Friday, May 24th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
The Riverside development project includes apartments, retail, and offices. It will connect downtown Roanoke with the Roanoke River, creating a destination with a public river walk, kayak launch, and riverfront dining.
ROANOKE, Va., (May 24, 2013) – Developers today broke ground on a multi-year, mixed-use development that includes new apartments, restaurants, offices and retail space on the site of a former mill and scrap yard – the largest development of its kind in Roanoke.
The 22-acre project, named The Bridges, will expand downtown Roanoke along South Jefferson Street, complementing the Virginia Tech-Carilion School of Medicine & Research Institute and Riverside office complex currently across the street, as well as an adjacent site under the Walnut Street bridge.
Over the next decade, The Bridges is planned to grow to 1 million square feet of residential, retail and office space that will connect downtown with the Roanoke River to create a destination that will include a public river walk, kayak launch and riverfront dining.
Construction is set to begin in June.
“The Bridges has the potential to further transform Roanoke into a vibrant, livable city where people of all ages can live, work and play in an area designed for convenience and connectivity,” said Bern Ewert, former Roanoke city manager who envisioned the project and co-founder of Roanoke River Associates, which founded the project. “Providing additional public access to the river is a crucial component of this project as we extend downtown, further building upon new and revitalized construction that has increased the number of downtown residents and dining options.
“This bold project took the work of a lot of people and organizations, and we are grateful for the unwavering support and cooperation of Carilion Clinic, the City of Roanoke and the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority to clear and prepare the land for development,” Ewert added.
The Bridges name is a nod to two wide and distinctive bridges (Jefferson Street and Walnut Street) bisecting the development. The name also refers to how the project will extend the downtown core to South Jefferson Street and the surrounding neighborhoods.
“Symbolically, as our city moves from its industrial heritage to an economy built on knowledge, medicine and technology, The Bridges connotes how the city is moving forward by crossing an important bridge,” Ewert added. “As this project transforms a former industrial site to one of life, ideas and innovation, it’s very much a bridge to our future.”
“This is a major milestone in Roanoke’s history,” added Roanoke Mayor David Bowers. “The development team has a track record of creating vibrant, active and dynamic multi-use projects by preserving the character and history of older buildings and creating new options. This project is crucial to connecting downtown to the river – a key step for any great river city. Great cities have great downtowns, and many of them have rivers. We will soon be able to say we are one of them, bringing new energy and vitality to our riverfront as we continue to redefine our future.”
Phase I: Restaurant, apartment building, office space and river walk
The Bridges is being developed by Richmond-based WVS Companies, which purchased Roanoke River Associates and has worked on numerous projects that reuse existing buildings and amenities to create new communities. The property is ideally located to serve employees at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital as well as employees and students of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute and the Jefferson College of Health Sciences. WVS is the developer of Rocketts Landing in Richmond, an urban community on the banks of the James River.
The property is divided into two sections – the Jefferson Street District and the River District – with three blocks and two points of access to South Jefferson Street. The first phase of The Bridges will include a 6,684-square-foot restaurant/coffee house, office space and a 139,084-square-foot, 157-unit apartment building along South Jefferson Street. It will include a public promenade along the river, kayak launch, sidewalks and streetscapes.
The project has received $10 million in financing from the City of Roanoke for public infrastructure such as riverside park, sidewalks, landscaping and new roadways within the triangular-shaped site.
The restaurant/coffee house will be located in an existing building that once was part of a lumber yard. The look of the historic building, located on the southern end of the property, will be preserved during its rehabilitation as a dining hotspot.
The new apartment building, to be constructed on a new frontage road, will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and lower-level parking. The project is targeting both working professionals and students with a modern, industrial aesthetic appeal to contrast with historical structures on the property. The apartments will include an on-site leasing office, meeting room, game room, fitness center and club room. A courtyard will include a trellised seating area, built-in gas grills, fire pit, water feature and lawn.
