Relocating to Roanoke ? (Franklin, Bedford, Rocky Mount: relocation, condominium, jobs)

[Aneilka]

We have a job offer in Roanoke. We are currently living in Tn. Does anyone have advice or more information about Roanoke? Thanks!

[Upstate Dave]

Having the job first seems the right move. Hope to see you there in a few years.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/virgi...oanoke-va.html

[PaperTrail]

Congrats, Aneilka! My fiancee and I will be moving to Roanoke in the next couple months (or maybe sooner!).

Definitely take a look at the tread that Upstate Dave posted. There's also this one:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/virgi...oanoke-va.html

It starts out with some somewhat heated conflicting opinions, but the later pages offer some really great advice. It's a good mix on how different people view the city.

As for me, I've been visiting Roanoke often for more than a year and love it there. I can't wait to move.

[Steven2149]

Congratulations! I'd say you will really like the area. I lived there for a few years and really loved it. The biggest problem was the job market and that shouldn't be a problem for you having one lined up prior to moving. What kinds of specific or general information would you like? I'm very familiar with the region and have a tendency to write very lenghty posts, so let me know what you are interested in and I'd be happy to elaborate.

[ArizonaGirl]

My husband and I also have our heart set on relocation to Roanoke, and we've been doing a lot of reading about the local culture. A job isn't that big of a deal for me, since I'm a professional resume writer and work from home. I like the idea of the close proximity to all of the universities. Plus I'm an avid roller skater and I know there are 3 rinks there.

What I don't know are the native pests. Red ants, roaches, mosquitoes, badgers, gophers, armadillos, termites? Please tell me! Is it really humid or muddy? I heard there's a chilly wind in the winter. What about religion? Is it dominated by one over another? I once lived in an all Catholic town in Louisiana and did not fit in at all. The Roanoke Times seems really liberal, but the residents appear ultra conservative. Am I wrong?

I want to know everything, good or bad!

Thanks for your assistance.

[LRanzolin]

ArizonaGirl... Yes, Roanoke is nice. My wife and I live just outside of town in Fincastle and we love it. There is alot to do here if you love the outdoors. People are friendly and traffic is almost nonexistent.

The best place to live is in Botetourt County around the Daleville and Fincastle area. Another option is around Smith Mountain Lake. It's nice all around the lake, but I recommend staying in the Bedford County part of the lake, as opposed to the Franklin County side (Franklin County is known around here as the Moonshine Capital of the U.S.). That's the good part.

The bad part about Roanoke (though this doesn't apply to you) is that jobs are hard to find if you're a white collar worker (unless you're an RN, PT, etc.). Summers are hazy, hot, and humid... the air quality is poor at best on account of the surrounding mountains and I81 going through the region. It puts a smile on most people's face when at the end of the summer a cold front comes through and blows all the foul air away, cools things off, and you can actually see the mountains again!

There's alot of bugs around here, but most aren't intrusive. The only annoying thing we've experienced is in the fall when lady bugs, spiders, and some mice come into the house to get away from the cold. We did find a huge Black Widow spider in the basement when we first moved in, but we haven't seen one since (I flipped it over with a stick... it was definately a widow).

They do welcome newcomers, but there is a bit of the "good 'ol boy" mentality around here. There is also a small amount of religious bigotry (unless of course you're Baptist... which is the "right" religion around here). I'm a little reluctant to bring this up because it's minor, but I have noticed it.

Oh, one more important thing... this place is the pits when it comes to allergies. You won't find anyone else on this forum talking about this, but in Roanoke this is a huge issue. This area is notorious for allergies. Proceed with caution if you suffer with allergies.

[roanoker 4]

To ArizonaGirl, yes the Roanoke Times is a liberal newspaper. The city of Roanoke is much more tolerant and open minded than the surrounding suburbs, which include Roanoke County, Botetourt and Franklin. Montgomery County(VA Tech) is more open minded than the general population around here. I agree about the allergies. We are a lush region of trees and more trees of every kind. It is nothing like Arizona. As far as bugs, I have been
bitten by mosquitos and spiders. No major problems with poisonous snakes or termites. Roanoke is my home, and I recently moved back here after 28 years living in Wash. DC. Believe me, it is an undiscovered gem!

[Apple Annie]

Any suggestions on nice condominium or townhome communities, safe, quiet, mostly adult? For an older couple with one pet ? Thanks.

