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ANALYSIS : AFRAMEWORK FORDOWNTOWNBLACKSBURG

CHAPTER 2

TOWN IDENTITY

I DENT I TY

Town Identity Town identity is a difficult concept to measure. It is about the people who make up a place—the residents of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The tangible elements of a community—its buildings, streets, and open spaces—are a part of it, but so too are less tangible ones: culture, art, openness, friendliness, and many more. As town identity is forged over time, it is also ever-evolving, responding to changes both internal and external to the community. This change is necessary—even if it is uncomfortable at times. In the moment, it is human nature to resist change, to want to preserve the identity of the present, one that is familiar and beloved. With great care, balancing preservation with the need to adapt can lead not to a completely new identity, but to one that is fuller, more nuanced and multi-faceted. It is that complexity—the mixing of old and new, proven and innovative, close-knit and inclusive—that can create a truly great place. Development and investment Downtown must take great care to respect Blacksburg’s history and character, while also helping the community evolve and thrive as it grows and conditions change.

History and Character Blacksburg’s history is an integral part of its identity, and is reflected throughout the built environment. The grid of the Original 16 Squares, which comprised the town at its beginning, has remained intact for over two hundred years. So have a number of buildings important to the history of the town, including the Alexander Black House, Old Town Hall, and St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall. The town still contains many examples of architectural styles from the different eras in Blacksburg’s history, creating an eclectic architectural character. Over 160 buildings in Blacksburg’s historic district—which includes the Original 16—have been designated as contributing structures in recognition of their historic/cultural importance. While some of these historic and contributing structures have been well-maintained and are visible and accessible to residents and visitors, many others have been under-maintained over the years. In some cases, they detract from the neighborhood character, given their state of disrepair. One of the town’s major challenges in balancing town identity with growth and cost of housing will be strategically and effectively preserving its historic character while fostering appropriate redevelopment of those structures that no longer contribute to that character.

Historic architecture

The Lyric Theatre

35 Downtown Blacksburg Strategic Plan

Blacksburg Museum