Blacksburg plans for more housing, parking downtown

BLACKSBURG (WSLS 10) - The town of Blacksburg is working to make room for more visitors and residents in downtown.

On Tuesday, the town council discussed plans to put more housing downtown, some of which would likely be geared toward young professionals.

Town leaders have been working with Blacksburg Baptist Church to potentially make this happen on its Main Street property. The church has purchased different land several miles away, and is looking to sell the downtown space.

"Council's focus when we look at what's going on on Main Street is: how do we encourage housing that creates a more vibrant dynamic and a more mixed dynamic than just students?" said Mayor Ron Rordam.

Council also discussed the long term goal of building a parking deck on the Progress Street parking lot. Leaders said that is likely still five to 10 years away.