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City of Roanoke South Jefferson Redevelopment Area

Overview

The South Jefferson Redevelopment Area consists of 110 acres adjacent to the Roanoke River and downtown in the center of the City. Some 90 acres is within the 100 year flood plan, and is subject to serious flood impacts. There are 60 buildings within the area, 52 (87%) with some degree of deficiency. The physical characteristics of the buildings plus their location in the flood plain have contributed to the depressed economic condition of the area, in spite of the downtown location. South Jefferson was designated a redevelopment area for the purpose of removing blight and blighting influence and providing for the economic and physical revitalization. Proposed reuse is largely for a Bio-medical research park by the Carilion Health System & Carilion Biomedical Institute in cooperation with the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Approach

K. W. Poore & Associates, Inc., in cooperation with Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern, Engineers, Hill Studio and Wessex Group completed blight analysis and prepared the redevelopment plan for the area under Title 36 Code of Virginia. In addition, illustrative plans, improvement programs and design guidelines are in place to guide implementation.

The plan calls for the redevelopment of the area for use as a Bio-medical research campus with provisions for flood control, improved access and use of the Roanoke River and auxiliary mixed use development offering private residential, support commercial and business investments. Implementation is being funded by the City of Roanoke with federal, state and local monies. Performance agreement with Carilion in place.