Mike is very capable of doing all your forestry needs. Cleared property for my garage and i’m very happy with the outcome
ML BLAKE EARTHWORKS
Class A Contractor
ML BLAKE EARTHWORKS
Class A Contractor
James City County is growing faster than almost anywhere else in Virginia. New residential subdivisions, expanding commercial corridors along Route 60 and Richmond Road, and steady redevelopment pressure on older properties have made demolition a routine part of the county’s construction landscape. Whether a structure is being cleared to make way for new construction on a well-located lot, an outbuilding has outlived its usefulness on a rural parcel, or a commercial property along the Route 5 corridor needs to come down ahead of redevelopment — there’s a right way to do it in James City County, and it starts with the permit process.
ML Blake Earthworks is a Class A licensed and fully insured demolition contractor serving James City County from our base in Gloucester. We work regularly in JCC and know its building department’s process well. James City County’s Building Safety Division is thorough — permit applications require proper documentation, utility disconnections need to be confirmed, and inspections are taken seriously. That’s actually a good thing: it means properly permitted work is done right, and it weeds out operators who cut corners. We handle the entire permit process on your behalf so you stay compliant and your project stays on schedule.
From Toano and Norge in the west to Lightfoot and the Route 60 corridor in the east, across the James River waterfront communities and up through the York River side of the county — we cover all of James City County with the same standard of work.
We handle the full range of demolition and site preparation work for James City County homeowners, landowners, developers, investors, and commercial clients.
1
We assess the property, identify potential challenges, and develop a customized demolition strategy tailored to the project’s needs.
2
Our team secures the necessary permits and adheres to all local demolition regulations to guarantee a safe and legal demolition process.
3
Using the right equipment, we carry out demolitions safely and efficiently while minimizing disruptions to surrounding areas.
4
Post-demolition, we handle debris hauling, concrete removal, and material recycling, ensuring the site is clean and ready for future development.
James City County's Building Safety Division is one of the more thorough permit offices in the region. We've worked through their process repeatedly — we know what they need, how they inspect, and how to avoid the delays that trip up contractors who only occasionally work in the county.
Virginia's highest contractor classification. Required for the scope of demolition and sitework we perform, and the standard a growing county like JCC increasingly expects.
General liability and workers' comp covering every project, start to finish.
Many James City County communities — Ford's Colony, Stonehouse, Governor's Land, Kingsmill, and others — are governed by HOAs with their own access, staging, and work hours requirements. We account for these in our project planning so there are no unexpected stoppages or community complaints.
Demolition, grading, concrete, land clearing, site prep — we handle all of it. For JCC developers and investors managing fast-moving timelines, one contractor from teardown to build-ready is a meaningful advantage.
Based in Gloucester, we're well-positioned to serve James City County without the mobilisation costs of a Richmond or Hampton Roads firm. Faster response, more competitive pricing, and a contractor with genuine regional roots.
Mike is very capable of doing all your forestry needs. Cleared property for my garage and i’m very happy with the outcome
I recently hired M.L. Blake Earthworks to dig the foundation and pour concrete for my husbands shop, and I couldn’t be happier with the results! From start to finish, the team demonstrated exceptional professionalism and expertise.
They arrived on time, worked efficiently, and truly paid attention to detail throughout the entire process. The foundation was dug precisely to specifications, and the concrete pouring was done flawlessly. The quality of their work is evident, and I have every confidence that my shop is built on a solid foundation.
I recently had M.L. Blake Earthworks install a driveway at my home, and I couldn’t be happier with the results! From the initial consultation to the final touches, their team was professional, knowledgeable, and attentive to my needs.
They took the time to understand what I wanted and offered valuable suggestions that improved the overall design. The quality of their work is outstanding; the driveway looks fantastic and has truly enhanced the curb appeal of my home. Will certainly use them again in the future!!
We have lived on a 20 acre heavily wooded piece of property for 27 years. We have wanted to open it up a bit for a long time. I have been monitoring ads for forestry mulching and contacted Mike Blake if M.L. Blake Earthworks. He responded quickly and came out and gave me an estimate for what I was looking to do. His estimate came in less than what I was expecting.
Mike came out this past week and forestry mulched about 2.5 to 3 acres in front of our home and our two side yards. The result exceeded my expectations and while we still have a forested lot, we now have a beautiful park like setting while preserving a buffer to the street and our neighbors. It was a four day effort.
I also had some logs left over from taking 6 trees down in my horse paddock. I thought I was going to be able to get rid of them as firewood for anyone who needed but had no takers. Mike offered to mulch them up at no separate charge.
Mike did an awesome job and we are extremely happy with our new park like setting. I highly recommend Mike and M.L. Earthworks if you have a similar project.
I’ve worked with Mike and his team for well over a year now, and can’t say enough good things about them. From all our clients new construction site work to some of clients needing minimal work done. Mike always has us covered. From anything from site work, lot clearing, pretty much anything from dirt to trees he has you covered!
I can’t say enough about M.L. Blake Earthworks. Michael and his crew went the extra mile every single day for me. They cleared off 3+ almost 4 acres at my property that was a complete mess, regraded a bad spot from the previous owner that was continuously washing out, and are currently helping with a concrete pad for my new shop. Great communication and definitely priced right and highly recommended them to everyone.
See more or leave us a review.
We provide demolition services throughout James City County, including:
Toano · Norge · Lightfoot · Five Forks · Croaker · Williamsburg (JCC addresses) · Stonehouse · Providence Forge · Centerville · Forge Road corridor · James River waterfront communities · York River corridor
We also serve neighbouring City of Williamsburg, York County, New Kent County, Charles City County, and connect to Hampton Roads via our Hampton Roads demolition page. If your property sits on the JCC/York County or JCC/New Kent boundary, give us a call — we cover both sides.
– Gloucester
– Chesterfield
– Lancaster
– Kilmarnock
– Williamsburg
– Essex
– New Kent
– Reedville
– James City County
– Hampton Roads
– King William
Ready to move forward? Tell us about your project and we’ll schedule a free on-site consultation in James City County at your convenience. We’ll assess the site, confirm the correct permitting jurisdiction, and give you a clear, itemised estimate — no vague numbers, no surprises.
When we’re on heavy equipment we may not be able to accept calls.
Please tell us about your project needs. We schedule consultations are your convenience if at all possible.
Describe the project, Location, Timeline for completion, Other important details. Please include a phone number where we can reach you and best time to call.
We will reach out and schedule a One-to-One Consultation approximately one hour in duration so that we can thoroughly understand your needs.
