Retired Doctor Investing in Uptown Martinsville Redevelopment
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Retired anesthesiologist Mervyn King has big plans for Martinsville.
Together with his wife‚ Virginia‚ King has purchased several Uptown Martinsville buildings in recent years with the dream of making them useful to the community again.
“I’ve lived in Henry County for 40 years‚ and I like the community – the people have been good to me‚” King says. “Now I’m 71 years old‚ and my wife and I wanted to take this risk and do something positive.”
King’s plans include a 4‚000-square-foot loft apartment for him and his wife‚ plus a number of things for the community: a dental clinic for low-income residents‚ a business school‚ a museum‚ a sports bar and grill‚ and spaces for a half dozen other businesses.
The couple’s apartment will be on the second floor of the renovated Pythian Building on Jones Street. Eventually‚ King hopes to convert another part of the building into a museum to house his collection of antique toys‚ trains and guns.
Also among the 11 buildings the Kings have acquired are the Shumate Jessie Building on the Courthouse Square‚ the Fayette Street Building and the Holt Building on Church Street.
“We will lease the Shumate Jessie Building as a sports bar and grill‚ and there’s also space there for plays and entertainment‚” King says. “The Fayette Street Building opened in 2007 as a dental clinic for low-income people‚ and the second floor will accommodate apartments for dental students who are working at the clinic. And we hope to put a clothing store or bookstore and coffee shop in the Holt Building.”
King says his goal is to save buildings from condemnation. “Martinsville has a historic district‚ and we are learning to restore our antique buildings‚” he says. “We’re making progress. … Things are looking up.”
Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Wes Aldridge
