We, the signatories of this petition, are calling on local government officials and stakeholders to commit to preserving the character and spirit of Almagro by implementing equitable and sustainable economic development strategies which responsibly protect the residents, former residents and property owners of Almagro. 

Almagro was once upon a time a town all to itself just west of Danville. Steady work in the tobacco industry and working in the mill provided much-needed income as it helped 62 percent of Almagro’s families purchase their own homes by 1920. As Almagro’s population expanded, previously empty lots were filled with homes and businesses. With a post office, town council and police department, Almagro soon became the largest incorporated African American community in Virginia and one of only about a handful of black incorporated towns in the United States. Local businesses including Betts’ store, McClenton Store, a meat market, a wood yard, vegetable and produce sales, an orchard and grape arbors filled commercial needs. Almagro Lodge, Peters Park, Almagro Training School, Shiloh Baptist Church and Mt. Zion Holy Church provided social outlets for Almagro’s residents. And at one time, there was no place for black doctors to practice and for Black Danvillians to go but to the Winslow Hospital located in the Almagro community. Almagro was a black community where the black residents of the community actually owned everything in their black community. What an amazing modern day black wall street and tourist attraction this would be today if only the land use stayed the same.  However, by 1932, Almagro and neighboring Forest Hills community, both south of Danville were annexed by the City of Danville. For annexation purposes i.e. to serve the City’s needs, Almagro was defined as the area bounded by South Main Street, Jackson’s Branch and Oak Hill Cemetery. Because of duplications of street names between the older Danville city and the newly annexed Almagro, many of Almagro’s Street names were changed to honor prominent property owners and citizens. Almagro’s main street, High Street, was renamed Betts Street in honor of the family whose general store and post office was well known in the community.  

After Almagro was annexed into the City of Danville, it was not treated as Forest Hills or Schoolfield. Throughout the years, Almagro has been divided and splintered into other communities such as Kemper Road and Grove Park. It has also been subjected to many forms of neglect.  

Even though many residents of Almagro are homeowners and pay taxes, our community does not receive the same services as other city residents. There are streets within Almagro that have not been paved in over 30 years. The infrastructure has not been kept up to date as there are few sidewalks, gutters or fire hydrants. We also believe that this lack of essential services has been detrimental to the health and safety of Almagro residents.  

Moreover, while the city has offered other neighborhood’s programs and services such as the appropriate zoning for grants and tax write offs to preserve and improve their properties, no such programs have been made available to Almagro residents. In addition, the city has embarked on an aggressive campaign to take over properties in Almagro by instituting plans that do not take into consideration the character and history of the neighborhood and its residents.  

The hillside topography, abundance of historic landmarks and generations of waving hands and smiling faces which all contribute to Almagro’s unique sense of place still remain. Nonetheless, many of the community’s assets are being demolished and torn down. Despite Almagro’s assets, much of the City’s economic development activity is occurring elsewhere. 

The most obvious example is when the City’s Industrial Development Authority bought the Schoolfield Mill site for $5 million with funding provided by the City Council. Another obvious example is when a few years after purchasing the Schoolfield site, the City’s IDA also bought the White Mill for $3 million with funding provided by the City Council. It was stated that the council’s thought process was that they really wanted to see both sites developed, and that revenue generated from the first project would ensure that the other also happened.  

It’s time to showcase yet another example of how these former Dan River Mills sites can continue to expand its impact on our city in a positive way. Textile Mills and Tobacco sustained life in the City of Danville and in our community. Dan River Mills used to provide a work opportunity that allowed many from the community to have a respectable quality of life. When it shut down, many family members were forced to leave the city to find work elsewhere. Fast forward 20 years later, the city now has a casino built on that land that has brought in over 52 million in less than 6 months. Meanwhile, the city is still tearing down the infrastructure of Almagro’s historic community. 

The signatories of this petition place a particular emphasis on the development of sustainable strategies that incorporates use of the anticipated revenue increases to the city that result from the operation of the world class casino in the City of Danville. 

Investing in Danville is the public-driven plan for best use of the Danville Caesar’s Palace Casino revenues. In that document, it states that Danville’s challenge is to identify thoughtful, equitable and community-driven solutions to use these ongoing millions of dollars of funds in a way that will make the most positive impact in Danville’s neighborhoods and communities.  

It is also stated that after contractual obligations, including $350,000 to the Schoolfield Area Fund, the City of Danville has over $36 Million available to invest in City programs and fund priorities. 

In line with ethical principles and basic human values, we call for urgent action from the public sector boards and commissions and for the City Council to make it a priority to come together with the residents of Almagro to create solutions that improve the livability and increase the economic vitality of Almagro. 

We don’t need a slow political process as it’s an emergency. People are coming into our community buying properties already and literally setting sale prices upward of 600 percent of its initial purchase price with the intentions of profit only and not with respect to maintaining the history and culture of the Almagro community.  

We want to preserve and restore Almagro to the vibrant community that it was before being annexed into the City of Danville. Join in and help us grow the ‘Gro.  
 
Therefore, we the signatories call for: 

• A moratorium on demolitions, tax sales and adverse actions in Almagro until such time as the city can show cause why Almagro has not received the services which should have been paid for with tax dollars already collected over the past 60 years;
• Creation of an Almagro Area Fund with a specific focus on the cultivation of a main street commercial corridor along Betts St as well as to fund other community-related infrastructure improvements such as but not limited to signage denoting the entrances to Almagro on its boundary points, updated stop signs, new fire hydrants, additional street lighting, neighborhood signage to tell the story of Almagro;
• A right of first refusal to purchase the Winslow Hospital if it goes for sale as our community organization has the best understanding of the sweets spots between what our community needs and what a building or vacant land of our community can be;
• An order to show cause requiring the city to explain why the electricity goes out more often and has a slower recovery and service reconnection time in comparison to other neighborhoods within the city limits of Danville as well as provide an evaluation of the Almagro community’s electrical grid to determine the need to update the power supply as future land use will generate heavier traffic volumes, higher levels of sewage and higher levels of electricity usage;
• Creation of an Almagro Repairs Taskforce whereas City Council and other stakeholders assist us on the process of acquiring a variety of benefits for Almagro to include but not limited to the following:  
  • Updating future land use and neighborhood commercial zoning requirements
  • Establishing a vacant lot program that works in congruence with Almagro’s community organization
  • Assist with partition lawsuits for properties with out-of-state heirs
  • Implement a specified period of tax abatement (5 years) to incentivize capital investment and land improvement on commercial properties and adaptive reuse of existing structures
  • Restorative justice in the form of grants and other incentives for owner-occupied properties
• Creation of a binding, local regulatory framework for current and future Almagro developers and companies that includes clear ethical guidelines which promote respect and prioritization for current residents as well as enhanced preservation of our historic community.

Time is running out and we must act now on this task to recognize this historical area as an asset to the City of Danville. Almagro is Black History. It is undeniable and should not be allowed to remain a lost community of Virginia amid the success of the City’s other projects.   

To ensure fairness in equity, preservation of our historic community’s legacy and to be restored back to a self-sufficient live/work/play community, we call on Danville City Council members to recognize the urgency of this issue and work together with us towards responsible community and economic development. 

Sign now to show your support and help us grow the ‘Gro.