History of Fairfax Hall Building
| Postcard dating from approx. 1920 showing Fairfax Hall before remodeling. Click image to see enlarged images of Fairfax Hall and Brandon Hotel. |
Built in 1890 as the Brandon Hotel, this century-old
building is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Located on a hillside overlooking
the city of Waynesboro, the Brandon Hotel was a
grand Queen Anne style railroad hotel able to
accommodate 200 guests.
In 1913, the Brandon Hotel was converted into the
Brandon Institute, a small coeducational college. In
1920, its name and use changed again to Fairfax
Hall, a finishing school for women.
The school closed its doors in May 1975. Until
1995, the Commonwealth of Virginia's Department
of Corrections leased the building as an academy
for staff development.
building is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Located on a hillside overlooking
the city of Waynesboro, the Brandon Hotel was a
grand Queen Anne style railroad hotel able to
accommodate 200 guests.
In 1913, the Brandon Hotel was converted into the
Brandon Institute, a small coeducational college. In
1920, its name and use changed again to Fairfax
Hall, a finishing school for women.
The school closed its doors in May 1975. Until
1995, the Commonwealth of Virginia's Department
of Corrections leased the building as an academy
for staff development.
|
Registry of National Historic Places listing
Fairfax Hall ** (added 1982 - Building - #82004609)
Also known as Brandon Hotel; Fairfax Hall School
Winchester Ave., Waynesboro (Independent City)
Fairfax Hall ** (added 1982 - Building - #82004609)
Also known as Brandon Hotel; Fairfax Hall School
Winchester Ave., Waynesboro (Independent City)
The building was complete renovated and remodeled by Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority
under the care of Bill Hausrath from 1998 to 2001 opening as low to middle income elderly housing. A history
of the renovation is available at http://www.fairfaxhall.net/ourhistory.html including current images and
description of the residences or read the article at the bottom of this page.
under the care of Bill Hausrath from 1998 to 2001 opening as low to middle income elderly housing. A history
of the renovation is available at http://www.fairfaxhall.net/ourhistory.html including current images and
description of the residences or read the article at the bottom of this page.
Excerpt from article on the remodeling:
Winning Deals, Five examples of how to pull it off
Virginia Business Online, June 2001
Virginia Business Online Article Location
Fairfax Hall: Waynesboro
History saved as Fairfax Hall gains new life as elderly housing
Fairfax Hall has survived a bumpy ride, not to mention a colorful history. After first opening its doors as the
Brandon Hotel in 1890, it welcomed travelers who rode the train to Waynesboro. Along the way, it became a
girls’ boarding school and training center for the Department of Corrections before sitting vacant and falling
into disrepair.
Today, this 19th-century icon of the city’s railroad and industrial heritage thrives again as a restored housing
complex for the elderly. It was saved from the rails by a developer who saw something worth saving and a
neighborhood who rallied around his vision. The latest incarnation of the historic Victorian structure was
financed with the use of tax credits for historic structures and those serving the elderly, which covered the
building’s purchase and $6 million in repairs. "It certainly has broadened our horizons and given us a different
perspective of what we could do," says Ed Delapp, executive director of the Waynesboro Redevelopment &
Housing Authority.
Fairfax Hall was probably two years from falling apart when developer/broker Bill Hausrath approached the
Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority about buying the property and converting it to senior
housing. The forlorn property suffered from a host of problems: poor maintenance, water damage and
asbestos. The problems had scared off potential buyers who would need deep pockets to upgrade the
original hotel building, its 14 acres and three other buildings. Using it as a hotel again was dubious because
Fairfax Hall sits on a hill on the eastern side of Waynesboro while most of the city’s growth has gone west.
The surrounding area is now more residential, with no major roads nearby and an old landfill not far away.
"The location of the property did not lend itself to a historic hotel," says Hausrath, who marketed the property
unsuccessfully for two local residents who purchased the property at auction in 1996. "Nobody put any money
back into it, so it just suffered from major depreciation."
Hausrath knew that anyone seeking to rehabilitate the property would need to rely on Virginia Historic Tax
Credits. But even that probably wouldn’t be enough. Only by tapping into federal tax credits available to
property owners serving the elderly could the building be saved. "Without those two tax credits it couldn’t
happen," says Hausrath, a broker for Coldwell Banker Commercial, Barger Real Estate.
Not everyone saw something worth saving. Hausrath didn’t receive a warm welcome when he first
approached the city council for $15,000 in seed money. "They couldn’t see that the building could be
something," he says. Hausrath found an unlikely ally in Fairfax Hall’s neighbors. An open house helped
convince them that the historic site probably would be torn down and replaced with small apartment buildings
if nothing was done — and quickly. Two days later, neighbor after neighbor stood to support the project during
a city council meeting, and the city got on board. Besides money, the city helped with rezoning.
