A mansion that has long sat empty is getting closer to being restored to its former glory.
An now that it’s been listed on Virginia’s register of historic places – the restoration team says it’s full steam ahead – to get it back into the community’s hands.
In August, Isabel Thornton sat on the stoop of Villa Heights with high hopes for this abandoned home on the hill.
“All the pieces came together it just made sense,” she’d said.
Months later her confidence remains.
“Now I do feel quite gratified knowing I was able to get those things done,” she said Wednesday.
She’s talking about the extensive process to buff up this blighted, burden – with its broken windows, fire damage and crumbling brick.
“We’re not tearing down any walls we’re not moving any windows,”” she said, pointing to newly formed architectural plans.
Her nonprofit, Restoration Housing, is taking a huge risk on this property.
“Like some buzzards and some raccoons,” she said referring to the current tenants of the worst room in the house.
But Thornton says the reward will be worth the risk.
“We literally applied for a grant to pay for a grant writer,” she said, laughing. “…It feels scrappy and successful I guess yeah!”
They’re finalizing design plans, and are close to securing thousands in funding from grants, the city and historic tax credits.
It’s taken months of work, though you’d never be able to tell from the outside. It looks virtually the same since Thornton gave us the last tour in August. The only thing that’s different is a tarp secured on the roof to keep it from getting worse.
“Let’s see.”
Neighbor Ross Hardy drove by Wednesday.
“Whew,” he said, counting up the years he says he worked in Villa Heights’ old recreation center.
“We used to play softball and play among each other,” Hardy said. “But it was nice, I mean nice.”
He’s glad it’ll soon be back in the community’s hands, with timeline aimed toward handing it over to the Boys and Girls Club by fall 2019.
And taking a cue from Lady Bird Johnson, Thornton said she is all in.
“She said something like, ‘do something that you’re so passionate about that you forget to be scared.’ And that’s exactly how I feel about this!”
Published May 2, 2018 on WDBJ7 by Leanna Scachhetti.
