By Jessica Dillon
What was meant to be a model for affordable housing in Martinsville has left some Five Points residents dealing with flooding, foundation cracks, and ongoing concerns about traffic safety while they wait for the city to complete work.
Located at the five-way intersection of Fayette Street, Memorial Boulevard South, and West Church Street, Five Points was developed as part of an effort to quickly create affordable homes and attract new residents.
The project was a partnership with the City of Martinsville, USDA-Rural Development, Nationwide Homes, Silverpoint Homes, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., United Way of Henry County & Martinsville, and a grant from Virginia Housing passed through the Harvest Foundation.
When the project launched in late 2020, the neighborhood was slated to include new townhomes and cottages priced between $125,000 and $155,000. By May, all homes had been sold, according to the city.
But residents say problems emerged early. The neighborhood was originally planned to include an apartment complex, but that portion was later scrapped, altering how the stormwater system was designed. Several homes were also built just a few feet from the roadway.
That proximity, residents said, has led to cracks in foundations and interior walls caused by vibrations from tractor-trailers traveling through the area. The speed limit is posted at 35 mph — typical for a commercial zone — rather than the 25 mph standard for residential streets.
In one incident, a vehicle veered off Church Street and struck the house closest to Massey Street, destroying a light pole and causing minor damage. A neighbor said the homeowner has struggled to get the damage covered.
Jay Brimmer, a resident who outlined several concerns during an October City Council meeting, said many issues remain unresolved, despite communication with city officials.
“They really haven’t done anything. They did do some markings,” Brimmer said, adding that while winter weather may have delayed improvements, “nothing has been done about the tractor-trailer trucks, the speeding now.”
Interim City Manager Rob Fincher said construction work stalled because “Virginia Natural Gas Company needs to move a pipe,” but said progress is continuing.
Fincher said he has been working on a speed study and has shared it with residents. Although the city received state approval to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph, Brimmer said residents doubt the change will be effective.
“That is not doing anything. They don’t pay attention to the 30 miles sign. Reducing it to 25 is not going to stop the speeders,” Brimmer said. “Speeders don’t even care about the speed detection system. And I have it on camera, I have videotape, so many blue lights are going off.”
Fincher said signage reflecting the reduced speed limit will be installed, along with a public information campaign and increased police monitoring. Rumble strips were also considered but rejected near the homes due to added noise.
“When we consulted with some of the people from” the Virginia Department of Transportation, “they said it will increase sound,” Fincher said. Placement farther from homes is still being considered.
“The noise is coming from tractor-trailers gearing down due to having to go up a hill coming off of the west end light,” Fincher said. “It is a lot. That road is State Route 457, one of the VDOT-controlled roads. We’ve been consulting with VDOT about what some of our options are. They worked with us really well to get the speed limit reduced. It’s unfortunate that we have a residential neighborhood on a major thoroughfare.”
Brimmer said residents feel trapped.
“We can’t have a minute of peace since we feel like we were conned into this place,” he said. Residents have discussed a sound wall, but Brimmer said it would need to be tall enough to deflect noise — and would sit close to front doors. “Then we’re just going to be trapped to where we are looking at a wall,” he said.
Fincher said the city offered residents a fencing option that would waive permitting fees for a six-foot fence, but acknowledged drawbacks.
“It makes it kind of difficult, because it’s their front porch,” Fincher said, adding that fencing could also block sunlight. “You wouldn’t want to get anything too big there.”
Residents also say their properties are taxed at commercial rates due to zoning, increasing annual tax bills and creating hardship for some elderly and disabled homeowners. At least one resident has listed their home for sale.
Commissioner of the Revenue Ruth Easley said zoning classifications are “complicated,” but said residents were not taxed at a higher rate.
A property owner who requested anonymity said expectations were different when the homes were purchased.
“When we first moved down here, we were told — and this is when my dad bought the house — they were still finishing up this house,” the resident said. “They said, ‘We’re going to fix the road, put storm drainage in, make sure everything looks nice, and we might even put a little park down there for the kids.’”
She said a disabled neighbor regularly has to wade through standing water after heavy rain.
“When she parks her car, it’s like literally the wheels are just deep in water,” she said.
Standing water also threatens nearby homes, she said. “It can seep into our crawl space and could cause mold. It could cause structural damage.”
She said she contacted the Harvest Foundation and was told funding existed to complete infrastructure work.
“The man from the Harvest Foundation specifically said the money was there to finish everything — the road, the drain system,” she said. “But apparently, they haven’t done it.”
Fincher said he reviewed development records and grant documentation.
“I have receipts and transactions dating back to 2021,” he said. “All grant funds were completely used and well documented.”
Fincher said the stormwater issue arose after homes were completed but before roadwork finished.
“When they were looking to complete the paving,” the Department of Environmental Quality “stepped in and said that the originally approved plan was no longer sufficient, so changes had to be made,” he said. “That’s why we are now using city stormwater funds to bring it up to compliance.”
Further development planned across Church Street has been canceled, a decision residents said was partly tied to noise concerns.
While the city wants to do what it can to alleviate the concerns, Fincher said there’s only so much it can do.
“As far as what the city can do on private property, we are really kind of limited,” he said.
