Liz Kirchner
communitynews@ourvalley.org
In the first of three public meeting, more than 100 people filled the all-purpose room of the Blacksburg Recreation Center to consider aspects such as town identity, growth, vibrancy, and resilience as part of the town’s Strategic Planning effort that will include two online surveys and seven weeks of public input.
The community outreach meeting was led by Development Strategies, a planning firm based in St. Louis that specializes in real estate, economic and community development for small and medium sized communities.
In a ninety-minute meeting, community members considered land-use planning options surrounding density, architecture, affordability and were charged to consider the intersection of ‘what Blacksburg can be” and “what we want Blacksburg to be’.
In traditional community engagement exercises, people moved among stations sticking colored dots on maps and describing the town they envision in a single word on blue sticky notes. Single words included ‘car-free’, ‘progressive’, ‘inspired’, and ‘happy’.
“I am impressed with the information provided by the town consultants as well as their efforts to gather community input. I am also pleased to see an enthusiastic community response for the standing room only meeting.” Rebekah Paulson said President, The Villas of Fiddlers Green HOA.
Although research indicates greater housing density reduces traffic, many in the group expressed doubt.
“I already jump in the car to travel a short distance easily covered on foot more often than I wish to admit for the sheer fear of crossing Main Street,” Suzie Leslie, a long-time Blacksburg resident.
Change is coming to Blacksburg that will affect communities and economies beyond the town. Five thousand more students and up to 1000 more professors will swell the population in the coming years affecting housing prices, amenities, and traffic. Virginia Tech’s Creativity and Innovation District along the eastern edge of campus envisions an intersection with downtown Blacksburg that harnesses the university’s academic innovation to spur entrepreneurial innovation, large blocks of land like the Old Blacksburg Middle School, long relied on as green spaces, are on the brink of development.
“University towns like Cornell and College Station have similar development issues,” Julie Cooper of Development Strategies said.
Surveys are posted at www.blacksburg.gov/community/town-government/in-the-works/downtown-strategy. For additional information about meetings, contact Matt Hanratty, Assistant to the Town Manager, at 443-1611 or mhanratty@blacksburg.gov.
