Dear
Diocesan Family,
On behalf of
the Talbot Hall Property Committee, Executive Board and Standing Committee, I
am pleased to announce that the Diocese of Southern Virginia has entered into a
contract for the sale of the Talbot Hall property. Subject to normal
commercial contingencies, after a due diligence period, the property will be
sold to Talbot Hall West, LLC.
This contract addresses all of
the considerations discussed in the 2012 Council Resolution which commended the
sale:
- The historic Talbot Hall Manor House will be preserved.
- The environment will be respected.
- The property will be brought into conformity with the existing use of the Talbot Park neighborhood.
- The diocesan offices will be improved and moved to a more accessible location.
- Additional funds will become available to support the mission and ministry of the diocese.
Talbot Hall West is an ideal purchaser. The
group is composed of well-known Norfolk people who will be building their own
single-family dwellings. In short, the property is not being sold to a
developer who would seek high density housing, or to maximize profits, but
rather to a group of friends who intend to make the property their home.
I am tremendously
grateful for the assistance of the Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate Group,
and especially for the personal interest that Mr. Lindsay has himself taken in
assuring the preservation of the historic Manor House. Their excellent
work has led us to an outcome which maximizes the benefit to the diocese, the
neighborhood, the environment and the historic house.
I also want
to thank all of the people who have offered their time to bring us thus far:
the members of the Talbot Hall Committee, the Conveyance Committee and the
Relocation Committee, who have dedicated their work in memory of their friend
and former chair, Bud Schoolar. I am also deeply thankful for the generosity of
the Talbot family, who made the gracious gift of Talbot Hall many years ago.
Within the
next few months, the diocesan Relocation Committee will be making its final
recommendations regarding a new home for the diocesan staff. The committee is narrowing down their
recommendations on locations that are both appropriate and well-suited to the
needs of our diocesan mission. Because of their hard work, I am confident that
we will be in a new diocesan office well before the close of the sale.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev.
Herman Hollerith IV
