New mixed use complex next to Wake Forest Football stadium. VT?
Imagine similar development next to Lane (chicken Hill), with revenue feeding athletics. Create a 365 year entertainment/ apartments condo's hotels, entertainment etc. A destination to itself. That's what the next steps evolve.
Iowa State,
Wake
Green Bay Packers.
Being on VT property, no issues with Blacksburg.
28 Replies
8mo
Granville Towers has been around for 3 decades. Worked well but will soon be totally refurbished. Lessened the need for new tax paid dorms.
Would Blacksburg not allow this type of project? I have no clue. Haven't lived there since 1982. Hope the old heads that ran things then are long gone and a bit more progressive group making real estate/zoning decisions are in place.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
8mo
athletic department into a for profit LLC. One of the many reasons was development and real estate.
As an outsider with Lane on my bucket list, and being on the East Coast recently, I looked to see a game this year. It wasn't the cost that stopped me, it was the lack f planning because there wasn't a local place for me to book a room, walk through the tailgates, walk to the stadium, see the game, have a few drinks afterwards, and experience Blacksburg. Seriously, I would have come off the money, as I will be at the BIG championship game next weekend, and will be at the Rose Bowl this year.
Traveling fans bring a lot of money with them, and maybe, if there was a place for traveling fans (including VT fans), the attendance at the basketball games would improve.
I just started this year on my bucket list stadiums, and i ~plan to go to a lot of them, and some in between because of the schedules. Lane was a last second look in, and not having a place like is being discussed here, was a detriment.
just my two cents.
(In response to this post by ancient alien 2018)
R
RJHokie
8mo
would likely have adverse effects on other local businesses.
The local population isn’t large enough to support such a development anyway. Plus even if it’s on state property, the town provides water, sewer and storm water facilities for the campus and related facilities.
(In response to this post by hokeyhokie)
I won't argue sewer but VT provides its own water, huge water chiller
facilities in what was part of the cage
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
8mo
there, much like Blacksburg, where *university towns* die because of the same backwards, anti-growth, dysfunctional town government—a voter base that re-elects officials that support the same, a town-gown relationship that is stressed at best, and without recovery at worst. The lack of simple amenities, doctors and services is killing what once was a wonderful town, that frequently was listed as a top place to retire. No more. The town population is not only aging, but is shrinking. It’s been very sad to watch and feels like the degradation is accelerating, especially over the last 8-10 years.
** Edited by BackInTheBurg at 11/30/2025, 12:55:12 PM
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
8mo
youngones want to live life, so they move to the cities. I was one... "I'm getting the hell out of this town"
(In response to this post by BackInTheBurg)
8mo
The 2020 population was 44,754 and the 2025 estimated population is 45,626. I don't disagree with you, though, that the town of Blacksburg and Montgomery County are not very progressive.
(In response to this post by BackInTheBurg)
8mo
Population peaked in 2021 at 45,660 and has begun to decline since. If you use a 10-year window I think the population increased maybe in the neighborhood of 5% over that period, but has certainly stagnated over the last 5-yrs in my opinion. With zero willingness to appeal to, and lack of understanding in meeting the needs of, a more diverse age group of folks by the local powers at be, it’s only going to get worse in my opinion. It will essentially be a town solely in existence to cater to the University and the student population, and that’s it. Once a community where we thought we could retire, and use it as base for travel, etc., might become a place we travel to in the fall and winter for football and basketball games a few weeks a year, from a home base that provides more of the amenities and services we’d like and need.
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
8mo
The new river valley is one of the hot growth areas of the state. And at the continued rate will surpass roanoke area around 2035.
So the growth is there with rhe demand for housing and evolution. Growth will come if the town agreea or not also momtrgomery county economic development not goong fo aay not in my backyard- really??
(In response to this post by Culpeper Hokie)
R
RJHokie
8mo
significantly and with VT and Montgomery County being the primary large employers a lot of the area folks have been priced out. The influx of students, or non permanent residents, has caused a lot of the issues. Most of the students take jobs elsewhere because there’s not a lot of large diversified business base in the area.
A lot of folks have “migrated” to Christiansburg which has a different business culture and living costs/housing is somewhat cheaper. We retired to Cburg rather than Bburg primarily because we wanted some distance between us and the university. Having lived in the Cville area most of our lives we were aware of the pitfalls of living in a college town.
It does help that the Roanoke area offers access to additional medical facilities and care.
(In response to this post by BackInTheBurg)
8mo
There are alot more six figure income folks coming in from DMV and other metropolitan areas, they have the disposal income, and while the price of housing is high for the locals, the new growth folks can just write a check. College towns are the new thing for folks retiring. Also, students have more disposal income, Also, "university towns are hot. (Cville, Chapel Hill even Oxford, Auburn all have the same vibe and attracting new economy.
In Richmond VCU has invested in real estate in the Fan and have driven increased housing and at a higher amount and at the same time really transformed the area. You can see it with the new baseball stadium and mixed use housing entertainment venue, and VCU sports complex all included in Scot's addition.
My take is if iowa city or Green Bay can invest in this, there is no reason VT can't either. THere are affordable hosuing options in not only blacksburg, but Christianburg or pulaski
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
8mo
Virginia Tech is a billion dollar enterprise, and its portfolio dwarfs anything in any city or county in SWVA. The purpose of VT is not to be the subsidy for Blacksburg (with blacksburg rules). No 1 priority is the continued growth and national reputation in research and academic excellence of the unversity.
Funny anywhere else in the COmmonwealth or nationally communities would do anything to embrace the value of major university located in its region. HOWEVER blacksburg wants to regress to another dying town you see in WV
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
8mo
You see other towns in the same part of the country, Boone, Ashville. they have evolved, and didnt insist on want change not to come
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
R
RJHokie
8mo
the hurricane.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
8mo
Businesses. Anti growth putzes
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
8mo
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
S
Stech
8mo
Nice weather depending on the season.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
S
Stech
8mo
that will bring more, which is why some will not want it.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
8mo
The university must grow while simple blacksburg puts limits. Vt budget and population is smaller than vt and frankly only a town i the county of montgomery . In va towns dont have much authority.
So if fhe question ia vt gets invite to either sec or big 10 - u mean they could say no??
Bottomline vt is doing what is good for vt . Remmebef vt provides power and alot of capital ot regional water supply . Shame if blacksburg would need other sources
(In response to this post by reestuart)
8mo
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
8mo
From hotels, to spas, to entertainment, becomes a weekend adventure from Charlotte or DMV or Richmond. You create a new 365 day adventure.
(In response to this post by reestuart)
8mo
development... need a casino for the high rollers like myself when I'm there :-)
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
8mo
(In response to this post by Windows NT)
8mo
Lots of money being invested in addition to the new stadium.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)