Affordable Housing, Community Charm Drawing Martinsville Newcomers
affordable housing, business, community charm, family, newcomers, real estate, retirement,
When Dr. Caren Tobin Aaron and her husband‚ Darren‚ moved to Martinsville from Richmond‚ Va.‚ they found not just a great place to live but also a sense of belonging.
The couple lived in Richmond for 13 years before relocating in January 2006.
“I think this is a community that is eager to draw people into it‚” says Aaron‚ an internist and native of Martinsville. “That sense of belonging‚ of having connections and making a difference to people‚ feels really good. It is something we were missing in Richmond and we’re finding here.”
While shopping for their new home‚ the Aarons were encouraged by the affordability and the revitalization of downtown and older neighborhoods in Martinsville.
“We kept saying that it was a good time to sell a house in Richmond and buy a house in Martinsville‚” says Aaron‚ whose practice is on Fairy Street.
“We both feel a kind of affinity for the older sections of town – Thomas Heights‚ Druid Hills and Forest Park.
I walked to Patrick Henry Elementary School as a child and I love that it is being renovated now.”
The couple also appreciates being with in close driving distances of Roanoke‚ Va.; Greensboro‚ N.C.; and Danville‚ Va.
The Aarons are not alone in their enthusiasm for Martinsville and Henry County. With home sales and new home construction increasing at a steady pace‚ a growing number of new residents are flocking to the area from across the region and the United States.
For newcomer Kellie Geiger‚ the area’s affordability and scenery were enough to prompt a cross-country move. Geiger relocated to Martinsville from Sonoma County‚ Calif.‚ in 2005 and now sells real estate.
Geiger packed up her dog‚ Johnnie‚ and drove more than 2‚500 miles to settle in Martinsville after visiting a friend who relocated there a few years earlier.
“As a Realtor‚ I’m getting a lot of people coming in from other areas who are just amazed by what you can get for your money here‚” Geiger says. “It’s such an incredible value. I’m 50 years old‚ so I also recognize the appeal of retiring here‚ like a growing number of people are doing.”
In addition to offering great values in single-family homes‚ Geiger notes that several retirement communities have cropped up across the area.
Builders like Curtis Cahill‚ owner and president of Curtis Cahill Construction‚ welcome the opportunity to meet the increased demand. According to Cahill‚ who employs 20 to 30 local independent subcontractors in addition to his regular payroll employees‚ the economic impact of residential building growth not only means a boost for construction companies‚ it also means additional revenue for local businesses.
“I have been able to build homes locally and have not had to go out in other areas to seek jobs‚” he says. “The growth in this area has kept me busy‚ and I have been able to keep my family here.”
Story by Valerie Pascoe
Photo by Brian McCord
