| ChicagotoRoanoke |
Dec 12, 2006 12:43 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sacto
(Post 2503791)
Never heard of this place...
|
Neither had I until I moved here (see post above). It is the cultural center of the western part of the state. Hub for the arts and transportation and medical care. Metro population is about 300,000 according to the 2005 standards. City proper around 100,000. The actual draw is larger than that though as people do come from Lynchburg and New River Valley especially which have their own metro areas. I suspect Roanoke and NRV will merge in the not too distnant future as there is a lot of partnering with Virginia Tech on many economic development projects here. VT is about 30-35 mile down I-81.
Used to be a railroad town and NS still has a presence here, but the largest industry is healthcare. Lots of small biotech companies are starting to develop like just about everywhere else I suppose.
I think Roanoke is waking from a long slumber. My first impression when I moved here was interesting little city with huge unmet potential. For the first five years I came to understand why. This place was in it's heyday in the 50's, built around the railroad, and the residents, and thus the powers that be were trying to keep it in a time capsul. As I say, if you resist change too hard then the change you will get will be decay. That's was what was happening here as every new idea that came up got enough oppostion to shoot it down. In the last three years there has been a real shift in thought and a complete change in elected officials. As a result, opposition to new projects has been losing left and right. One of the most encouraging changes has been the new art museum mentioned. The architect was actually an apprentice of Gehry and you can tell. His work has also recently been chosen for a new museum in Edmonton. His name is Randall Stoudt and the building is in the first image on this page.
Another good piece of news has been the development for the Riverside Center for Research and Technology. A multi-acre site downtown that is a joint project between Virginia Tech and Carilion (a not for profit healthcare company that employs 10,000 people in the valley). The park now houses Luna Technologies and Carilion Biomedical Institute. The Carilion Clinic is a $100 mil, 250,000 sq foot bulding in the works for the site. Cambria Suites is also planned for the site. Recently it was revealed that Virginia Tech in conjuction with Carilion wants to open a medical school on the site. It has tremendous potential to transform our economy and appears to be chugging along, especially in the last year. Plans for a multiacre multipurpose park adjacent to the complex are also in the works. Additionally, there is a proposal for streetcars to make a comeback linking Riverside with the Market area downtown.
There were also some gems here to beging with. The mountains give natural beauty that is hard to beat and the outdoors and all the activities that go with it are very easily accesible. The downtown Market is very nice to have. Hotel Roanoke is a great historic landmark and first class hotel and convention center. Old buildings with good bones are being rehabed into condos and people are moving downtown. I like it here now and feel like it is moving in a very positive direction.
Finally, here is the neighborhood where I live with my family within walking distance of downtown. I walk to work. I love it. I have been able to maintain a good urban lifestyle here.
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