New Shenandoah Life proposal shows 2 large apartment buildings, nearly 200 apartments

ROANOKE, Va. – An updated concept drawing of the Shenandoah Life Insurance property is causing concern among Roanoke residents.

The newest concept drawing, submitted by Berkley Hall for the apartment development on part of the former Shenandoah Life Insurance Company site now shows nearly 200 apartments consolidated into two large buildings. The parking lot is set to hold about 380 parking spaces. 

Earlier drawings showed about 10 buildings and a little over 200 apartments. The earlier drawings used more property and meant the city required a public road. With the newest drawing, less property being used allows developers to forego that road.

"We think it might be dangerous to pedestrians, our park and greenway pedestrians right adjacent to that. We also are alarmed that the base of these buildings are larger than the Verizon building, and there are two of them," said Mim Young, Save the Woodlands committee member. 

Berkley Hall did not return a request for comment.