Long-vacant campus buildings are now all designated as blighted

BRISTOL, Va. – The Bristol Virginia City Council unanimously approved imposing a higher tax rate on the former Virginia Intermont College campus, now designated blight.

The council voted 5-0 during Tuesday’s meeting to approve the increase on first reading. A second vote is required before the 5% increase can take effect. The increase applies to 14 parcels, which include all the buildings on the former campus on Moore Street.

This follows a similar city action earlier this year to raise the tax rate on certain parcels.

“As part of the 2025 general reassessment, I asked Wampler-Eane’s assessment group to conduct an exterior inspection of each parcel of US Magis International Education Center Inc., formerly Virginia Intermont,” City Manager Randy Eads told the council. “The assessor determined that the buildings are abandoned and considered blighted.”

State law allows the city to raise the property tax rate by 5% on each blighted parcel.

“I first asked the assessor to consider the entire campus, but he can’t. It’s hard to say that a vacant lot or a parking lot is blighted property,” Eads said.

Eads said the city will continue to pursue all legal means to ensure the property is in compliance.

At the time, the owner owed 238,750.43 in delinquent 2023 city property taxes and 186,905.81 in 2024 property taxes for a total of 425,656.24, according to the city treasurer’s office. All fees before 2023 have been paid.

Council members expressed hope that the vote will elicit some response.

“The VI campus has long been an issue,” said Councilman Neal Osborne, who made the motion to approve. “I’m hoping that taking this step, and considering that all the buildings are destroyed, will hopefully be another tool in our toolbox to encourage action.”

Mayor Becky Nave called this a “good step forward.”

This vote represents the latest chapter in the city’s battle to try to get the property’s Chinese owner to address the condition of the buildings, which include broken windows and doors, roof problems and general poor maintenance.

The deteriorating campus has sparked widespread public concern and has become a haven for the homeless.

Last month, the city’s fire department had to put out a fire in the basement of the former VI library, which damaged the interior of the building.

A representative for the owner told the city at the time that it understood the city’s concerns, but nothing has happened since, Eads said.

“There has been no further communication with the owner or the representative of the owner. I think we were told in one of the last emails that they would try to remedy the situation at VI. Right now I have not seen something that has been done by the owner,” Eads said in response to a reporter’s question.

While the vote will raise the tax rate on the property from 17% to 22%, its assessed value has decreased.

“Based on conversations with the appraiser, I’m pretty sure their rating has dropped significantly,” Eads said.

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