Cape Charles Town Council approves 7 Strawberry Street Lease for downtown public restrooms

CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Cape Charles Town Council has approved the lease of 7 Strawberry Street as the location for new downtown public restrooms, opting to lease and retrofit an existing renovated building rather than pursue new construction.

The approved plan utilizes the front portion of the building, totaling approximately 945 square feet, and includes four fully ADA-compliant restrooms, a custodian’s closet, and a small lounge area. Monthly rent is set at $3.80 per square foot, with a 10-year lease cost totaling approximately $492,900.

Council also capped construction costs at $300,000 and authorized the use of $5,100 from an existing ADA parking project to help offset expenses.

Town staff recommended the 7 Strawberry Street option as the most practical and cost-effective choice among the alternatives considered. According to staff, the size and layout of the space allow all four restrooms to meet ADA standards while also accommodating operational needs such as storage and staff space. The lease rate was also described as significantly more favorable on a per-square-foot basis compared to other options.

Leasing the building is expected to allow for faster delivery of the restrooms at a more predictable cost than new construction. Staff also noted that using an existing renovated structure avoids prematurely limiting future development of the nearby railroad property.

While the 10-year lease represents a substantial investment—roughly half the estimated cost of constructing a town-owned restroom facility—staff emphasized that long-term costs even out. Because build-out expenses are fully amortized during the first lease term, a second 10-year term is projected to cost approximately $276,869. Over a 20-year period, total leasing costs would be comparable to owning and maintaining a newly constructed building.

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Wayne Creed

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