Former Jones Memorial Library Restoration

Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: March 27, 2008

The new owner of the former Jones Memorial Library plans to restore the building after Lynchburg Circuit Court Judge Leyburn Mosby Jr. ruled Wednesday that he could purchase the property.

Dennis A. Gibbs, of Castro Valley, Calif., is buying the building, which Mosby ruled would no longer have any usage restrictions in a hearing.

Previously, the building could only be used for cultural or educational purposes, and any sale required court approval.

However, the location, which currently houses Christ College, will continue to be known as the George M. Jones Building, Mosby ruled, to protect the original intent of a 1904 trust that established the former library.

“It’s a beautiful building,” Mosby said. “Nobody wants to buy it for that function anymore.”

He said the site’s location in a historic district adds an extra level of protection.

“I think he’s capable of doing what’s necessary to protect the building,” Mosby said of Gibbs.

Gary Case, Gibbs’ real-estate agent, said they haven’t yet made formal plans, but will likely restore the building, then determine a suitable usage.

Gibbs, who already owns the Villa Maria estate and other key properties in downtown Lynchburg, is purchasing the real estate as investments that he feels he could fix up, Case said.

“Then we look to either lease them or resell them,” Case said.

Gibbs declined to comment, referring all questions to Case.

Gibbs and his wife, Laurie, also own properties on 10th Street, 12th Street, Main Street, Church Street and Harrison Street, plus the Villa Maria estate on Rivermont Avenue.

Last year, the couple, under Gibbs-Lynchburg One LLC, purchased a package of Fifth Street-area properties that formerly were home to the Adams Motor Co. car dealership for $925,000.

The asking price for the George M. Jones building was $895,000 when listed about a year ago.

The proposed 2007 assessed value of the building and its land is $431,200, according to city records.

The George M. Jones Building currently is owned by the Patrick Henry Institute, which rents space to Christ College and other schools.

Christ College likely would have 60 days to vacate after the sale closes, said Kevin Clauson, president of both the college and the Patrick Henry Institute. That would allow the school to hold its final local graduation ceremony at the location in May.

After that, the school will move to Covenant Presbyterian Church, in a suburb north of Atlanta, Clauson said.

The private Christian school of about 15 students has been at the current location since 1996.

The institute spent about $100,000 on cosmetic restorations in the building, Clauson said, but couldn’t keep up with the larger expenses.