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CONTR I BUT I NG STRUCTURES

Image of “transition” example on Main street

In 1999, the Town of Blacksburg established the Blacksburg Historic District, located near downtown. Several structures within this designated district, including many in the Original 16, are classified as contributing structures, meaning they have been surveyed and determined to have specific contributions to the historic character of the district. This district designation provides a means of protecting the town’s cultural assets. Proposed changes to any structure of site within the district requires review by the town’s Historic or Design Review Board.

Architecture and Transitions Part of maintaining balance in respecting and celebrating town identity is working with the development community to design new build- ings that can co-exist with existing structures. This co-existence can occur through architec- tural standards, and through thoughtful height and materials transitions. Through the strategy process, Blacksburg residents indicated their preferences for particular types of building de- sign and material that they feel fits their com- munity. Since town identity is shaped by the preferences of people, understanding those preferences can lead to architectural guide- lines that support Blacksburg’s identity. In Downtown Blacksburg, the highest and densest buildings are built along Main Street, with the density dropping off immediately to neighborhoods of single-family homes at the mid-block between Main Street and Progress Street to the east and at Draper Road to the west. This results not only in too little supply of needed housing Downtown, but also in a stark separation between Main Street and its adja- cent blocks. A less dramatic transition through the development of medium-density buildings leading away from Main Street would tie ad- joining neighborhoods to the main activity corri- dor, creating a fuller and more dynamic Down- town.

Wes Grey House

The Lyric Theatre

ORIGINAL 16

36 Contributing structures in and around the Original 16