Historic Triangle Messmer Community Services Center is now CDR’s new home!
Child Development Resources (CDR) and The Community Services Coalition (CSC) have reached agreement for CDR to acquire control of the Historic Triangle Messmer Community Services Center located at 312 Waller Mill Road in York County.
The CSC was established in 1992 to provide space for non-profit agencies and the general public for community activities. CDR was established in 1965 and serves families of children with developmental delays, disabilities, and other risk factors, as well as training for early childhood professionals.
“The location will allow CDR to serve families and early childhood professionals more efficiently, with lower per-child service costs, by eventuallybringing all of our programs, now scattered among five different locations, under one roof at a location that is central to our service area,” said Paul Scott, CDR Executive Director. He added that “the site, which is located off of Bypass Road, sits on an existing WATA bus route, which will allow families, staff and volunteers easier access to our on-site services.Leigh Houghland, Chair of CDR, added that “this is an important step in CDR’s future and fits well into CDR’s five-year strategic plan; we are excited about bringing this long-term vision to fruition.”
April Waltrip, Chair of the CSC, relates that “it was important to the Board to assure this wonderful community asset continues to serve the Greater Williamsburg area to its maximum capacity.”
CDR has been seeking to establish a new location for its Early Head Start First Steps Child Development Centers which are now split between classrooms at The Griffin-Yeates Center in York County and in a portion of the 900 Building at Lafayette High School in James City County.
The building and adjacent land will be purchased by Eddie and Cherry Robinson through the Robinson Community Resources Partnership for CDR’s exclusive use. A generous lead gift to CDR to support the project and spearhead a capital campaign was made in late 2020 by Dr. Alex Kaz and the Kaz Family Foundation of Williamsburg. Dr. Kaz expressed deep pride in partnering with CDR to move this project forward, leverage additional support, and, ultimately, assure that families and children in the Williamsburg community have convenient access to critical programs offered by CDR for years to come.
FISH will remain at the site, and arrangements are being made with the other existing tenant partners through the transition.
With the help of Via Design Architects, PC, and David Nice Builders, CDR expects to start work shortly to substantially renovate the building and site, with the goal of a June 2022 completion date.
Learn more about CDR and what they do for children in this area.
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