focusing on this central, historic building—which currently houses a key community facility–allows us to coordinate efforts and make a lasting impact.”
The study complements a separate effort by Main Street Buena Vista in partnership with Virginia Main Street, which aims to identify redevelopment opportunities and provide critical insights to reduce investment risks and accelerate sustainable development. Public meetings for the Downtown Survey are scheduled for July 30th and 31st, offering another opportunity for the community to engage in shaping the future of Buena Vista’s downtown.
“We want to hear from everyone—whether you value its role as a library or see new possibilities for how it can serve Buena Vista,” added Ramsey. “This building means a great deal to our community, and it’s important to us that the community is involved in the conversation about its future.”
For more information about the June 3rd public sessions or Buena Vista’s downtown revitalization efforts, contact the Community and Economic Development offices at (540) 261-8608 or email [email protected].