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Chapter 4 could shape these districts over the coming 10-15 years, and identifies potential catalyst projects that could bring that vision to life.

Analysis: A Framework for Downtown Blacksburg Chapter 2 describes key findings from the analysis of community demographics, housing, the economy, and Downtown’s physical environment. This analysis confirms the importance of balancing the three factors described above – growth, town identity, and cost of housing – to ensure that Downtown evolves in ways that support the broader community’s livability and success. Goals and Objectives Chapter 3 lays out the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan: the guideposts for how to shape a growing, changing Downtown Blacksburg. These set a foundation for the strategies that follow, and ensure that the plan aligns with community priorities. Seven Strategies for Downtown Chapter 4 describes a series of targeted strategies for advancing the plan’s goals. These strategies span a broad range of issues, from housing to transportation, and from the public realm to economic development. These areas of action are mutually reinforcing, and involve the partnership of a wide range of stakeholders in the Blacksburg community. Downtown’s Six Districts Chapter 5 presents a districting framework, defining six geographic areas within Downtown that have their own distinct characters, identities, and mixes of uses. This section envisions how the strategies presented in

Implementation The final chapter, Chapter 6, offers a roadmap for implementation of the Downtown Strategy, including the specific actions that can advance the strategies and the key partners involved. This roadmap identifies implementation priorities related to capital improvements as well as for the regulatory updates and other policies needed to lay the groundwork for advancing community goals. This strategic plan for Downtown Blacksburg offers a long-term outlook to help the town work toward an exciting future, and have greater control over its own destiny even as external conditions change. The opportunity is immense: for Blacksburg to cultivate its Downtown as an active, dynamic, and accessible neighborhood with a diverse economic base and a distinctive town identity.

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