Important:
If you support our plan, please let the Franklin County Board of Supervisors know by filling out the form below:
Our Goal
Friends of Ferrum Park is a nonprofit founded in 2023 by a group of concerned residents who share a passion for preserving the natural beauty of Ferrum, as a direct response to the Franklin County Department of Planning and Community Development's plan to give the land away to developers willing to place between 140 - 400 housing units on the site.
Our mission is to ensure that the beauty of the 84.17-acre parcel of tax-payer-owned land in Ferrum is not lost to a large-scale residential development that will forever alter the landscape of our community.
Based on community feedback, we are advocating for the majority of the land to be preserved in order to serve the community of Ferrum as a nature park and event space, open and accessible to all.
As members of the community, our nonprofit understands the housing needs of Ferrum, and we believe that the best solution is limited attainable housing specifically for our community. Working with Nationwide Homes, our plan provides flexibility by having a handicapped-adaptable floor plan for those seeking to age-in-place or can serve as a starter home for individuals or small families here in Ferrum.
Because this has been mentioned as a concern, to clarify- this is NOT "Section 8" housing. This is home ownership made attainable by our nonprofit. By not being a 'for profit' developer, we are able to lower the cost of the homes for ALL buyers through fundraising and grants.
Join us in our efforts to make this vision a reality.
See our plan below.
Friends of Ferrum Park Plan
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A comprehensive plan created by residents of Ferrum using community feedback to guide the plan
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Focus on providing spaces for recreation and both private and public events, accessible to all
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Housing plan that truly benefits people who live and work in Ferrum
The map shown below illustrates the difference of the housing impact on the property compared to the Ferrum Property Master Plan's goal of 140+ units.
(Proposed housing = pink & white boxes along road, indicating our phased approach to housing)
Park
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Thoughtfully developed with the help of local ecologists to ensure the natural beauty of the property is maintained
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Trees and natural features of the property will be protected; rather than clear or select cutting, focus on placing park features in areas that are naturally clear or have small patches of new growth
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Nonprofit status gives us access to numerous grant and fundraising opportunities, which will cover the cost of park infrastructure and upkeep at no cost to you as a taxpayer
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In order to compete with bigger developers, we have offered to pay full market price for the land, so initial fundraising efforts would be split between the land purchase and park infrastructure
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If approved, work on trails would begin immediately, with phasing of other projects beginning once completed
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Expected time frame for full park completion:
3 years
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Find our FULL Park Proposal HERE.
Housing
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Up to 40 attainable housing units that will prioritize folks who currently live or work in our area
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Partnering with local modular builder, Nationwide Homes to offer quality housing that is attainable for all income levels
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Single-level duplexes with a focus on disability-accessible housing for elderly residents
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Will utilize grant opportunities to provide downpayment assistance for qualified buyers
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No clear cutting; environmental preservation is a top priority for all building projects
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Expected housing time frame for Phase 1 houses: 3 years
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Find our FULL Housing Proposal HERE.
County Proposed
Master Plan
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Franklin County Planning & Community Development created their plan to "return the site to a taxable asset that fulfills goals of Ferrum Village Plan & community"
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The only focus of the "Master Plan" is to maximize tax revenue for the county
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You can find the full Franklin County Planning & Community Development Ferrum Parcel Master Plan HERE.
The map shown below is a to-scale layout of the county "Plan A" proposal which is for the MINIMUM amount of housing that the Department of Development is recommending be built on the property. The lot and house sizes are exact to the examples in the Master Plan.
Park
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Trails shown would NOT be provided by the county
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Park infrastructure would fall to developers to provide
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Simply isn't enough of a return on investment for developers to build and maintain
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"Potential trails" shown on their plan are on incredibly steep terrain
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Not easily accessible for most
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Would require a high cost to build and maintain
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No plans or funding provided by Franklin County for any park infrastructure (pavilion, picnic areas, dog park, etc.)
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Would become privately owned land, so unlikely to allow for public access
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You can find the full Franklin County Planning & Community Development Ferrum Parcel Master Plan HERE.
Housing
Plan A includes: 141 - 169 dwellings
Plan B includes: 237 - 294 dwellings
Plan C includes: 390 - 453 dwellings
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Would require substantial additional infrastructure at a substantial additional cost
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County is not placing ANY requirements on this property for developers; nothing to require affordability, age, or accessibility
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Area is unzoned; once a developer owns the property, they can do with it as they wish, regardless of the impact to the community
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Would be impossible to build the proposed amount of housing without clear-cutting the property, resulting in huge impacts on the local wildlife and the rural landscape of Ferrum
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Developers are looking to maximize their profits, so unlikely that the housing built would be affordable for first-time home buyers, new families, or elderly folks on a limited income
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You can find the full Franklin County Planning & Community Development Ferrum Parcel Master Plan HERE.
Explore Our Plan
Park features we will be working to create include:
Over 2 miles of wooded hiking trails
Outdoor fitness stations along select trails
Restrooms with shower houses
A limited number of both primitive tent camping and full hook-up RV sites
A pavilion and adjoining picnic areas
A nature-based playground
A dog park, divided to accommodate small & large dogs separately
A small amphitheater for music, events, and educational uses
Designed with a focus on ADA accessibility
Inspirations
Nature
Playground
Pavilion & Picnic Areas
Dog Park
Ampitheater
Camping
Restrooms & Shower Houses
Prospective Home Option
Builder: Nationwide Homes of Martinsville, VA
Specifications:
2 bedroom
2 bathroom
825 sqft per unit
Americans with Disabilities Act-adaptable, with easy conversion to conform to fully ADA specifications
Up to 40 total units possible, based on community and economic demand
