DUMFRIES — The first in a series of abandoned, blighted houses came down this week.
Dumfries officials ordered a row of old homes along the town’s Main Street demolished in January.
“People kept sneaking into them and staying in them,” said town attorney Kristi Caturano.
Many of the abandoned homes date back to the early 1920s. But town officials said the property owners neglected them for so long, the town had to tear them down.
Earlier this year, the affected property owners were given 30 days to comply with town zoning ordinances but they opted the let the town demolish the structures.
The demolition began in June. The town is using some of the $70,000 form its blighted properties fund to remove the homes.
Caturano said the town will be reimbursed for the cost of the demolition.
The homes are being cleared to make way for First Town Center, a new mixed-use development that will include retail space on the first floor and residential on the second floor.
The center is being constructed by Pete Singh, the same developer who built the building town officials just purchased to relocate town hall.
As part of an agreement with the town, Singh must start construction of the town center by December 2019.
All of this news comes as the town was just awarded $45 million to purchase right-of-way and relocate utilities for a wider Route 1 through the town.
Mayor Derrick Wood told Potomac Local he’s excited about the funds from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. While construction of the road widening and relocation is yet to be funded, Wood says it could begin within the next two to three years.
Transportation officials have big plans or the small town as they plan to widen the northbound portion of Route 1 (Frayley Boulevard) through the town from two to six lanes. When complete, all north and southbound traffic on Route 1 will use this portion of the roadway.
The current southbound portion of Route 1 (Main Street) will become a side street.
