Two major advocates of building Interstate 73 are Ron Willard Sr. of Franklin County and George Lester of Martinsville.
Both businessmen have urged politicians and other decision-makers to build the road. Some critics of Virginia's road-building process argue that it's weighted in favor of business interests.
Willard and Lester provided the following information about their holdings in response to those critics.
The Willard Companies, owned by Ron Willard Sr., include the following:
- Waterfront Properties of SML, Inc. -- markets waterfront real estate
- The Water's Edge Country Club -- golf community, including single family homes, condos or town houses
- The Waterfront Country Club -- includes homes and an 18-hole golf course
- The Westlake Golf & Country Club -- semi-private golf course and country club
- The Willard Office Plaza -- houses the administrative offices of Willard Construction of Roanoke Valley Inc. and Waterfront Properties, plus two other commercial offices.
- Willard Construction of Roanoke Valley Inc. -- builds and develops property owned by Willard
- Cypress Park Office Plaza -- commercial park in Roanoke County
- Smith Mountain Building Supply -- sells building and construction materials.
George Lester properties include the following:
THE LESTER GROUP
- American Property Management -- commercial and residential property leasing and management.
- Professional Distribution Services -- Third-party distribution.
- Product Restoration Services -- Repairs manufacturing defects in textiles and clothing.
- Lester Properties:
Forest Lands -- Timber management and woodyard sales
Rental Properties -- Commercial property
- Lester Home Center, Martinsville -- Building material sales.
- Jim Carpenter Co., Fredericksburg -- Building material sales.
- Fortress Wood Products, Greensboro, N.C. — Wood treatment
LESTER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
- Convenience stores -- Speedway Center: five stores in the Martinsville area and two in Blacksburg
- Shopping centers -- Lester Square in Beckley, W.Va., Hethwood in Blacksburg, Liberty Fair in Martinsville and Patrick Henry Centre in Blacksburg
- Subdivisions -- in Guilford County, N.C., Forsyth County, N.C., Staunton and Fredericksburg
- Miscellaneous -- duplexes in Blacksburg, restaurants, industrial and commercial buildings and undeveloped land in Tazewell County.
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