It’s not every day you have the opportunity to help shape the lives of an entire town. In Grundy, Virginia, where flooding was a challenge, we found ourselves with the chance to be a part of a project that would improve an economy and provide employment, all while ensuring citizen safety. We relocated the business district to higher ground, across the river.
Since 1929, the Levisa Fork River had flooded the remote Appalachian mining mountain town of Grundy. We worked alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who installed a levee system and carved out the town’s new mountain home. The Virginia Department of Transportation then built a 4-lane highway, connecting the town and bringing new opportunity for business. Our job was to create a vertical development that made the most of a small space. The resulting center, 2-story parking facility and Walmart comprise an environmentally sustainable facility that will serve the town for years to come. The redevelopment is expected to produce and retain 1000 direct and 1000 indirect jobs for Buchanan County.
