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DOWNTOWN’S SIX DISTRICTS

CHAPTER 5

Vision The vision for the Original 16 is that it serves as an important vestige and reminder of Blacksburg’s small-town history, celebrating this identity. The street environment will see reinvestment, providing sidewalks and well- maintained streets throughout the district. Appropriate street furniture, decorative lighting, and banners will reinforce a historic and small-town feel, as well as a sense of permanence. Incentives and partnerships will be leveraged, where practical, to improve the conditions of existing historic homes. New development, where appropriate (either due to poor building conditions, or the presence of surface parking or non-contributing structures) should be sensitive to the architectural context of this district’s historic character. A broader mix of commercial uses could be permitted, but not required, on Church Street, including dining, retail, and office. These uses would not be encouraged moving farther east toward Penn and Wharton Streets, as this east side of Church Street provides an important transition to adjacent residential areas.

Preservation of historic structures

Medium-density residential

Townhome infill

Small business retail

CHARACTER & I DENT I TY

STRATEG I ES

Establish Development Opportunities

 Preservation-forward

 Small-town character  Select infill projects  Sidewalk/streetscape improvements

Address Housing Affordability

Move People, Not Cars

Enhance the Public Realm

 Branding/celebrate the 16

87 Downtown Blacksburg Strategic Plan

Foster Innovation and a Resilient Local Economy

S5

 Rehab policy/programs  Zoning refinements

Celebrate Town Distinctiveness

S7

Six Districts, One Downtown