In the northern part of the town of Pulaski sits 170 acres of mostly wooded land.
Pulaski recently acquired this land, which is one of the largest undeveloped sites within town limits. Located off the U.S. 11 corridor, it’s surrounded by roads, houses and businesses; its immediate neighbors include a hospital and a church.
Now the town is asking itself: What should we do with it?
“It’s absolutely an opportunity that we have to make a big change in the economy in Pulaski,” said Town Manager Todd Day.
Is that space best suited for residential development? Commercial? Some combination of uses?
Through April 16, the town government is accepting proposals from architectural, engineering and planning firms. Those companies aren’t submitting finished plans but rather information about themselves, so the town can decide who is best equipped to come up with a plan for the property — essentially a job application.
Once a firm is selected, coming up with a master plan will likely take 18 months to two years, Day said.
While the eventual use of the land has yet to be decided, Day said he would like the conversation to include the possibility of building more housing.
Pulaski is a town of approximately 9,000 people in Southwest Virginia. As in many other communities, housing is in short supply, and homes that go on the market sell quickly, Day said.
“I know housing is in heavy demand in this area,” he said.
There’s a lot of “raw land” in and around the town of Pulaski, Day said, but this site is surrounded by good roads and infrastructure.
“Long story short, it’s really kind of a wide-open development opportunity for Pulaski,” he said.
In various spots, the property’s borders reach U.S. 11/Lee Highway, Memorial Drive and Peppers Ferry Road. It’s next to LewisGale Hospital Pulaski.
LewisGale Hospital Pulaski CEO Sean Pressman said in a statement that the hospital is “encouraged by the health and growth of our community, and we look forward to serving the increased needs of a growing population.”
“A strong community with places for our neighbors to shop, live, and play are critical to a well-rounded, healthy life,” Pressman said.
The 170-acre total comes from approximately 155 acres that the town purchased from West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice in December for $1.2 million, plus about another 15 acres of adjacent land acquired by the town in 2022.
Justice and his family companies own a number of parcels of land around Southwest Virginia as part of their network of coal and agricultural businesses.
The 155 acres went on the market in November, and Pulaski’s town council voted in December to buy it. The money came from the town’s general fund and did not require incurring debt.
“It is anticipated that the master plan, when complete, will attract developers to invest in the property, thereby increasing the town’s tax base with new residences, businesses and jobs,” the town said in a news release earlier this year. “The council is thrilled to have this opportunity to invest in the town’s future.”
Based on tax records, the town got a good deal: That 155-acre parcel purchased for $1.2 million has an assessed value of just over $1.8 million.
Regardless of exactly how the property ultimately is used, Day said the new growth it’s anticipated to bring is important.
As inflation makes services more expensive, without new growth, Day said the town council would have essentially two options: reduce services or raise taxes, and “neither one of them are very attractive.”
“A locality that ceases to grow will absolutely, eventually cease to exist,” Day said.
Cardinal reporters now hold office hours in the community; see their schedule.
