The Governor’s Building is the second project for Colonial Crossings that combined the efforts of Guernsey Tingle Architects and W. M. Jordan Company.  The team designed and built two buildings last summer that added 44 timeshare units to the resort.  When the Governor’s Building opens in July 2008, the project will have 120 timeshare units completed.  Colonial Crossings will eventually have 318 timeshare units and feature an enclosed water park, welcome center and other recreational amenities.

A site plan by Guernsey Tingle Architects is meant to maximize use of the site going out 30-50 years.

The board rejected expanding the existing building, which was refurbished for last year’s 225th of the Siege of Yorktown.

Those enhancements cost about $2 million. In 1995 the foundation spent $3.9 million on new exhibition galleries and a theater.

The fact that those galleries have “exceeded their useful life” was one of the major reasons for building anew over more renovation.

The $24 million cost of renovations made replacement a better option.

Several members of the buildings and grounds subcommittee have noted that the current building is architecturally dated and has an impractical design. Renovation would also have required phased construction to maintain daily operations.

The new Victory Center will be built while the current one remains in use. It’s meant to give visitors more of a “sense of arrival,” according to the architects.

It will feature more and larger galleries and classrooms as well as expansion of the outside education areas, the colonial farm and army encampment.

The plan also envisions a lawn for outside events that could be rented out to raise revenue.

Board members said they’d like to see the foundation apply some of the lessons that it learned from the extensive renovation of Jamestown Settlement.

Suzanne Flippo said she’d like to see the center feature the same easy access to the outside education areas that the Settlement has, giving visitors a choice of what path to take through the museum.

Sen. John Watkins (R-Chesterfield) said he’d like to see the new museum make more use of technology. “I think we made need some advice from a generation younger than us,” he said. “The next generation, the way they process video and sound and media is different from the way we do.”

Other members said they’d like to see something that makes it clear to visitors that the Victory Center is about more than the Siege of Yorktown, that it attempts to tell the whole story of the American Revolution.

Because of state budget cutbacks this year, the foundation is only asking for planning money, about $3 million. Given the board’s clout, that looks promising.

At least six members of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees will sit on the General Assembly’s money committees in the upcoming session of the General Assembly. That’s less influence than the foundation had in previous years when board members Del. Vincent Callahan (R-Fairfax) and Sen. John Chichester (R-Fredericksburg) chaired the budget-writing committees. Both Callahan and Chichester are retiring.

"It's great for the community," said Michael Frith, co-owner of Michael's Auto Sales, across the street from the white-painted theater on 305 E. Nine Mile Road. "It might help as far as revitalizing the businesses out here."

The 400-seat theater's grand re-opening -- the result of a $5.8 million renovation, restoration and expansion -- is tomorrow, 1-4 p.m. The event will feature live entertainment and is free to the public.

"We're looking forward to see what it looks like in the inside," said Deborah Loving, manager of Williams Bakery, next door.

She has noticed that the theater's clock is working now, and she is excited to see the restored marquee. Growing up in the '50s, she used to go to the movies there.

"It looks really nice, I can't wait to see it all together," she said.

Russell Talley Jr., owner of Talley's Auto Service next door, also recalled afternoons he spent in the theater.

"I grew up here as a kid watching a lot of movies there for 50 cents," the 52-year-old said.

He said he is glad to see the building restored, rather than torn down. It will benefit not just Highland Springs, Talley said, but also the rest of eastern Henrico County.

"It's good for my business to have people come back to the area," he said.

Neil Luther, Henrico's assistant director of recreation and parks, said the Nine Mile corridor where the theater sits is crowded with small businesses and is an enterprise zone.

"There's been a lot of ongoing activity to sort of reinvest in and revitalize the corridor," he said. "There's a lot of synergy taking place out there. We're happy to be a part of it."

About 3 miles from the theater is the Shops at White Oak Village, a $160-million development on Laburnum Avenue, near the Interstate 64 intersection, is under construction. The mall in the 136-acre property, scheduled to open next year, will feature major retail stores such as J.C. Penny, Circuit City and Lowe's and a 140-room Hyatt Place Hotel.

"That's going to bring more people," Loving said. "That's going to bring us in step with everybody else."

On Wednesday, crews put a last coat of paint on the lobby walls, cleaned the glass doors and vacuumed the carpets. They tested the lights and sound system.