[seanpecor]

Originally Posted by LRanzolin

The best place to live is in Botetourt County around the Daleville and Fincastle area. Another option is around Smith Mountain Lake. It's nice all around the lake, but I recommend staying in the Bedford County part of the lake, as opposed to the Franklin County side (Franklin County is known around here as the Moonshine Capital of the U.S.). That's the good part.

With all due respect to LRanzolin, he clearly hasn't spent much time in Franklin County. Since 2000, Franklin County grew 8.5% compared to Botetourt's 4.9%. Bedford County is WAY behind Franklin County with regard to economic development around Smith Mountain Lake. Overall, Franklin County has a stronger and more independent economy than does Botetourt. In 2006 alone, Franklin County received in excess of $100 million in new commitments from new economy manufacturing firms and those expansions have begun in earnest. In general, the commute to Roanoke from Botetourt County takes far longer than it does from Franklin County. My accountant is in Botetourt County, and traffic on US-460W is so bad that to get to Roanoke he must drive 5 miles up 220N to I-81, drive 13 miles, take the I-581S exit into Roanoke, and then drive the 8 miles to downtown. That's crazy. I have friends in Daleville, and it takes them 35 minutes to get to downtown Roanoke. By mileage, Boones Mill is further away from downtown Roanoke yet it takes only 20 minutes to get downtown.

Originally Posted by LRanzolin

Summers are hazy, hot, and humid... the air quality is poor at best on account of the surrounding mountains and I81 going through the region.

This is not so much the case in Franklin County since we're on the East side of the Blue Ridge, in the Western Piedmont.

I must admit I'm perplexed that one would claim Botetourt County as the best place in the Roanoke area to move to, while simultaneously portraying Franklin County as home to nothing more than wayward moonshiners (or worse). Let's examine the facts. The town of Rocky Mount - Franklin Counties' Seat - a thriving town of 5,000 - is a Virginia Main Street Community in the National Register of Historic Districts. How many such districts does Botetourt County have? Rocky Mount boasts a multi-facility YMCA on 40 acres with a building just for children 12 and under. It offers two dance studios with floating floors, classrooms, a giant activity room w/ rock wall, basketball gyms, etc. Last summer, the YMCA facility added a $100,000 skate park. Can Botetourt County claim such a YMCA? Franklin County boasts Ferrum College, a small but highly regarded United Methodist college in Ferrum. How many colleges call Botetourt County home? Franklin County has a beloved state park (Smith Mountain Lake State Park). How many state parks does Botetourt County have? Franklin County has one national park (Booker T. Washington National Park). How many national parks does Botetourt County have? Franklin County has three lakes (Smith Mountain, Farystone and Philpott Resorvoir). How many lakes does Botetourt County have? Construction is in full swing for Rocky Mounts' $8 million technology center, being built to help re-train adults for the digital economy. How many such technology centers does Botetourt County have?

I serve on the coordinating board for the Blue Ridge Foothills & Lakes chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program. Our meeting area is Rocky Mount. Let me tell you a story. The chapter forming committee was begun by a couple of folks on the Bedford County side of Smith Mountain Lake. They presumed they'd get plenty of volunteer interest from the lake alone, and in particular the Bedford side. No such luck. Instead, swarms of volunteers from Franklin County came out of the woodwork and the chapter focus soon changed to Franklin County along with the shoreline of Smith Mountain Lake. These volunteers are professors, elementary school teachers, successful businessmen, retired farmers and so on. Does Botetourt County have a Master Naturalist chapter yet? Just checking.

Sean

[seanpecor]

Originally Posted by Apple Annie

Any suggestions on nice condominium or townhome communities, safe, quiet, mostly adult? For an older couple with one pet ? Thanks.

I think some Roanoke locals will be able to recommend some options for you that are specifically in Roanoke. Insofar as Rocky Mount is concerned, there is a new townhome community right on the north edge of town, which puts you 25 minutes from Roanoke. It's called Hunters Ridge (I think), and I believe http://www.mountaintolake.com/ has some 3 bedroom units in the $174K range. That's a good location. Convenient to all the basics and you could walk to the YMCA where they have a really nice 40 acre nature preserve, a heated indoor pool, a gym and much more. This link may not work on this forum, but here is a shortcut to the listing:

http://www.mountaintolake.com/Frankl...D35D0A83.shtml

Sean