Angelica Ramos
Contributing Writer
BLACKSBURG- The Town of Blacksburg unanimously voted to adopt the 2025- 2030 Capital Improvement Program.
Blacksburg’s Capital Improvement Program was introduced to the town council in November of 2024 and over the past few months has undergone review, public hearing and public comment. On Jan. 28, 2025 it was approved. The Capital Improvement Program lists in detail capital projects and improvements for the Town of Blacksburg for five fiscal years. The plan also includes the proposed costs of these projects and the estimated time it will take to begin and complete them.
Projects in this proposed program include: a public restroom downtown for citizens and the events held downtown, skate park improvements, a parking deck/garage for town events and public parking, road and sidewalk maintenance, storm water management, bus charging infrastructure, athletic field renovations, renovations to Saint Luke and Odd Fellows Hall and much more.
Over the past few months, the town council has been able to ask questions and discuss the Capital Improvement Program. Residents have had the opportunity to seek answers to their questions and recommend changes if they so chose to. The Capital Improvement Program has been thoroughly reviewed and made available for the public as these projects will be occurring in their hometown throughout the next five years. With the CIP’s approval, residents may expect to see these projects shown in the annual budgets throughout the years as they are now adopted into those allocated funds.
During the discussion before the vote, Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith spoke to concerns made by a resident previously.
“I want to make reference to one thing I did not previously make reference to,” Hager-Smith said, “and that is some pretty lengthy, very thoughtful comments that came from Dr. Charles and I have to say, I confess, that I think some of his hesitation about our over-under parking garage are well-placed and I share some of his concerns.”
“He’s concerned generally about how much we need it – also about the cost – which is substantially less than a fancier one would be,” she continued. “His preference, he says, is for more housing downtown and for attracting businesses that would make it possible for people to live downtown without needing an automobile. And in fact, that is what was originally planned for, was an elaborate taller parking garage that was wrapped in housing. So, I share his concerns, and I feel disappointed, but sometimes we need to be nimble problem solvers, and I think in this case we’re balancing it along with a need for improved fields and more policing and a variety of other things the town is faced with at this moment.”
The council and town manager will provide data on parking to the resident and other residents concerned. The town council voted unanimously to move forward and approve the CIP.
