Local Business and Economic Development

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The Virginia Land Conservation Foundation has awarded the Grassy Hill Natural Area Preserve in Franklin County a grant to protect the Piedmont Fameflower. WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports.

 

Earlier this week The Virginia Land Conservation Foundation awarded grants to two conservation projects in our area. As WFIR’s Denise Allen Membreno reports both projects are globally significant.

Burt Pinnock- Baskervill G Marrano photo

Developer Ed Walker – who along with partners plan to spend at least 50 million dollars over the next decade-plus to transform the 9th Street Southeast Industrial park into a mixed-use project on more than 100 acres – introduced the Richmond-based architectural firm today that will do the “master planning” for Riverdale. Chair Burt Pinnock says they are excited about the challenge. Pinnock also said today that Baskervill hopes to have a draft Master Plan ready by next spring – after it receives public feedback on what THEY envision for the Riverdale retail and residential project.

 

 

Alex Torres photos. Melrose Plaza

The project has a mission of restoration to create a ripple effect across all of Roanoke. WFIR’s Alex Torres reports on the groundbreaking of Melrose Plaza that took place recently:

 

 

30 million dollars, collected from Roanoke City, grants and tax credits, including 8 million dollars from Goodwill Industries of the Valleys in donated property will lead to the Market on Melrose grocery store in that northwest neighborhood, a wellness center, a Bank of Botetourt branch and a free public high school for adults with on-site daycare. Construction is scheduled for completion late next year.  At a groundbreaking ceremony recently for Melrose Plaza, Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea Sr. said, “remarkable things can happen,” when the public and private sectors work together to make a community better.

 

Vinton town officials see this afternoon’s official opening of a new restaurant as another important step to drive a continued revitalization of the town’s central business district. You may have seen Pollard 107 South in recent months as you enter Vinton on Gus Nicks Boulevard. It sits on a main corner at the downtown’s first stoplight — a highly visible location. And Vinton’s Economic Development Specialist Marshall Stanley says hopes are high it brings more business to the town. The restaurant conducted a low-key soft opening a few months ago in a building that had most recently served as home to the Star City Playhouse. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:

 

G Marrano photos

The former Days Inn on Orange Avenue near the Berglund Center is now The Heights at Gateway Park, 88 apartments for rent, mostly 1-bedroom. Roanoke City leaders joined the developers to cut a ribbon this morning. Frank Saul says his DC-based company Saul Urban has done this elsewhere for its “Lodging to Living” initiative, turning outdated hotels well past their prime into apartments. There is a shortage of one bedroom apartments in the city as one speaker noted. Saul said most units at The Heights rent for around $1150 per month. They’ve just started the leasing process.

 

 

 

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