Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 7:00 am
A Waynesboro satellite facility for the Virginia Museum of Natural History could start construction within three years. That was the word Monday night from museum director Dr. Joe Keiper, who presented a report to the Waynesboro city council, along with City Economic Development Director Greg Hitchin.
“We can tell a story here that you can’t tell anywhere else,” Keiper said. “Waynesboro and the surrounding region is an important part of the state. From an interpretive standpoint, it’s very unique.”
The museum operates in the city of Martinsville, where on average 30,000 visitors came in over the last three years. A report done by the Richmond-based Chumura Economics and Analysis found that a Waynesboro museum would more than double those numbers, bringing in an estimated 65,582 people. Part of the reason for that difference is the population in each area. Martinsville and Henry County have a combined population of 67,972. Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County combine for 119,705.
Keiper told the council while his group is proud of the attendance they get in Martinsville, he’s come to recognize that’s not where they have the most impact.
“It’s our traveling exhibits and displays, when we reach out to other areas of the state, that’s where our impact is,” Keiper said. “If we have a community that’s interested in working with us, we know we can broaden our impact. This particular opportunity in Waynesboro is critical for us to meet that need.”
The Waynesboro museum, according to the study released in August, would serve a total of eleven cities, including Waynesboro, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Buena Vista and Charlottesville, along with the counties of Albemarle, Augusta, Nelson, Rockingham and Rockbridge.
While the project is supported by Keiper, it still has one more hurdle to cross before it becomes official. The museum’s board of trustees has to officially vote to approve the project, a discussion which will start on Wednesday of this week, when the group meets in Roanoke.
“We’re working with our board of trustees,” Keiper said. “They’re the ones that drive the vision and the strategy of the museum.”
In addition to the Roanoke meeting, Keiper added that he planned to bring the group up to visit Waynesboro and tour the area.
Next steps
If the board of trustees signs off, Keiper said the next step would be to look at creating a schematic design of what the museum would look like.
“This is a process where we determine exactly what services we will provide, the opportunities
Chmura also projected revenues and expenses for a Waynesboro site, finding that the facility would likely be profitable in its first year. The report planned admission costs at $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and college students and $3 for children ages 3 to 18. From admissions alone, the Waynesboro site would be expected to bring in $196,746 its first year, combined with an expected $70,000 in museum memberships and $57,500 in donations. That would bring total revenues to $324,246, with payroll and other expenses taking out $242,250, leaving a net profit of $81,996.
In terms of size, the museum would compare to the Danville Science Center, with the study suggesting a building of approximately 21,850 square feet, including 10,000 square feet of exhibit space. The remaining space would be used for research, education purposes and offices.
The study also made three recommendations as to potential sites for the museum. The first was in downtown Waynesboro, either at 320 West Main Street or using the Mill at South River. The second location was at the Waynesboro Industrial Park, just off Exit 96 from Interstate 64 and the third was on Lew Dewitt Boulevard near Zeus Digital Theater.
Council members said they liked what they saw. Councilman Jeff Freeman said he toured the Martinsville museum, adding that it was a beautiful, first class facility.
“This is an exciting opportunity,” Vice Mayor Tim Williams added. “Waynesboro is poised for these kind of ventures.”