The apartments feature a contemporary design, with an exterior coated metal and large, partially enclosed balconies with metal railings and side metal panels and large windows.
The first phase also will include 31,000 square feet of rehabilitated commercial space in two of the six historic structures slated for adaptive reuse on the site. One of them includes the Trolley Barn, close to the Walnut Street bridge. It’s an ideal location for a microbrewery, gym or creative space.
The Trolley Barn housed street trolleys during the early 20th century and with its concrete construction, high ceilings and numerous skylights is planned to be multi-tenanted space located along the river walk.
Also planned – an office complex ideal for medical-related businesses, financial services companies, start-ups and other service companies. This new construction will front South Jefferson Street with three stories of office and retail space on top of ground-level parking.
Phase II: Additional retail, housing and entertainment options available
If successful, The Bridges development will extend to the former site of Virginia Bridge & Ironworks property for additional retail, entertainment and housing options.
“This development has everything we look for in a mixed-use project,” says Jason Vickers-Smith, owner of WVS. “Our team loves the Blue Ridge Mountains and we enjoy the ease of doing business in this friendly region. We are excited to break ground on a project that will change the landscape of Roanoke for future generations to enjoy.”
“We are confident that WVS can achieve long-term success based on the company’s proven developments to reintroduce abandoned or historic property to the public,” Ewert added. “The Bridges will play a major role in Roanoke’s current adaptive reuse movement found throughout our urban core. Along with our existing recreational amenities such as the greenway, Mill Mountain Park and River’s Edge Sports Complex, The Bridges will become a destination for the Roanoke Valley for decades to come.”
Monday, May 20th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
The marathon and half marathon create $476,000 in economic impact; up 26.3 percent from 2012.
Billed as America’s toughest road marathon, the fourth annual Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon and Half Marathon generated $476,000 in economic impact, according to a new study. The 1,684 runners of America’s toughest road marathon spent money as well as energy, making this year’s race the best one ever. To date, the event has contributed more than $1,500,000 to the local economy.
A post-race survey determined that the April 20 races created $295,678 in direct new sales activity, plus an additional $180,691 in indirect and induced spending for a total of $476,370 – up 26.3 percent from 2012. Activity surrounding the event will support 5.7 jobs in the regional economy for the period of a year.
“The races and the visitors they attract reinforce awareness of the Roanoke Region’s outdoor amenities and reaffirm that our growing reputation as an outdoor destination leads to economic development,” said Pete Eshelman, director of outdoor branding for the Roanoke Regional Partnership.
The Partnership and Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission prepared a participant survey to measure the event’s economic impact. Respondents were asked to report the amount spent on fuel, meals, lodging, miscellaneous retail purchases and admissions while in the study area. Results of the survey also indicate a 100% satisfaction rating from participants.
Runners came to Roanoke from 38 states, Canada, Germany, England, and Ethiopia. Approximately 67 percent of runners were from the state of Virginia and 77 percent were from the southeastern United States.
National attention drew a record number of runners this year, up 77 percent compared to last year. The race was featured on a number of ‘toughest in the world’ lists including those compiled by The Weather Channel, USA Today, and Wenger.
Meanwhile, local interest grows as well. Coverage of the Blue Ridge Marathon by WDBJ7 exceeded viewership of recent coverage of national sporting events. “Three and a half hours of live coverage on race day were among the most viewed sports programs the weekend of the marathon. Race coverage on April 20th was the second most watched sports program, outpaced only by NASCAR. Blue Ridge Marathon coverage bested the PGA, NBA, NHL and MLB, which is a testament to the growing stature of this race,” said Dan Dennison, news director for WDBJ7.
More than 44 percent of all survey respondents reported staying in town for at least one night. Approximately 36 percent stayed between one and two nights. The average length of stay among overnight visitors was 1.92 nights, up from 1.85 nights in 2012.
About 46 percent of all respondents reported traveling with family or friends. Respondents were asked to report the number of non-participants that traveled with them. The average size of the travel party among overnight visitors was 2.1, up from 1.7 in 2012. Day-trip visitors traveled with an average of 0.9 others per participant, up from 0.3.
