Registration open for Southern Virginia housing summit

Those interested in attending can register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southern-virginia-regional-housing-summit-2026-tickets-1998785459114.

Hosted by the City of Danville, the summit brings together developers, builders, contractors, real estate professionals, architects, financial representatives, local officials, and community advocates to explore residential development opportunities across Southern Virginia.

Participating localities include the cities of Danville and Martinsville and the counties of Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, and Pittsylvania.

“The Southern Virginia Regional Housing Summit shows the vital need for residential development in our region to developers, builders, contractors, suppliers, financial institutions, and architectural and engineering firms,” said Susan McCulloch, division director of Housing and Development, City of Danville. “We look forward to the partnership and collaboration with our partner localities.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Chris Garland, community development manager for the National Community Stabilization Trust, who will discuss revitalizing middle neighborhoods.

"Middle neighborhoods across the country are grappling with the impacts of distressed and aging housing, but solutions must fit the local context," Garland said. "By connecting our national work with Southern Virginia’s distinct needs, we hope to empower local stakeholders to turn challenges like vacancies and tangled titles into real opportunities for neighborhood stability."

The summit also will feature presentations from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development and Virginia Housing on available funding programs, along with a panel highlighting ongoing and completed housing projects. An exhibit hall will showcase regional resources, and participating localities will provide information on available sites for single and multifamily development.

Jake Naugle, director of homeownership lending with Virginia Housing; Joy Wood, vice president/senior loan officer of Atlantic Coast Mortgage; and Ryan Price, chief economist for Virginia Realtors, will also deliver presentations.

“With job growth and capital investment continuing across Southern Virginia, the demand for new and diverse housing options is growing as well,” said Linda Green, executive director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance. “Housing has become an increasingly important part of our region’s competitiveness. Attracting investment requires attracting and retaining the talent our employers need, and having a range of quality housing options is essential to making Southern Virginia a place they choose to call home.”

Last year’s event was supported by 23 sponsors, with more than 260 community partners in attendance. The event highlighted housing needs, current projects, and successful developments, including:

• Dan River Falls, Memorial Drive, Danville, featuring the adaptive reuse of the Dan River Mills 650,000 square foot building with a $110M investment into 190 multifamily apartments with 32 workforce units, commercial space, office space, and 7 acres committed to Riverfront Park by the Alexander Company.
• The Franklin Lofts/The Dogwood, 313 Franklin Street, South Hill, featuring the adaptive reuse of an elementary school into 27 modern executive apartments and an event space.
• The Chief Tassel building, Martinsville, featuring the historic rehabilitation of a former commercial and apartment building into 20 one-bedroom apartment homes by Waukeshaw Development Company.
• The Westside Mobile Home Park redevelopment project is underway on 42 acres in South Boston for a new single-family home subdivision with new rentals and first-time homebuyer homes.
• Planters Tobacco Warehouse in Clarksville is converted to 40 apartments and a commercial space by Waukeshaw Development.

Sponsors to date include Virginia Housing, Lester Building Supply, Atlantic Union Bank, Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research, Locus Community Focused Capital, Dan River Region Realtors Association, All-Virginia Title & Escrow, Sugar Tree Living, First National Bank, the Martinsville, Henry, Patrick County Association of Realtors, Danville Neighborhood Development Corporation, Caesars Virginia, Wilkins & Company, Chaney Enterprises, Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, South Central Virginia Homebuilders Association, Atlantic Coast Mortgage – Lending with Joy; Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Association, Legacy Title, Innovative Housing Solutions, The Harvest Foundation, and the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development.