Va. Beach OKs $17M election headquarters
VIRGINIA BEACH — The City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to spend $17.25 million on a commercial building near Mount Trashmore that will house Virginia Beach’s new election headquarters.
Current election operations are spread out across multiple locations and will be consolidated in the new building. The move will take place after the November election.
The building, at 500 Studio Drive, is in Lakeview Corporate Park near the intersection of Holland Road and S. Independence Boulevard. It would be used for elections operations, training for election officials, ballot processing and secure storage for election technology and ballots.
“Moving the ballots from four different locations to a secure location is a logistical nightmare and has been for several years,” Tina Sinnen, clerk of the Circuit Court, told the council before the vote.
It will cost $14.25 million to purchase the property, and $3 million to renovate it into the new Office of Voter Registration and Election Operations.
The council agreed to use $3.2 million from the General Fund; $11.5 million from the General Fund debt service; and $2.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. Councilman Worth Remick, a commercial real estate adviser, said the price tag was high but that he supported the purchase because it’s needed.
“$14.25 million is a lot of money, but protecting our voting rights in our system does rise to the level of public safety and core government service,” Remick said.
The Studio Drive facility is 65,700 square feet and has office and warehouse space.
L.J. Hansen, director of Public Works, said the building fit all of the city’s desired parameters, including adequate parking and close proximity to a bus route.