"That's kind of been my project this week, making sure that everything works for Saturday," said site manager John Zannino, over the noise of running vacuums.

The theater first opened in 1938. During tomorrow's event, people will have the chance to walk around the theater to see its colorful walls decorated with pictures of movie celebrities of the '30s and '40s, the solid red and patterned carpets that match the original design and the theater's restored art deco details.

"It will blow you away," said Varina Supervisor James B. Donati Jr.

Among vintage objects on display will be a movie projector donated by Randy Horne, whose father, Charles E. Horne, operated the theater from 1976 until his death in 1992. The county bought the building in 1999.

"If you frequented the place in the 1930s, it's going to bring back memories," said Amy Perdue, cultural-arts coordinator for Henrico.

Frith said he saw many movies there in the early '80s. He said the last movie to play to a full house at the theater was "Breakin'" in 1984 -- about a struggling jazz dancer who meets break dancers.

Performances are lined up through December with a schedule that offers music, dance and drama. The building will also be available to rent.

Frith has a question about movies, when they come back: "Is it still going to be a dollar?"

Movies aren't on the immediate schedule, but the plan is that in the near future people will be able to see classic movies for $1.

"Bring back the movies," Talley said. "I'm ready to go sit down and watch."

Ms. Smith is a 1992 graduate of Savannah College of Art & Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and was co-valedictorian of her class.  She is a certificate holder with the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).

Ms. Smith previously worked with RWB Interiors in Atlanta, Georgia, where she served as project designer and senior project manager for multiple corporate clients and quality control manager for her office. She was responsible for designing interior packages and space planning for financial facilities, office headquarters and restaurants. 

At Guernsey Tingle Architects, Ms. Smith is handling the interior design of the new Lawrenceville Brick showroom in James City County and the historic interior restoration of the Henrico Theater in Highland Springs, as well as other office and restaurant projects.

A study on this subject, commissioned earlier this year, includes criticism from local business leaders, comparisons with similar counties in other states, and a slew of recommendations.

Officials with James City County’s Business Climate Task Force say they are poring over the document – evaluating and adding to the recommendations.  The task force, which works with the county’s Economic Development Authority, expects to produce a report by year’s end that should offer a final set of recommendations, plus incorporate the recent study and other data.

Critics have accused the county of keeping the study under wraps after it was completed in April.  But officials say the 80-page write-up, prepared by consultants based in New York and Florida, was discussed in public meetings and is meant to serve as just one part of their upcoming report.

“To release the study was like releasing the questions without the answers,” said local architect Tom Tingle, the Economic Development Authority’s vice chairman and a member of the Business Climate Task Force.

“It was clearly just one of a number of tools that we intended to use to try to get our arms around this stuff.”

James City’s Business Climate Task Force was established more than a year ago by county supervisors in an effort to review the possibilities for retaining, expanding, and recruiting businesses.

The group has a dozen members, ranging from county staff to leaders in real estate, engineering, or banking.  It meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in a first-floor conference room in the New Town development’s SunTrust building.

The task force outlined plans for the business climate study in January, saying at the time that the county resembles a “great restaurant” that’s hindered by a “slow kitchen.”  Members of the group estimated the study would cost about $38,800, but it ended up costing a bit less – $36,700.

The study presents anonymous feedback from interviews with nearly 40 local business leaders who both praise and blast James City officials.  Interviewees expressed concern about matters such as an over-saturated retail market, labor shortages, traffic, and a lot of talk about affordable housing but no action.  One business leader said the county is “not sure of what it wants to be or where it is going.”

Consultants wrote in the study that James City’s development review process was “the issue that quickly rose to the top” in the interviews with participating business leaders.  Interviewees frequently described the process as “arduous” and “unpredictable,” plus they dubbed the county “one of the most difficult places to work with” in the state.

Tingle, the task force member, said the complaints about development review didn’t surprise the group.  He said the task force plans to address that particular issue in its upcoming recommendations.

“We’re trying to add some level of predictability to that process,” he said.  “That’s the frustration that I hear from my clients, and that you hear from some of the interviews:  ‘We start the process, and we have no idea when it’s going to end.  Is it going to be a two-month or a six-month process?’ ”

Tingle also said officials aren’t discouraged by the negative feedback.  “The negative and constructive comments are very valuable,” he said.  “We were looking for negative and constructive comments.  That tells me we were asking the right questions.”

