White Rock Community Hub Tour, Final Meeting & Celebration
The former White Rock Elementary School, a historic landmark built in 1912 and located at 400 Buena Vista Street, is set for revitalization after being recently vacated by the Lynchburg Community Action Group.
With funding approved by the Lynchburg City Council for FY 2024, this initiative prioritizes community engagement, design, and enhancements to reimagine the space as a vibrant hub for the White Rock neighborhood. The City of Lynchburg has partnered with Work Program Architects (WPA) to gather input from local residents, ensuring that the redevelopment reflects the needs and aspirations of the community.
This exciting project encompasses the entire block surrounding the school, bordered by Buena Vista Street, Poplar Street, and Tulip Street, creating a dynamic facility dedicated to serving and uplifting the White Rock community.
The consensus from initial engagement and the kickoff is that the former White Rock Elementary School should be a space for the community to build intergenerational relationships. The building will have continuous programming throughout the day and evening with resources that support community needs to include:
- Holistic Community Development: The emphasis is on creating a multi-faceted community hub that fosters health, wellness, education, and entrepreneurship.
- Inclusivity: Programs designed to cater to all age groups and abilities, ensuring equal access to resources.
- Collaboration: The need for partnerships with non-profits, local businesses, and community members to bring initiatives to life.
Throughout the process, adaptive reuse suggestions can be categorized into the recurring themes of childcare, food and nutrition, recreation and wellness, non-profit/services, and entrepreneurship. These programs can be divided into those which need to be driven by an organization and those which can be community-led.
SHARE Greater Lynchburg was a collaborator on the community conversations to assist in bringing a variety of nonprofit voices to the table.
White Rock Community Hub will host the following this week:
- Friday, May 30, 4-6pm: Optional Building Tour
400 Buena Vista Street
Explore the former school and cafeteria building. Share your memories with us and imagine the future together.
- Saturday, May 31, 11am-1pm: Final Presentation & Community Celebration
White Rock Baptist Church
401 Florida Avenue
Share a meal and come together for a final look at the vision for the White Rock Community Hub.
To see The Mike Show Interview with White Rock Community Hub WPA Consultant Sharon Manana, Click Here.
