Could be built in Isle of Wight’s intermodal park

By Diana McFarland

Managing editor

The Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice is eyeing Isle of Wight County’s intermodal park as a possible site for a future juvenile residential rehabilitation center, according to Isle of Wight Assistant County Administrator Don Robertson. 

The center, which would serve youthful offenders, would be a full-service facility offering educational, athletic, vocational, medical and counseling services and would be the first of its kind in Virginia, said Robertson.

The model is conceptually very different from what the state now provides for juvenile offenders, he said. {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

The center, if completed, would also provide 240 jobs in the county, said Robertson, adding that’s one reason Isle of Wight is interested in it. 

The property being considered is located in phase III of the intermodal park, off Route 258, said Robertson. 

Robertson said there is no set timeline yet and funding depends on the General Assembly.

“Now it’s wait and see to what happens with their funding,” he said. 

Efforts to reach the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice were unsuccessful. 

The Windsor Town Council had received information about the center, which was discussed in a Feb. 13 closed session.

Windsor Town Manager Michael Stallings said the plans were discussed in closed session because it was still prospective and in the negotiation phase. 

Town Council Walter Bernacki asked about the facility in open session, but was told the information wasn’t public yet. 

Robertson said the town was notified simply to let them know there were discussions going on about the facility.  {/mprestriction}