Virginia Law

A. VDOT has broad latitude in the methods used and the manner in which it provides housing of last resort. After consideration of all practical options, a method should be selected which provides comparable housing at the most reasonable cost, within the time constraints of roadway project scheduling and urgency of the displacee's need. Methods for providing this housing include, but are not limited to:

1. Making an offer and payment greater than $31,000 for a displaced owner or $7,200 for a displaced tenant;

2. Rehabilitation, modifications or additions to an existing replacement dwelling to accommodate displacee needs;

3. The construction of a new replacement dwelling;

4. The relocation and, if necessary, rehabilitation of a replacement dwelling;

5. The purchase of land or a replacement dwelling, or both, by VDOT and subsequent sale, lease to, or exchange with a displaced person;

6. Acting as mortgagee in financing a displacee's purchase of housing; and

7. The provision of features such as entrance ramps, wide doors, etc., which will make a dwelling accessible to a disabled displacee.

B. Under special circumstances, consistent with the definition of a comparable replacement dwelling, consideration will be given to providing replacement housing with space and physical characteristics different from those in the displacement dwelling. This may include upgraded, but smaller replacement housing that is decent, safe and sanitary and adequate to accommodate families displaced from marginal or substandard housing. In no event, however, will a displaced person be required to move into a dwelling that is not functionally equivalent to the displacement dwelling.