On Monday, Town Council voted 7-0 in favor of approving a Special Use Permit for Patriot’s Village Townhomes.

The 1.895-acre property, located off of VFW Road (Route 636) and owned by Pete Henderson, will house 20 “low-maintenance” townhouses ranging in size from 1,000-1,400 square feet.

According to architect Thomas Tingle of Guernsey Tingle Architects in Williamsburg, the townhouses are targeted towards “empty-nesters and retirees.”

He said studies show that due to the inability to upkeep large homes, the number of senior citizens in West Point has declined by 56 percent.

“The townhouses appeal to senior living because there are first floor master bedrooms in some of the houses and in others there are first floor rooms that can be transformed into bedrooms,” he said.

In his presentation, Tingle stated that unlike most rented townhouse properties, 75 percent of the Patriot’s Village townhomes will be bought and owned by residents for a price of $185,000-$210,000.

In order to keep proper homes maintenance, a mandatory Home Owners Association (HOA) will come into effect at the opening of Patriot’s Village Townhomes.

“Residents buy a peace of mind by not having to cut the grass or fix the roof,” said Tingle.

Also proposed is a mandatory door-to-door trash pickup rather than a common receptacle.

Due to sections of Town Code, the townhouses would range in colors and architectural styles from each building.

The building colors would range from taupe to gray and the shutters, black, green, and red.

At the public hearing, two people spoke in support of the project, including adjoining property owner Roy Salinsky.

“The developer looked at everything I’ve asked him to and addressed my concerns.  It would be a great asset to the town,” he said.

Most of the Council members agreed with Salinsky, suggesting it was time for a senior living project in the town.

“I think this is something we need in the town.  We have a lot of aging people who don’t want to keep up a big house,” said Council member Gail Nichols.

However, newly appointed council member Otto “Bub” Shreaves Jr. found problems with the estimated cost of HOA.

During Tingle’s presentation he said the cost of HOA would be $110-140 per month for residents.  According to Shreaves, this price estimate seemed too low.

Despite any reservations, the special use permit was passed, leaving Henderson to obtain an approved plan of development, subdivision plan, zoning permit, land disturbance permit, and VDOT land use permit before building the property.

Guernsey Tingle Architects won a First Honor Award for Godspeed Animal Care/St. Francis Pet Resort & Rehabilitation Center in James City County.  This three-phase renovation and expansion was cited by the judges as being “incredibly well detailed.”  The owner of the facility, Pam Dumont, said after the award ceremony, “I started three years ago with an idea of what I’d like the Godspeed/St. Francis complex to work like, and to look like.  Scott VanVoorhees from Guernsey Tingle made that all happen.  The red siding was also his idea, and it’s spectacular!”  Henderson, Inc. completed the project in 2006.

Guernsey Tingle Architects also received an Award of Merit for Best Renovated/Historic Rehabilitation for the Blue Talon Bistro in downtown Williamsburg.  The French restaurant included an addition and careful detailing to respond to the restored area.  “It is truly a successful rehabilitation when the resulting building makes a better contribution to the Merchant’s Square district than the original structure did,” stated the judges.  David Everett, co-owner of the Blue Talon with Adam Steely, said, “there is always a sense of pride when your convictions are validated by those you respect.”  Kathryn Tawes Interiors can take credit for the interior detailing and colors that, according to the judges, “are not commonly expected in Colonial Williamsburg, however befitting a French Bistro!”

Later this year, Ford's Colony will file plans for a community of up to 260 homes.  The neighborhood will be positioned on 17 of 60 acres on News Road, opposite its gated parent.  The homes will range from apartments and studio homes, to townhouses and single-family homes of up to four bedrooms.

"We want to capture the younger community, the families just starting out," said Drew Mulhare, vice president for Realtec, which manages Ford's Colony.  "We're trying to change the conversation from ‘affordable' to ‘work force' housing.  These are families with dual incomes:  teachers, firefighters, police and the people who work in this community."

The hope is to price half the homes under $200,000.  That won't be easy, given the value of the land, which is located inside the coveted Primary Service Area, where public water and sewerage is available.

The timing of the project could be its biggest asset, since three of the five supervisors seats are on the ballot this year, all contested.

The work force housing plan was forged in January, during the annual meeting of the Williamsburg Land Conservancy.  In an interview, Mulhare recalled a conversation with local architect and project consultant Roger Guernsey, lately retired from Guernsey Tingle Architects.

