Roanoke development

[mclawsdrive]

I read a story in the Roanoke times about this as well. But the writer seemed to frame this bit of news as a challenge for Roanoke city leaders to quit bickering and work together to secure Toyotas establishment here. But the news seemed to indicate that Toyota was looking OUTSIDE of Roanoke, probably in Botetourt, Franklin, Bedford or maybe Henry or Pulaski county. Who knows what 'outside' of Roanoke means coming from a company based in Japan. While it is great news, I kind of doubt that Roanoke city leaders will have too much sway on Toyota's decision.

[wrldcoupe4]

The Roanoke area has to look at something like this in a regional way... wooing a major Toyota facility would end up benefitting the entire area in some way or another.

[mclawsdrive]

I agree that this would benefit many localities outside the one where the facility would be located. There is a regional entity, called 'NewVA' which is focused on promoting the greater Roanoke area without using Roanoke specifically in the name (which would show bias). I wonder what this group is doing right now to impress Toyota?

[electricmonk]

There's nowhere in the city limits large enough for an auto plant so it would definitely be in one of the surrounding counties.

Franklin would have the benefit of a large labor pool because it's close to Martinsville and other southside areas that have lost 1000's of manufactuing jobs. Bedford could draw from both Roanoke and Lychburg. Botetourt has the best transportation options; close to the airport, rail and I-81 plus a few car part manufaturers already. Pulaski has a Volvo truck plant so there is a potentially trained labor force there for them to poach from.

So they all have some positives for Toyota to chose from if they pick this area.

[StevenRocks]

I'm rooting for Franklin County, but I'm a little biased.

[mclawsdrive]

Roanoke Times article today suggests the plant could be located as far away as northern Augusta county or Wythe county. Either of those locations is an hour and a half away, hardly the Roanoke area. Another likely spot was northern botetourt or southern Rockbridge. Personally I think the best spot would be on the Roanoke/Montgomery county line south of I81 and north of 460/11. It has easy interstate access and is close to rail and it could draw workers from the Roanoke and New river valleys. There's no large industrial park there, but there is a large tract of relatively flat, cleared land. Too bad I can't be in charge of where Toyota locates.

[StevenRocks]

West Roanoke County would be a great site, but the people out there are notorious for shooting down new development.

[mclawsdrive]

Maybe if Toyota and the county offer all west county residents their choice of a free Land Cruiser, 4Runner or Prius, the residents will change their tune.

[StevenRocks]

Maybe if Toyota and the county offer all west county residents their choice of a free Land Cruiser, 4Runner or Prius, the residents will change their tune.

I'll bet they could offer them Tacomas and do just as well. It used to be that every other male under 35 in Southwest Virginia had a Toyota Tacoma.

[mclawsdrive]

Yeah you're right, and a lot of them still do. I've never had much of a taste for pickups; I think my parents prejudiced me against them, along with Pro-wresting and monster trucks. But I'd take a free Tacoma in a heartbeat, along with some free tickets to a WWF match and a monster truck rally. I'm always up for trying something new.

A Roanoke times article suggests that the Roanoke region (should I call it NewVA?) will get attention from other large manufacturers, just from the buzz created by Toyota mentioning as a possible site, even if they end up locating in another state.

http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/61553

[StevenRocks]

We can only hope. This area needs some manufacturing jobs badly.

[bmedguy]

If this motivates regional governments to work together to land this, that could have a good overall effect, even if Toyota doesn't ultimately pick the Roanoke area. Maybe foster future cooperation? Hope so.

[bmedguy]

The state budget currently being negotiated contains 5 milion marked for the creation of a biotech wetlab in the Roanoke Valley. Whatever the heck that is. Heres a link. Roanoke Times

[StevenRocks]

Say what now?

[mclawsdrive]

I read the blurb and it seems like this type of facility should go at the biomedical park. It's essentially just lab space that can be rented out to companys to run experiments. Why not just call it a 'lab shell building'? Maybe 'wet' connotes a finality in the stage of the process, as opposed to a 'dry run'.

[mclawsdrive]

Article in the Roan 'okie' times (get it) , about Toyota eying Hampton Roads for their plant. Looks like the playing field is getting more competitive.

roanoke times

[StevenRocks]

I'd imagine that evry region in the state is trying to land Toyota now that there's an interest.

[electricmonk]

Some photos of projects going on. I didn't put too much effort into composition or anything so these are basically just snapshots.

Site of the new fire station headquarters.

Claude Moore Education Complex location of the new culinary institute.

Dumas Center restoration.

Another part of the culinary institute. The bulding will be built around the fragments of brick walls left standing from the original structure so it qualifies for historic preservation credits.

Civic Center Convention hall expansion.

Another view.

From the Performing Arts Center side.

Wider view.

Old Virginia Railway Station that will hopefully be restored some day.

Biomedical Park building.

Site of the proposed hotel at the biomedical park complex

Fairfax condos.

Fairfax condos.

Hospital expansion nearing completion.

Ukrops site.

Ukrops site.

The Finks center. Don't know the official name of it

[StevenRocks]

Nice pics, electricmonk.

[mclawsdrive]

Looks like a (potentially) gated community of million dollar homes has been approved for SE Roanoke County. I wasn't aware before reading this article that an exclusive golf course is under construction in the same area. With a 75,000 membership fee and $2,400 annual dues, that better be one nice golf course. That part of Roanoke County is unique because it is pretty close to downtown but seems quite rural due to the lack of roads and steep terrain separating it from the city. Most of the Mt. Pleasant area is less than 5 miles from downtown. Explore park is in that general area as well and who knows what might go on there with the new developer keeping his plans secret.

[bmedguy]

Yeah, I'm really curious about what will happen with the Explore Park area. Not to sure about this developer. He seems very secretive about plans. Might be smart given the propensity of people to fight any development that doesn't fit their own personal vision around here. Still, I wish he would give some idea of what his vision is for the place.

[mclawsdrive]

I didn't see this until today. A study is underway to possibly locate wind farms on Bent and Poor Mtns.

roanoke times

I'm not really sure exactly where the top of Bent Mtn is, but Poor Mountains summit already has dozens of radio towers and a gravel road and power line traversing the entire ridgeline. So the construction probably wouldn't have to disrupt many untouched areas of Poor Mtn. I don't know, how it would affect birds and bats in the area. Poor Mtn is the highest peak within at least 20 miles if not 40+. The closest higher peaks are in Giles county I believe.

[weill]

I saw that in Sundays paper, weird because the Roanoke Time was making a big deal about it being in West Virginia, now it might be coming here, but it will be interesting to see these huge things on top of our mountains.

[mclawsdrive]

Unless a convincing study can show that these will kill an unacceptable number of birds and bats, I would support at least the poor mtn. site. After all, it wouldn't really mar the view when the top is already covered w/ radio, tv and cell towers. It would be nice for the Roanoke Valley to be a net producer of electricity.

[weill]

True, plus it wouldnt hurt Roanoke buiness, plus how many 75K+ cities have them within 5 miles on city limits? Hardly any I would imagine.