Money remained a major problem even with the city’s assistance. The housing authority, which would
purchase the property through its non-profit arm, couldn’t afford the $290,000 price. "We were doing this on a
promise because every step that was required to receive the tax credits was a step that we had to look at
individually," Delapp explains. The architectural firm of Frazier & Associates, which reduced its fees, and First
Virginia Bank came to the rescue by helping to finance the purchase. Getting the historic tax credits remained
cumbersome. Eventually the city received 90 percent of the credits it requested. With the likelihood that the
other 10 percent would be obtained at a later date, the project moved forward.
The new Fairfax Hall opened in January and about 50 percent of its 54 apartments are occupied. Two to three
new residents continue to move in weekly. The project continues to receive strong support from the
community with more than 600 people attending an open house in March. "It’s like stepping back in time,"
says Hausrath. The 2,800-square- foot Victorian dining room with a large glassed-in porch can host wedding
receptions. A 1,200-square-foot lobby, corridors, and porches create an area large enough for parties of up to
300. Reproduced light fixtures add a vintage touch to the apartments, which are fully modernized with each
unit having its own kitchen.
The restoration of Fairfax Hall, with its striking cupola towering five stories, has inspired the eastern side of
Waynesboro and given the area and city an economic boost.
Winning Deals, Five examples of how to pull it off
Virginia Business Online, June 2001
Virginia Business Online Article Location
Fairfax Hall: Waynesboro
History saved as Fairfax Hall gains new life as elderly housing
Fairfax Hall has survived a bumpy ride, not to mention a colorful history. After first opening its doors as the
Brandon Hotel in 1890, it welcomed travelers who rode the train to Waynesboro. Along the way, it became a
girls’ boarding school and training center for the Department of Corrections before sitting vacant and falling
into disrepair.
Today, this 19th-century icon of the city’s railroad and industrial heritage thrives again as a restored housing
complex for the elderly. It was saved from the rails by a developer who saw something worth saving and a
neighborhood who rallied around his vision. The latest incarnation of the historic Victorian structure was
financed with the use of tax credits for historic structures and those serving the elderly, which covered the
building’s purchase and $6 million in repairs. "It certainly has broadened our horizons and given us a different
perspective of what we could do," says Ed Delapp, executive director of the Waynesboro Redevelopment &
Housing Authority.
Fairfax Hall was probably two years from falling apart when developer/broker Bill Hausrath approached the
Waynesboro Redevelopment and Housing Authority about buying the property and converting it to senior
housing. The forlorn property suffered from a host of problems: poor maintenance, water damage and
asbestos. The problems had scared off potential buyers who would need deep pockets to upgrade the
original hotel building, its 14 acres and three other buildings. Using it as a hotel again was dubious because
Fairfax Hall sits on a hill on the eastern side of Waynesboro while most of the city’s growth has gone west.
The surrounding area is now more residential, with no major roads nearby and an old landfill not far away.
"The location of the property did not lend itself to a historic hotel," says Hausrath, who marketed the property
unsuccessfully for two local residents who purchased the property at auction in 1996. "Nobody put any money
back into it, so it just suffered from major depreciation."
Hausrath knew that anyone seeking to rehabilitate the property would need to rely on Virginia Historic Tax
Credits. But even that probably wouldn’t be enough. Only by tapping into federal tax credits available to
property owners serving the elderly could the building be saved. "Without those two tax credits it couldn’t
happen," says Hausrath, a broker for Coldwell Banker Commercial, Barger Real Estate.
Not everyone saw something worth saving. Hausrath didn’t receive a warm welcome when he first
approached the city council for $15,000 in seed money. "They couldn’t see that the building could be
something," he says. Hausrath found an unlikely ally in Fairfax Hall’s neighbors. An open house helped
convince them that the historic site probably would be torn down and replaced with small apartment buildings
if nothing was done — and quickly. Two days later, neighbor after neighbor stood to support the project during
a city council meeting, and the city got on board. Besides money, the city helped with rezoning.
Money remained a major problem even with the city’s assistance. The housing authority, which would
purchase the property through its non-profit arm, couldn’t afford the $290,000 price. "We were doing this on a
promise because every step that was required to receive the tax credits was a step that we had to look at
individually," Delapp explains. The architectural firm of Frazier & Associates, which reduced its fees, and First
Virginia Bank came to the rescue by helping to finance the purchase. Getting the historic tax credits remained
cumbersome. Eventually the city received 90 percent of the credits it requested. With the likelihood that the
other 10 percent would be obtained at a later date, the project moved forward.
The new Fairfax Hall opened in January and about 50 percent of its 54 apartments are occupied. Two to three
new residents continue to move in weekly. The project continues to receive strong support from the
community with more than 600 people attending an open house in March. "It’s like stepping back in time,"
says Hausrath. The 2,800-square- foot Victorian dining room with a large glassed-in porch can host wedding
receptions. A 1,200-square-foot lobby, corridors, and porches create an area large enough for parties of up to
300. Reproduced light fixtures add a vintage touch to the apartments, which are fully modernized with each
unit having its own kitchen.
The restoration of Fairfax Hall, with its striking cupola towering five stories, has inspired the eastern side of
Waynesboro and given the area and city an economic boost.
| Site Administration: Suggestions for the site should be sent to webmaster@fairfaxhall.com |
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