Petersburg sells 30 city owned properties for redevelopment

PETERSBURG, VA (WWBT) - More than two dozen city owned properties are sold in Petersburg. A non-profit group called The Restoration of Petersburg Community Development Corporation recently made the purchase for just under ten thousand dollars.

The properties are located in the Delectable Heights neighborhood where there are several blighted properties.

"I see it as an opportunity to make improvements. I see brand new streetscape with sidewalks and city lights. I see promise," said Rev. Dr. Robert Diggs.

Diggs is part of the non-profit group that purchased the properties. The organization wants to redevelop -- tear down the blighted houses and replace them with condominiums, a playground, and a park.

"It'll be mixed use housing/residential. It'll be for rent and some single family houses for purchase," said Diggs.

The organization purchased nearly 8 acres in the neighborhood  to redevelop as part of a faith based initiative.

"It will provide affordable housing at the same time it'll remove blight from the community. We're tickled pink to say the least in acquiring the property. We've been trying to get it since 2009," said Diggs.

The city calls it a move in the right direction.

"It would allow a safer neighborhood and it will bring pride back into the neighborhood," said councilman W. Howard Myers.

The sale of the property will generate funds for the city.

"Now they'll be able to come on to the tax roll and help sure up city efforts in doing other projects such as road maintenance and those kinds of things," said Myers.

Construction is expected to get underway within the next 30 days. If all goes well the entire project is expected to be finished in 2014.

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