Tom Tingle is also heavily involved. "Both of us have had a passion for affordable projects that goes back to the 1980s," he said.

Mulhare cautioned that the plan is still in a conceptual phase, though it should begin to work its way through the rezoning process by the end of this year.

Ford's Colony has owned the land for years, and it was once eyed for a school.  Required buffers along News Road, as well as recently expanded Resource Protection Area buffers along Powhatan Creek, have significantly reduced the buildable portion.

"We knew the property wouldn't be a Ford's Colony addition," Mulhare said.  "It would be for some sort of public benefit.  But at 17 acres, it was too small, even for a small elementary school."

Ford's Colony has done its part for schools, donating the 30 acres on which D.J. Montague Elementary was built 20 years ago.

The difference between this project and others that include a work force housing concept is its scope.

"In other projects, the afforable component is infill, a small percentage dedicated to work force housing," Tingle noted.  "This one puts 200-250 homes out there, more than we've seen around here in years and years."

Infill is what most developers do voluntarily to create some work force housing, often locating the homes on the fringe of a neighborhood.  Last year the Virginia Organizing Project held a community discussion and encouraged localities to mandate a minimum of 15% affordable units in new developments.  The Ford's Colony plan goes way beyond that.

The News Road project would have its own homeowner association separate from Ford's Colony.  Owners would have to be financially capable of getting a mortgage and paying association dues.

Tingle and Mulhare stressed that the plan is very much conceptual.

"It has a long way to go to get their blessing," noted Mulhare, referring to the county's maze of planning approvals.  "The property is zoned for low-density residential, so anything we do requires rezoning."

The land is zoned R-8 for low-density residential, which requires a minimum lot size of 3 acres.  But it's destined for stricter guidelines following the recommendations of the contentious Rural Lands Study.  Mulhare wants to amend the Ford's Colony masterplan to change the zoning to R-4, which is the same zoning for much of Ford's Colony.

R-4 allows a wide range of housing types and densities, from 2 homes per acre for single-family detached homes, to 18 per acre in certain configurations of attached homes.

"The idea is for mixed incomes with mixed housing," Tingle said.  "Not all of it is townhomes, not all in the same price range.  The goal is ownership."

The key is compromise, Mulhare noted.

"The simple answer to public support for affordable housing gets very complicated in delivery," he wrote in an e-mail earlier to members of a focus group called together to discuss the project.  "My hope is to bring enough widespread consensus to a plan that all the parties agree to sit down to find a way to make it work.”

"Compromises on costs, profits, requirements, benefits, private enterprise versus public assistance... seem to be necessary," he continued, "to move something like this off the drafting table and into the field."

The pieces seem to be coming together.

"Everyone involved has stepped to the table, professionally and corporately, into this venture," Mulhare noted last week.

Architects, civil engineers, and others involved in the planning process have reduced their fees to help control costs.  Ford's Colony is taking the lead on the plan, in part because it can control the value of the land. Selling to an outside developer would likely drive up the cost of the homes.

"This project is using the same professionals already working in Ford's Colony proper," Mulhare said.  "We're not turning to the lowest bidder for services."

Hurdles are still ahead, chief among them traffic.  One hope is to have access to bus transportation within the neighborhood, minimizing new traffic on News Road. For years, neighbors along the narrow, two-lane stretch have complained of speedy and heavy traffic, most of it generated by Monticello Marketplace on one end, and by Spring Hill and Ford's Colony at the other.

Besides the work force housing, Ford's Colony is planning an adjacent continuing care community across from its News Road gate.  Both will generate more traffic, though Tingle said the number of additional cars won't be significant.

So what if the county requires widening News Road as a condition of approving the project?

"That's a deal-breaker," Tingle said flatly.

Tingle noted that the public can get behind the housing project by accepting that it won't contribute fiscally to James City.

"Will it add school children?  Absolutely.  All those check-boxes won't be in the right alignment," he said, a reference to the pro's and con's county officials must weigh on any project.  "It will have to be a community commitment."

Added Mulhare:  "On one end you have Kingsmill and Ford's Colony making money hand over fist for the county.  On the other, projects like this can't afford the proffers that it takes to get approval.”

"This could be a model not only for Williamsburg and James City County," noted Tingle, "but for other communities to say, ‘Wow!  How can we do this?'"