ROANOKE, Va. – Two rezoning plans in Roanoke City are moving forward, the developments in Riverdale and the foundry aim to rezone land to urban center districts for community use.
The plans include creating mixed-use spaces with commercial and residential areas, featuring amenities like a restaurant, pickleball courts and river access.
“They’re going to create urban centers that incorporate housing activities like some industrial light industrial type housing and also some commercial spaces. So it’s new energy. It’s new buildings. It’s cleaned up from what it was before,” Frank Martin, chair of Roanoke City Planning Commission, said.
The Riverdale project is on the site of the old American Viscoe Rayon Plant. The Foundry plans to rezone 11 plots from heavy and light industrial districts to redevelop the former Walker Foundry site.
They aim to preserve existing structures and highlight the site’s historical significance. The Foundry rezoning is led by Gregory Kaknes, owner of the Foundry Realty LLC, who said repurposing an old industrial site will bring a new area of outdoor recreation and housing.
“It would be a very family-oriented place where you can go with your kids and your dog and you can have lunch and hang out,” Kaknes said.
Both projects now await review and approval from the city council.
