The Shadow
WARM SPRINGS – Over 30 homes in the Thomastown and Pinehurst Heights areas of Bath County could be rehabilitated through an initiative between the county and Total Action Against Poverty.
The Bath County Board of Supervisors and TAP have been working over the past two years with these neighborhoods to bring housing improvements to their residents through a Community Development Block Grant.
Several neighborhood meetings have been held during this time, including public hearings at both the February and March meetings of the board of supervisors.
A management team has been formed and is actively working on project development.
This team is composed of Percy Nowlin, Mary Susan Blankenship, Mary Adderton, Jeff Robertson, Vicki White, Mike Spurgeon, Mr. and Mrs. Travis Braxton, Robbie Huff, Andy Seabolt, Gene “Bugs” Phillips, Earl Reynolds, Owen Schultz, Kristen Moses and Bonnie Johnson.
Due to the costs involved in rehabilitation, the project has been divided so that Pinehurst Heights will be submitted for funding initially.
If that project is successful, an application would be filed for funding to move forward with the Thomastown aspect of the project.
Planning work for both neighborhoods has been included in the current planning grant.
Fieldwork indicates that the Pinehurst Heights neighborhood has 18 homes in need of rehabilitation with eight that will likely need to be demolished.
Thomastown has 14 houses needing rehabilitation with three likely needing demolition.
“You’re probably looking at another $1 million for that application,” Moses said during a hearing Tuesday night.
The total application for Pinehurst Heights is over $900,000 and must be filed by March 31 with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
A majority of the work in Pinehurst Heights must be finished before plans proceed for the Thomastown portion of the project.
The in-kind portion of the grant is made up of permit and construction waste fees normally charged by the county. The Bath County Service Authority may also grant hookup fees to its sewer system if needed.
The project will also have a drainage component, due to stormwater problems in the neighborhoods. Project funds will hopefully stretch to all the purchase of a new replacement sewage pump to serve the neighborhoods.
Following Tuesday night’s public hearing, the board of supervisors approved filing an application for the community improvement grant and resolved to donate the in-kind contribution. Supervisors also approved the Program Income Plan portion of the project.
“I am well pleased with the professional organization of TAP,” Nowlin said. “The paperwork is fantastic, but they are doing a great job.”
Moses recognized the efforts of the management team.
“The citizens on our management team have been fabulous,” she said.
