Danville is seeking a $1 million grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to address blighted properties in the city. The city council will consider an item authorizing the grant application at its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
The planning division of Danville’s Department of Community Development would submit the grant. If it receives the requested state funds, the city would target the Five Forks area of Danville for blight removal.
Five Forks is part of the Old West End neighborhood in Danville, specifically at the intersection of Pine Street, Jefferson Street, and Jefferson Avenue and including Loyal Street.
With both the Old West End and the nearby River District seeing considerable success in revitalization efforts in recent years, the city is now devoting attention to Five Forks.
“This funding is crucial to support the Five Forks Project,” said the staff report for this item in the meeting’s agenda packet. “The Five Forks Project aims to transform the 400 block of Jefferson Street in the Old West End neighborhood which is adjacent to the River District and heavily affected by blight.”
When this project is finished, the 400 block of Jefferson will have over 9,000 square feet of versatile mixed-use space, the staff report says, including commercial areas for a restaurant, office spaces and residential units.
The funding would come through the Industrial Revitalization Grant Fund Program, which is administered by the state’s housing and community development department.
The program focuses on funding “shovel-ready projects that can drive private investment and create jobs in distressed areas,” according to the staff report.
The areas are chosen as part of broader economic development or community revitalization efforts, it says.
City staff recommends that council authorize the submission of a grant application for this project.
The regular city council meeting will be followed by a work session.
Also in Danville this week, the board of zoning appeals will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday. In Pittsylvania County, the board of supervisors will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and the county Industrial Development Authority will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
