Floyd Council discusses redevelopment options for historic Donnkenny site; engineer funds debated

Council members on May 21 discussed next steps for the Donnkenny property after a May 19 site visit by CJMW Architecture and local stakeholders.

Town Manager Andrew Morris said members of the CJMW team expressed no major structural concerns for the main Donnkenny building and reported only minor rust on iron components. Mayor Will Griffin said the $30,000 earmarked for a structural engineer in the first FY2027 draft could be reallocated; Councilman Bruce Turner urged retaining the allocation in case engineering services prove necessary.

Mayor Griffin said he had arranged a meeting with Kevin Byrd of the New River Valley Regional Commission to get perspective on preliminary conversations with potential developers. He said those talks would be informational rather than a formal request for proposals and could help the Council evaluate developers’ visions for a mix of commercial, cultural and residential uses, including ideas such as an indoor farmers market.

Councilman Chris Bower emphasized the goal of attracting uses that serve both town and county residents and recommended including some housing that is not concentrated in a single demographic. Mayor Griffin set a July 1, 2026, deadline for the previous owner, Mr. Snavley, to remove remaining items from the property and directed the Town Manager to review the purchase agreement for related provisions.

No formal vote or ordinance change on the Donnkenny property was taken; Council members discussed options, potential developer outreach and whether the town should retain ownership of any portion of the site or sell a pad-ready parcel.