Blackstone Town Council President Eric Nash says he plans to start “speaking out” when it comes to cheap shots and criticism of his development projects in town.
“Do they put forth the money to bring tourism to Blackstone — HELL NO,” Nash declared during Council’s Oct. 20th meeting. “Let them walk a day in my shoes.”
Nash said that on his Cross-Thomas property alone, on South Main Street, he’s invested about $1.5 million. Nash said he’s entitled to the same rights and privileges available under the law to other town citizens.
Tensions rose during discussion on a request by Nash’s firm (NEC Investments) to receive Tourism tax breaks offered by the Town to those who invest in certain sectors including lodging establishments, seated restaurants, bed and breakfasts, recreational businesses, antique merchandising shops, wineries, breweries, and specialty retail shops. Improvements on such projects pay reduced Town real estate taxes for three years.
Nash’s request was to include the 1750s Cross-Thomas house (formerly the Max & Ercelle Dewey home), which Nash preserved and renovated a few years ago; Nash’s former Bargain Bin which he built and now serves as an event center; and Nash’s DecoDen store, which Nash established after buying the former Goodwill building.
A previous Council in 2021 declared the entire town limits a Tourism Zone — primarily to encourage investment here to support the federal government’s State Dept. facility (FASTC) at nearby Fort Pickett. FASTC opened in 2019 and there were concerns that if the local economy didn’t provide lodging and other amenities, the feds might renew plans to build a 450-bed dormitory on base, limiting opportunities for federal trainees to spend money in town.
Nash pointed out that he already should have received the benefit because Council approved the zone, 6-0, back in 2021. “For the past 11 weeks, we’ve been having 200 people a weekend at the Event Center. That’s tourism-related.”
Nash bristled after Mayor Lafayette Dickens weighed-in: “Well, the optics are not the best in the world.”
“I’ve let this lie for so long,” Nash replied, “….but why should I, as a citizen of Blackstone, sit back and go, ‘Oh because I’m on the Council,’ and everybody else has been approved when I’ve done the same or more than them.”
Dickens asked Nash why he “let it slide” for so long before applying.
“Because I knew,” Nash replied, “that somebody like you would come up and say, ‘Optics, optics.’”
Referring to an expression repeated often by Dickens, that “‘It’s sunny and 75° in Blackstone,’ that’s not the way to… lead this town. I don’t care about getting it, it’s the fact that you’re gonna sit there and pick-and-choose who, when I make the same investment, if not more. I’m sorry. I’ll start speaking out and I’m going to from this point…I’ll withdraw it if need be.”
Excluded from Nash’s request are townhouses he built behind DecoDen because they’re residential — not temporary lodging or tourism-related.
Councilman Chris Page moved to approve Nash’s request, saying that it already should have been granted administratively after Council’s 6-0 vote four years ago. Jake Allman seconded Page’s motion.
Vannoorbeeck assured Nash and others, “It was not negligence, it was not intentional.”
“But whose decision makes it eligible?” Nash demanded. “Whoever cuts the check?”
Nash also said he was “sure” that Ward B rep Wes Gormus was “chomping at the bit” to weigh-in.
Gormus asked what Nash meant, and Nash replied that Gormus wants to see the Town follow-through on actions approved by Council. Gormus agreed.
Page’s motion to approve Nash’s request passed, 5-0, with Nash abstaining and Ward E rep Lloyette Wynn absent.
Nash after approval said he hadn’t intended to “get contentious, but when I put forth the effort to bring people to Blackstone…”
“It’s okay,” replied Mayor Dickens.
“You’re passionate, man,” said Gormus, “You’re passionate.”
“Don’t stroke-out on us,” smiled Dickens.
“I may,” Nash chuckled.
Nash was among several applicants seeking the position of Interim Mayor earlier this year after Ben Green resigned in April. Nash withdrew at the 11th hour, leaving three finalists, and Dickens was appointed 7-0 in May. Dickens is unopposed in next Tuesday’s special election. The Mayor and all seven seats on Council come up for election to four-year terms in November 2026.
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