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3 - ECONOMY & EMPLOYMENT

4 - DOWNTOWN

2 - TOWN IDENTITY

HONOR DOWNTOWN’S NATURAL RESOURCES AND HISTORIC ASSETS

POSITION DOWNTOWN TO WELCOME AND ADAPT TO ECONOMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

CREATE A VIBRANT, LIVABLE DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD

Improve connections to existing parks Enhance programming and infrastructure in parks and at historic sites Provide better access and visibility for buildings central to the history of Blacksburg Explore ways to actively celebrate historic assets and foster interest in revitalization/rehabilitation of historic buildings Promote development that respects community preferences and architectural context and provides thoughtful transitions to the scale of existing development

Promote complementary development opportunities adjacent to Virginia Tech's Creativity and Innovation District Promote investments that can foster a stronger start-up/ innovation community and grow Blacksburg's knowledge economy jobs Promote needed investments that will help attract and retain employees Increase Downtown's capacity as a center of economic activity efficiency of land use by developing centrally-located structured parking

Encourage development of a mix of uses Encourage and support local businesses Improve multimodal access to and within Downtown and adjacent neighborhoods Increase convenience and safety for pedestrians and cyclists through all of Downtown Increase Downtown vibrancy via public spaces, public art, spaces for cultural expression, and streetscaping Promote development of economically- feasible, human-scaled structures Improve the Downtown experience and future development by defining Downtown districts Expand "boundaries" of Downtown to guide development

54 Chapter 3 - Goals and Objectives