Auto Recyclers Shifts Gears

The former Reeves Brothers Inc. building in Buena Vista may be getting a new lease on life.

Auto Recyclers, an automobile salvage and recycling company, has entered into a contract with Reeves to purchase the 144,824-square foot building that’s been vacant since the late 1980s. The Winchester-based company plans to make $1 million in improvements to the property over the next five years.

Improvements expected to take place over the next year include refurbishing the 680 linear feet of building frontage that’s visible from Magnolia and Sycamore avenues, cleaning up thc parking lot and landscaping. Over the next five years, a new roof is to be installed, the former manufacturing space is to be gutted and rehabilitated and office areas are to be restored.

PAUL AND MARLA PALMA, (in front, center and right) owners of Auto Recyclers, smile as he signs a performance agreement with the city of Buena Vista that’s expected to bring his company to the former Reeves plant. With himn are (seated) Mayor Harold Kidd and (standing, from left) City Councilmen Buddy Hall, Mike Gibson, Todd Jones and Tommy Keiser.

Auto Recyclers has agreed to make the $1 million worth of improvements over five years in return for a $50,000 loan from the city of Buena Vista and the waiver of certain city fees, such as charges for hookups to public water and sewer. If the company meets the conditions in the prescribed period, the loan is to be forgiven.

After meeting in executive session last Thursday, City Council members had agreed in principle to details of the incentive package. A performance agreement contract is being drafted by City Attomey Brian Kearney.

City Council members, including Buddy Hall, who worked for Reeves for 42 years, were in attendance at the press conference, as was The Rockbridge Partnership, executive director of the Rockbridge Area Economic Development Commission, who’s been working with the Palmas the past 13 months.

Buena Vista Mayor Harold Kidd said there would be a lot of people in town who are happy about seeing the Reeves building put to use and cleaned up. One of the most frequent questions he’s been asked over the years, he said, is, “What are you going to do with the Reeves building?”

Hall remarked that he could remember when the Reeves plant was a bustling enterprise in the early 1970s, with 600 employees. The building has been vacant for 17 years.

Palma credited Kleppinger, Buena Vista City Council, Reeves and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality with helping to bring about the deal.

“They’ve all been very helpful. They wanted to see this building reused,” said Palma.

He had particular praise for Kleppinger’s perseverance, noting that the economic development director continued to work with him after plans for the Stillwater building fell through. Those plans were scuttled because of concerns about potential liability over environmental contamination of the site.

While there may be some environmental issues with the Reeves site, “We feel we have a manageable situation,” said Kleppinger. He said he and Palma have discussed those issues with DEQ officials.

Auto Recyclers is in the business of taking used vehicles and stripping them down for resalable or recyclable parts. The company also buys and sells scrap metal.

Having gotten to know Paul and Marla Palma well over the last 13 months, it’s become crystal clear to me that they are the right people to tackle the Reeves Brothers property,” said Kleppinger.

“They are determined entrepreneurs and pay very close attention to detail in everything they do,” he continued. “Paul even uses an edger to trim the grass along the city sidewalk next to his building in Winchester, so I know that the Reeves building will be rehabilitated in a first-class manner.”

An exact timetable for completing the purchase, fixing up the building and moving into it has not been determined. The earliest date for the closing on the purchase of the property is Oct. 1, Palma said. If he can’t move in before cold weather sets in, he said, he’s probably looking at opening the new facility next spring.