“In all, this event has supported over a million and a half dollars in total regional economic impact in its first four years,” Eshelman said. “But more importantly, runners experienced a beautiful setting with friendly people and interesting attractions – goodwill that goes far beyond the numbers.”
The race course started in downtown Roanoke and meandered to the top of Mill Mountain and Roanoke Mountain along sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway for a total elevation change of 7,234 feet, making it America’s toughest road marathon. The 2014 date is set for April 26.
View the full economic impact report.
ABOUT ROANOKE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP
The Roanoke Regional Partnership, creator of the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon and RoanokeOutside.com, is a public-private organization established in 1983 to make the Roanoke Region a better place to live and work. In 2012, the Partnership assisted new and existing companies whose growth represents $322 million annual economic impact on the region. The Partnership is supported by 220 businesses and the governments of Alleghany, Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke counties; cities of Roanoke and Salem; and the town of Vinton. To learn more, please visit www.Roanoke.org, www.RoanokeOutside.com and www.RoanokeEntrepreneur.com.
Monday, May 20th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
The Roanoke Region is featured as a great travel destination by weekend editions of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the largest newspaper in metro Pittsburgh.
Writer Grethen McKay first came to the region for the Blue Ridge Marathon last month and quickly discovered the allure.
“Poised in a valley surrounded by mountains, Roanoke offers vacationers all kinds of activities,” the article says. “Outdoor types can spend the day hiking or biking its long network of greenway and mountain trails or traipsing through caves (Dixie Caverns are in nearby Salem). There's also fishing, boating and horseback riding at Carvins Cove, which borders 14 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and camping and picnicking at Smith Mountain Lake.”
McKay also visited some of the Roanoke Region’s top destinations, from museums to Mill Mountain to Grandin Village and loved every stop.
She also wrote about the world-renowned Peanut Soup from The Hotel Roanoke and shares the recipe.
Read about all the places this writer visited on her tour and the great things she shared about the Roanoke Region.
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Alexander’s in Downtown Roanoke has been named to OpenTable Diners’ Choice 2013 list of “Top 100 Restaurants for Service in the United States.” This prestigious award, based on reviews submitted by actual diners, signifies that Alexander’s is among the nation’s best in restaurant service.
The OpenTable Top 100 list is derived from more than five million customer reviews at more than 15,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Alexander’s was the only restaurant in western Virginia and one of only four restaurants in the state to be named to the Top 100 list.
“We are very pleased by this acknowledgment from OpenTable diners and to be included among the most legendary restaurants in the country,” said Bridget Meagher, owner of Alexander’s. “It’s wonderful to know that these diners who visited Roanoke from all over the U.S. thoroughly enjoyed their overall experience and gave us such high marks.”
“The award winning service at Alexander’s is due to the outstanding efforts of our staff headed by General Manager Boni Mills Webb. Members of the senior service team, Bjorn Lindholm, Kelly Ontiveros Gearhart and Ryan Cook, assisted by Chris Blankenship, rank in the top of their field. We also want to congratulate the other remarkable restaurant service winners, including The French Laundry in Yountville, CA, Tru in Chicago and Le Bernardin in New York City.”
"Superior service is the cornerstone of fine dining," said Caroline Potter, OpenTable chief dining officer. "The honorees at these winning restaurants are taking hospitality to another level, and diners are taking note, rewarding their efforts with rave reviews and return visits."
You can find the complete listing of restaurants on the Top 100 list from OpenTable.
Alexander’s, southwest Virginia’s dining destination, is located in the heart of Historic Downtown Roanoke. The restaurant offers contemporary versions of classic Southern, Mediterranean and Asian cuisines that are deeply rooted in traditional sensitivities. An oasis for sophisticated, unpretentious dining, the restaurant focuses on using superb ingredients; fish, seafood, prime quality meats and locally sourced organic produce, much of it from the owners’ 7 Hills Farm. Alexander’s service and cuisine showcase years of collaboration among the most talented hospitality professionals of our region.
