After two years of preparation, Pickett County has hired an architectural firm to oversee the conversion of the old Byrdstown Methodist Church building into a new Byrdstown Community Center.
Pickett County Executive Stephen Bilbrey said the firm will oversee the project. Bilbrey said the next step is to get the county’s building committee with the architectural firm to see what work needs to be done.
“I mean, the church is in pretty good shape,” Bilbrey said. “I mean, it was a church up until they closed it, so it is ADA compliant with the restrooms, of that nature, so that won’t have to be done, but just some painting, remodeling, and adding some offices in there.”
Bilbrey said the county is also planning to add a wing to the building to create more space for county offices.
Bilbrey said getting the project started took longer than expected as the county was waiting to receive an estimated $2 million grant to help pay for the project.
“We got word, I guess in January of 2025, that we had been awarded this grant, and so then we had to wait on the state to send us up the actual contract to sign,” Bilbrey said. “We got that contract, I guess, April maybe, and then we had to send that back to the state, and then I guess it was probably middle to the end of May that we got a letter that we could proceed.”
Bilbrey said he does not know an exact timeline for when the project will be ready for bid. Bilbrey did say he would like to start the remodel sooner rather than later.
“We have a lot of the seniors, and a lot of folks in the community are always asking, is it gonna happen?” Bilbrey said. “When are we going to get started? And like I said, you know, sometimes the wheels of government move a little slow, but I do think now it will be a reality, and I want to see it happen just as soon as we possibly can.”
Bilbrey said the county’s budget for the project is $2.2 million. Bilbrey said he hopes that the project will come in under budget.
