Downtown Roanoke Improvement Wishlist (Charlottesville, Jefferson: apartment, rent, lofts)

[RoanokeWahoo]

Hey guys,

First time poster, but have lived in the Roanoke area for about 5 years. I am a downtown resident, so I wanted to pick some brains to see what if anything you would want to see in downtown Roanoke.

A couple of my ideas are the following (in no particular order):

- Connecting North Jefferson street to South Jefferson street
- Walking mall similar to the downtown mall in Charlottesville
- Elmwood Park improvements (more green space)
- Replace the faux trolleys (buses) and put in light rail along Jefferson
- Homeless issues (if you don't think its a problem I can provide you with examples)

That's what I can think of off the top of my head. Anyone else have any ideas or wishes that can make downtown Roanoke even better?

Cheers

[j1n]

a grocery store...but that's in the works already.

what is the homeless problem?

[RoanokeWahoo]

It might be just because I see it on a daily basis, but the homeless are relentless downtown.

Everything from Harassment to public urination, to even bathing in a fountain I have seen downtown. You can't even enjoy a walk or time in general in Elmwood Park due to the homeless taking over the park.

I do not know what can be done, but I just think that it is a real problem.

[j1n]

Originally Posted by RoanokeWahoo

It might be just because I see it on a daily basis, but the homeless are relentless downtown.

Everything from Harassment to public urination, to even bathing in a fountain I have seen downtown. You can't even enjoy a walk or time in general in Elmwood Park due to the homeless taking over the park.

I do not know what can be done, but I just think that it is a real problem.

Wow. I'm downtown a lot and I don't ever see any of that stuff.

But in response to your last sentence...
Nothing will really be done about transient folks in Roanoke. This valley has so many programs available to those folks that I think it's practically a "destination". Mild weather most of the year, free sleeping arrangements when it's cold, and you can eat free hot meals (probably 4 or 5 a day) all over downtown if you are willing to walk a little.

[roanoker 4]

I'd like to see more logical routes for the Star Trolley downtown, like connecting the Transportation Museum, Hotel Roanoke to downtown attractions.
"New" construction downtown such as more apartment living with balconies. The rehabs are nice but they are getting dull.
A mid priced hotel with parking in the market square area with some conference rooms.
Hotel Roanoke should build a real spa to attract more visitors, similar to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
Hotel Roanoke should remodel one of its main entance rooms into a nice bar, off the lobby area with nightly entertainment.
Making Church Ave two way, it may liven up the street.
The City should make every effort to put someone in the Heironimus building, having it sit empty for so long hurts the entire Jefferson Street downtown area.
Jefferson and Campbell should not be a parking lot, but a high rise office building.
More awnings along Jefferson Street as it was in Roanokes' early days.
An outdoor market on weekends around the old YMCA building similar to Happys.
Better Christmas decorations especially on lamp posts during the Holidays.
The Taubman Museum getting more involved in sidewalk art shows.
The list goes on...............

[Watchful]

A "next step" on the trolley would be to have it go from South Roanoke to downtown to Grandin Village. That would be cool.

Preserve green space at Elmwood Park. (I did have a hard time envisioning the footprint of a large amphitheatre being plopped down into the park, and would prefer that if the idea is resurrected it be located elsewhere.)

Reopen rail station for passenger rail service.

Improvements to the transit center - it is nice in some ways to have the central transfer point without having to stand on the street (especially in inclement weather) but the present station is a little grim and dark. Most bus transfer centers these days are more open and visually appealing.

Do everything to build upon the street vibe of the market area and expand it.

[roanoker 4]

I agree on the passenger rail service, I think it should be a top priority of the valleys' economic development efforts, even the state can now see the potential. More visitors to downtown= More tax revenue for the area.
The market area should continue to expand beyond market square.
Keep movie theatres, skating rinks, fast food joints out of the market square area, I think that is a death knell.
The transit center was a good idea at the time but it needs to go back to the study stage.
While we love our homeless population they should not be allowed to panhandle or sleep on the sidewalks as we see too often downtown.

[abetterroanoke]

Here's my wish list for downtown Roanoke:

-A pedestrian mall like (like Charlottesville), with some decent stores. It would be awesome if we had an Apple store, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Urban Outfitters, Crate & Barrel (and the like) right downtown. That doesn't mean we'd get rid of non-chain stores, but having some really good shopping would make downtown Roanoke a bigger draw for the whole region.

-Passenger rail service from Roanoke to DC and to Charlotte. Our city's history is all about trains so I don't see why this can't be done.

-More lofts/condos downtown. We need more young professionals living downtown to help spur change. Thanks goodness for Ed Walker!:
Developer Ed Walker outlines vision for Roanoke - Roanoke.com

-A "music row" - a few blocks with only music bars/venues. Look at the success little Floyd, VA has had with its immensely popular Country Store. Why can't we have a music row downtown devoted to music clubs? It seems like that would be a big draw.

-A Trader Joe's downtown would be amazing.

-A real trolley (on tracks) to take people from Old Southwest, Grandin Village, Mountain View and Raleigh Court into Downtown.

-A real New Year's Eve party on the Square - complete with a jumbotron of NYC's festivities and our own Roanoke ball dropping.

-And I agree that all social service focus has made downtown a magnet for the region's homeless. That really should change. It's been said, "if you build it, they will come." So if you disassemble it, will they leave?

[abetterroanoke]

Bump. Are there no more ideas? I thought this thread would be more popular.

[roanoker 4]

Downtown has gotten more lively with the variety of festivals, holiday events etc during recent years. During the Christmas Holidays the families enjoy the
activities such as Dickens of a Christmas, etc. Why can't the City rent some of the empty storefronts on Jefferson to have a Santa for the kids or other holiday
ideas? An ice light festival sculpture, ice rink during the winter in Elmwood Park would add excitement during the winter, plus help the businesses on the market.
The parking lots at Jefferson & Church and Jefferson & Campbell must be demolished for office/residential/retail space. The old Shenandoah Hotel on Campbell should be a boutique style hotel similar to the new Proximity Hotel in
Greensboro. A new breakfast style eatery similar to a Panera Bread should exist in the Market area. If the renovated market building cannot attract the old tenants then it should be innovative and negotiate with some national chains.
I like Charlottesville downtown Mall but I think closing Jefferson Street might be tough. I would recommend eliminating parking on Jefferson, add a streetcar and that would give cars more room to move around plus bring more visitors downtown. If the tracks are already under the pavement, isn't there an old
streetcar in moth balls that could be donated to the City? I believe Bev Fitzpatrick with the Va Museum has some ideas on the streetcar concept. Also,
WHY doesn't the Va Museum of Transportation have a free shuttle that takes
people from the Market area to the museum? It might help attendance!