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DOWNTOWN’S SIX DISTRICTS

CHAPTER 5

Vision The vision for Downtown Northeast is to create a seamless link to the walkable, mixed- use downtown environment to the south. Buildings will be mixed-use, with ground floor retail and upper floor residential targeting young professionals and other non-students. Ideal businesses will include local, eclectic, and creative/craft operators, such as a craft brewery, creamery, and coffee roaster, and distinctive dining experiences. Buildings will be of a high architectural quality, with storefront windows and outdoor seating at the ground level, and durable materials on upper levels. Buildings will transition from up to four or five stories on Main Street to three-story residential on the west side of Progress Street, which will have improved bike/ pedestrian facilities. Across Progress Street, quality townhome infill will be permitted. A new street or pedestrian walkway mid-block between Turner and Giles will break up a superblock with mid-block crossings to make this part of Downtown more walkable and inviting. The cumulative effect will be a new, vibrant part of Downtown Blacksburg that positions it to attract and retain the next generation of talented workers, by providing needed amenities and quality workforce housing.

New green space

High architectural standards

High density non-student housing with retail

Walkability

CHARACTER & I DENT I TY

STRATEG I ES

Establish Development Opportunities

 Expansion of Downtown

 Quality architecture  Non-student housing

Address Housing Affordability

Move People, Not Cars

 Leverage density

 Young workforce attraction and retention

Enhance the Public Realm

111 Downtown Blacksburg Strategic Plan

Foster Innovation and a Resilient Local Economy

 Walkability/Bikeability  Mix of uses

Celebrate Town Distinctiveness

 Access to jobs, restaurants, art and entertainment

S7

Six Districts, One Downtown