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 10:02 am
Roanoke is in the top 20 percent of metros nationally when it comes to a low cost of living, according to latest data from the ACCRA Cost of Living Index. The latest cost of living data from the first quarter of 2013 show that Roanoke has the lowest cost of living of any metro in Virginia.
Costs average 9.5 percent lower than the national average in Roanoke. Roanoke’s cost advantages are strongest in groceries and housing, though health care and gasoline are also considerably lower than the national average. Roanoke’s cost of living is lower than many competing metros in the South including Asheville, N.C., and Greenville S.C.
Use our cost of living calculator to see how far your dollar will go in the Roanoke Region.
Thursday, May 9th, 2013 at 10:25 am
You probably already know the fishing is good at Smith Mountain Lake, and a ranking from fishing authority Bassmaster Magazine confirms it.
Smith Mountain Lake took honors as the No. 25 best bass lake in the United States in the annual survey. Smith Mountain Lake moved up 38 places from the 2012 rankings.
Smith Mountain Lake is best known for its striped bass. This lake regularly leads the state in producing “citation” sized stripers. There are also good populations of both large and smallmouth bass and the lake has been added to the ESPN Bassmaster’s circuit in the past couple of years. Public access is very good with both public boat ramps and private marinas.
A number of factors go into the final Bassmaster Magazine rankings. Bassmaster starts the list by asking every state’s department of natural resources for catch rates, population studies and stocking. Then they went B.A.S.S. Nation presidents and conservation directors to rank each based on the tournaments they held. Then a panel of Elite Series pros, outdoor writers, and industry professionals weigh in on each lake. This year the list also went to 3,500 B.A.S.S. members all over the United States for additional input.
The top 5 lakes include Lake St. Clair in Michigan, Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas, Clear Lake in California, Lake Guntersville in Alabama, and Lake Erie in Michigan/Ohio/New York/Pennsylvania.
Three other Virginia lakes also made the list: Potomac River (19), Claytor Lake (77), and Kerr Lake (83).
You can see the full list from Bassmaster Magazine.
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently ranked Virginia as a top state for performance, innovation, and talent.
In its fourth annual Enterprising States study, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce gave Virginia top marks in three out of six categories. Virginia was ranked No. 3 in innovation and entrepreneurship, No. 5 in performance, and No. 5 in talent pipeline.
This year’s theme, Getting Down to Small Business, focused on the importance of small businesses to lead the economic recovery, and looked at how states can implement policies to support entrepreneurs.
The study noted the importance of accelerator initiatives, economic gardening activities, business plan competitions, workforce development curricula and international trade programs — all of which Virginia does. Gov. Bob McDonnell’s 2012 Year of the Entrepreneur initiative and Virginia’s Business One Stop program received special recognition in the report.
Virginia was able to obtain a No. 3 ranking in overall innovation and entrepreneurship due to its leadership in science and technology. According to the study, Virginia is the No. 1 state in STEM job concentration and has the No. 1 share of high-tech businesses.
The Commonwealth’s high standard of living and No.1 ranking in adjusted median family income helped Virginia to achieve a Top 5 spot in overall performance.
The report also noted Virginia’s well-educated workforce, including strong high school advanced placement scores, educational attainment, and higher education efficiency—all contributors to Virginia’s success in obtaining a Top 5 ranking in overall talent pipeline.
These top rankings confirm Virginia’s position as a leading place for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Commonwealth recently received an “A” for its small business friendliness from The Kauffman Foundation and Thumbtack.com.
With March unemployment at 5.3 percent, the lowest number since December 2008, the Commonwealth’s focus on small business and job creation is yielding positive results.
Learn more about why the Roanoke Region of Virginia is the right place for your company to do business.
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 at 11:46 am
The Roanoke Region's newest brewery opens to the public this week at Smith Mountain Lake.
