New Beginnings For AB Campus

In a much-anticipated update on the future of the former Alderson Broaddus University campus, Craig Phillips, the recent purchaser of the property, attended the Chamber of Commerce board meeting last Wednesday to share his vision for the site. The property, acquired through the newly formed LLC, aptly named Battlers Knob, pays homage to the nickname of Alderson Broaddus athletics.

Addressing the community, Phillips expressed his commitment to integrating the property into the local fabric. "It needs to become a part of the community," he stated, highlighting the vast opportunities he envisions for the site. Joining him at the meeting was his daughter, Cherri Sturm, the current Mayor of Belington, who will be overseeing the property's development.

Dispelling rumors right from the start, Phillips and Sturm clarified that any talk of a casino, detention center, rehab facility, or prison on the site had no basis in reality. They also stated that as of now, local coal companies have not expressed any interest in using any parts of the property. They then proceeded to outline the plans already in progress.

Phillips revealed that several schools had approached him regarding purchasing medical program equipment, but he emphasized that none of it is currently for sale. Instead, he expressed hope that a school might establish a satellite site for their PA or nursing program on the former AB campus. Confirming ongoing discussions with at least one educational institution in regards to possible satellite site, he highlighted AB's rich history of medical programs and emphasized the priority of maintaining some form of educational facility.

Turning to athletic facilities, Phillips reiterated that despite offers, equipment and facilities were not available for sale at this time. However, a semi-pro football league has expressed interest in using the facilities for practice and exhibition games.

Regarding the library, the plan is to transform it into the Alderson Broaddus Museum, housing artifacts from across the campus for visitors and alumni. Additional plans include hosting stand-up comedians and other events at the Funkhouser Auditorium, setting up a nursing home at the former Ericksson Alumni Center (several companies have already reached out about this), using various buildings for retreats and conferences, and exploring the possibility of NECCO utilizing dorms as a foster care group home for 16 to 21-year-olds, who have graduated from high school but still need help transitioning into adulthood.

Phillips and Sturm acknowledged the substantial work required for the property's maintenance and development. While five buildings have functioning heat and electricity, they rated the overall condition of the property a solid seven on a scale of one to ten.

Acknowledging the challenges, they expressed a desire to generate enough revenue quickly to cover utility costs and initial maintenance expenses, with a long-term commitment to collaborative development with the community.

As the journey of revitalizing the AB campus unfolds, further updates will be shared with the community, marking the beginning of the first chapter for Battlers Knob.