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The indefinite closure of the Fairfax County Historic Courthouse has prompted county leaders to examine maintenance needs across more than 200 government buildings.

Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity asked county staff on Feb. 17 to provide information about the condition of the government’s facilities. He argued that maintenance of older buildings constructed from the 1960s through the 1980s has often been postponed while new projects moved forward.

Herrity cited reports from employees and residents about deteriorating recreation centers, heating and air-conditioning failures, leaks and mold. He placed particular emphasis on the historic courthouse and other facilities in the judicial complex in Fairfax City.

Circuit Court Chief Judge Penney Azcarate closed the historic courthouse at 4110 Chain Bridge Road indefinitely on Dec. 18, 2025, after an HVAC breakdown created health and safety concerns. Its historic records center and other programs have been relocated while repairs are pending.

In a Jan. 13 letter to supervisors, Azcarate said worsening infrastructure problems also affected the main courthouse and jail. During the preceding 18 months, the judicial complex experienced recurring rodent infestations, sewage and water leaks, power failures, elevator outages and mold in holding cells at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Temperature and humidity fluctuations have also threatened courtroom technology. According to Azcarate, the problems caused building and courtroom closures, interrupted court proceedings, displaced employees, damaged equipment and created repeated accessibility concerns.

She requested an independent, comprehensive inspection of the complex and funding for immediate repairs and longer-term improvements.

The Fairfax County History Commission separately urged Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay to renovate and preserve the historic courthouse without waiting for the judicial complex’s long-planned redevelopment.

Acting commission chair Subhi Mehdi said in a Jan. 15 letter that the closure had suspended scholarly research and events planned for the nation’s 250th anniversary. He called on the county to protect the historic records and preserve what he described as the county’s “historic jewel.”

Herrity said the courthouse problems were especially disappointing during the semiquincentennial year because officials had known about the need for a replacement HVAC system and other repairs since consultant WRA completed a study in 2019.

He proposed creating a facilities renovation queue based largely on need, similar to the system used by Fairfax County Public Schools.

Other supervisors did not object to receiving the requested information. County Executive Bryan Hill said the government already maintains a list of facility needs and would provide it.

Herrity welcomed the substantial renovation funding included in Hill’s proposed fiscal 2027 budget and praised county maintenance employees. He said they were working every day with renovations that were often long overdue.

McKay disputed some of Herrity’s descriptions but agreed the requested information could support broader discussions about county facilities.

Hill said the separate closure of the Penning Building was not caused by deferred maintenance. He attributed it to equipment that failed well before the end of its expected lifespan.

The human-services building at 12011 Government Center Parkway closed Feb. 6 after flooding caused by a broken water line. It remained closed when supervisors met Feb. 17.

Hill said the county was still assessing the building. Fairfax County is responsible for 214 facilities, he noted, along with the maintenance challenges they present.

Supervisors remember Verdia Haywood

During the same meeting, supervisors honored Verdia Haywood, the county’s longtime deputy county executive for human services. Haywood died Feb. 6 at age 77.

McKay called him a towering figure in human services whose leadership was grounded in compassion for people relying on county programs.

A Mississippi native, Haywood joined Fairfax County government in 1978 as an assistant to the county executive. He became deputy county executive for human services in 1981 and remained in that position until retiring in January 2010.

Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk credited Haywood with making services more efficient and accessible. Haywood helped consolidate the county’s numerous human-services programs into a structure that Lusk said remains effective today.

McKay also remembered the optimism and distinctive laugh Haywood brought to difficult discussions.

Beyond county government, Haywood participated in numerous community organizations and served as board chair of the Northern Virginia Health Foundation. Community tributes described him as an honest, caring public servant devoted to people who needed assistance most.

Haywood is survived by his wife, Billie, whom he married in 1974, along with brothers and other extended family members. A memorial service was held Feb. 17, and memorial donations were directed to Leadership Fairfax in his honor.