Sunken City Brewing will showcase five beers, including SML’s Dam Lager, a low hopped American Style Lager with hints of caramel (4.7 percent ABV); and a new beer, Red Clay IPA; an aggressive pale ale made with seven different varieties of malt (7 percent ABV).
Opening day festivities include a ribbon cutting ceremony, tap room tours, beer tastings, food and live music on Friday beginning at 4 p.m. (RSVP on Facebook.)
Sunken City Brewing is a 25-barrel, four -vessel brewhouse, featuring a tasting room and pub, retail store, and beer garden. The brewery will be scheduling tours throughout the summer. Brewery customers can purchase 20 oz. imperial pints, growlers to take home, and snacks in the tasting room. Sunken City will also have samples of limited small batch beers.
Weekly hours are Wednesday 5 to 9 p.m., Thursday noon to 9 p.m., Friday noon to 11 p.m., Saturday noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Cans of Dam Lager and Red Clay will be available later this summer in six-packs and cases. A third production beer will also be launched this summer. Dam Lager and Red Clay are also available by the keg for distribution by PA Short Distributing in Roanoke, Eagle Distributing in Lynchburg, and Danville Distributing in Danville.
Sunken City Brewing Company, Franklin County’s first microbrewery, is a $2.3 million, 8,800-square-foot project that is expected to create 20 to 25 jobs within five years. Sunken City, named after the villages that were flooded when the lake was dammed, is located along Route 122 at Westlake Towne Center near Smith Mountain Lake.
Sunken City Grand Opening
Wednesday, May 1st, 2013 at 10:16 am
The Roanoke Region is a great destination for a day trip or overnight stay, according to a regional web magazine.
A Baltimore Post-Examiner writer recently visited the region and had great things to say about its amenities, from museums to the Mill Mountain Zoo to the City Market and mountains.
Writer Eddie Applefeld said he loved the walkability of Downtown Roanoke and recommended the trip.
“The city is very walkable. After parking the car once, I simply spent the day exploring,” he wrote in “Roanoke Valley: Take a Day Trip.”
You can read the entire article on the Baltimore Post-Examiner website.
Thursday, April 25th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
ROANOKE, VA., April 25, 2013 – Appalachian Power today announced a new effort to help lure large capital investment and high-tech, high-paying jobs to the area. The program targets a growing industry by identifying sites in western Virginia that are independently qualified to meet requirements to support a data center.
The Appalachian Power program is part of an American Electric Power effort to identify optimum data center sites in the company’s 11-state service area. Roanoke County’s Center for Research and Technology met the criteria and is one of the first two sites to receive the designation.
“Appalachian Power’s data center qualification program targets an industry that can bring significant investment and high-paying employment opportunities,” said Mark Dempsey, Appalachian Power external affairs vice president. “Because electric infrastructure is a key component to economic growth we are already engaged in the economic development process. Under this program, we’re pleased to have the opportunity to help facilitate economic growth in our communities.”
“Projects like this investment by Appalachian Power are important to help grow and diversify the economy in western Virginia,” said Governor Bob McDonnell. “Appalachian Power’s investment will bring good, high-paying jobs and economic development to the Commonwealth. The company’s confidence in Virginia illustrates why our highly trained and available workforce, favorable regulatory environment, and pro-business policies are keeping the Commonwealth at the top of national lists as the best state in which to do business”
The data center qualification was conducted by Biggins Lacey Shaprio & Company, a nationally recognized location consulting firm, in partnership with Sugarloaf Associates, an energy advisory group specializing in the data center industry. They evaluated market conditions and sites in AEP’s service territory for suitability for data centers. The consultants visited potential sites and evaluated them on criteria including electric and fiber optic telecommunications infrastructure, risk of natural disasters and other hazards, tax policy and incentives and climate suitable for a data center, for example.
Information about AEP’s data center qualification program, including site information and the complete study for Roanoke County’s Center for Research and Technology, can be found online.
Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, which delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.