The Henry County Board of Supervisors appropriated $390,000 from its general fund balance to demolish 39 unsafe structures throughout the county during its meeting Tuesday, July 24.
Enforcement actions will also be taken on other properties in need of remediation.
Chairman Jim Adams, of the Blackberry District, said the board has heard loud and clear from residents that blighted and unkempt properties are a concern, and were highlighted in the results of a recent survey.
The action taken Tuesday “shows that we’re not just listening, but we’re doing the legwork to respond. While the board has long recognized these issues, the feedback we received through the comprehensive planning process helped reinforce the need to prioritize this effort and commit the necessary resources. We approached this carefully, following the proper process and respecting property rights, to ensure we’re making a decision that benefits the entire community,” Adams said.
Of the 39 properties to be demolished, 17 are in Vice Chairman Joe Bryant’s Collinsville District, including the one structure scheduled to be remediated. The estimated total cost in that district is $119,000.
Bryant said getting to this point has been years in the making. Before this effort, only about three blighted houses in his district had been addressed — all in the Villa Heights area.
“It was a big endeavor to get that done. It was so hard to get it done” due to requirements mandating asbestos checks for all houses, Bryant said. “That was very expensive.”
He added that asbestos checks are no longer required for family homes, only for businesses and apartment complexes.
“That opens it up a whole lot easier to get it done,” he said.
Work has already begun on the property at 307 Greyson St. No definite timeline for completion has been announced.
District Breakdown
The funds will address:
- Nine structures in the Horsepasture District: eight will be demolished and one remediated, at an estimated cost of $67,000.
- Five structures demolished and three remediated in the Blackberry District, estimated at $51,000.
- Four structures demolished in the Reed Creek District, $71,000.
- Three structures demolished and three remediated in the Ridgeway District, $46,000.
- Three demolished and one remediated in the Iriswood District, $36,000.
The survey Adams referenced found that about 69% of respondents disagreed with the statement, “Properties in Henry County are well maintained,” according to officials.
In the survey’s open-ended portion, one participant wrote, “Instead of developing new land, how about tearing down the dilapidated buildings and put something new there.”
Another remarked, “It would be good to see empty properties, residential or commercial, either updated to be of use or demolished to clear eyesores.”
Numerous studies highlight the benefits of removing blighted properties. A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that the demolition of abandoned properties in Philadelphia yielded a return of $5 for every $1 invested. When factoring in reductions in violent crime, the return increased to $79.
Another study by Econsult Corporation found that blighted properties reduced the value of nearby properties by 0.4% to 3.5%, according to county officials.
In other business
The board also:
Approved an additional $19,942 in State Asset Forfeiture funds to purchase a 2025 Kawasaki Mule Pro-FXR 1000L all-terrain vehicle for the Sheriff’s Office.
Approved a $45,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services to continue funding a school resource officer at the Career Academy.
Awarded a food supply contract to J.L. Culpepper & Co. for the Henry County Adult Detention Center. The contract does not specify an amount, but the fiscal 2026 budget includes an allocation of $730,000 for this purpose.
Awarded a $155,290 contract to Daniel Builders LLC to renovate four bathrooms on the second floor of the Administration Building.
Awarded a $229,889 contract to J.C. Joyce Trucking & Paving Co. to repave the parking lot at the Henry County Department of Public Safety Training Center.
Awarded a $106,071 contract to Main Micro Technologies Corp. for Microsoft Office 365 licensing as part of the county’s software migration.
Awarded a $207,900 contract to Taylor Enterprise Inc. to build a prototype house for the Villa Heights Housing Project.
Approved a $54,017 appropriation from the Virginia Department of Health’s Return to Locality Fund to be split between Henry County Public Safety and volunteer rescue agencies for training, supplies or equipment.
Approved a categorical transfer of $1.35 million within the Henry County Public Schools budget to fund lighting upgrades and air conditioning for Axton Elementary School’s gym.
Approved a mutual aid agreement with Pittsylvania County for building inspections for 120 days.
Approved an ordinance to provide a one-time 1.5% bonus to employees of the Henry-Martinsville Department of Social Services.
Set a public hearing for Aug. 26 on solar siting agreements with Firebird Solar and Thunderbird Solar.
Appointed Carl Fleming to the Local Finance Board for OPEB Liability, with a term through June 30, 2026.
Approved routine consent agenda items.
Heard reports on delinquent tax collections, highway matters and the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation.
Approved $1,000 for event expenses and $5,000 for upgrades at Rob Lee Park in the Iriswood District.
Supervisor Travis Pruitt, of the Ridgeway District, was absent.
