[Midwesterner19]

I was wondering what the Roanoke area is like, I hear so little about it. Anybody have any information on this mountainous town in Western Virginia.

[MarketsWork]

I'm an Atlantan, but I will tell you what I know and think based upon my frequent visits... Roanoke is an interesting little city, and the unofficial "capital" of Southwest Virginia. It was founded well after the War Between the States, so it is not old at all. Roanoke developed as a railroad town as the hub and headquarters of the former Norfolk & Western Railway, which is now part of Norfolk Southern.

Roanoke's downtown was kept alive by an active and lively little farmer's market, which anchors an area called Center in the Square. The development includes a history museum, a planetarium and a live theathre, plus a sacred place -- a half-star, stand-up eatery called The Weiner Stand. This active little hub attracts a lot of different people and creates a lot of foot traffic and other businesses. A new art museum with a Calatrava-esque design is under construction nearby, and an enclosed footbridge crosses the railroad to the grand old Hotel Roanoke, which was recently purchased and renovated as a conference center by Virginia Tech. My wife and I had our wedding reception there a year or twenty ago.

Roanoke's setting is beautiful, as it sits in a bowl just below the Great Valley of Virginia. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes just to the south, and you can enjoy the mountains year-round. I like it, and encourage you to visit and see for yourself. But be sure to genuflect when you see a train -- the place was built by coal-hauling railroaders, and Roanokers haven't forgotten about it!

[SteveW]

I lived in Roanoke before moving to Atlanta. I personally believe it is one of the nicest cities of it's size. At the time when I lived there, I told myself that I wanted a bigger city that was more vibrant and exciting. About 5 years into living in Atlanta I realized that I did truly miss Roanoke. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't have THAT much to do and really isn't remotely comparable to Atlanta. I would go back in a heartbeat if the job market were better. Some days I spend a significant amount of time regretting leaving the area. Atlanta is okay..... if you like skyscrapers, the Braves, Shopping malls, traffic, the first 8 minutes of the news revolving around murders and so forth.
Back to Roanoke.... In my opinion it is very scenic and has many wonderful neighborhoods. The cost of living is ok....there are a decent amount of things to do (outdoors stuff). There are no traffic problems to speak of and crime isn't very bad (depending on where you live). There are places in the city that have its problems, but it is about the same as most places in that the victims are usually somewhat involved in events that lead up to the murder. (i.e. drugs, etc) All in all, I really miss the place and miss it even more when I'm stuck in traffic here.

[SouthJersey7]

If it helps any, here's some pics I took a while back (56k, watch out!) http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=13252&view=findpost&p=296590
I've been there a couple times and really liked it. It's a bit run down here and there but overall is well-preserved architecturally.

[Lexy]

Roanoke is a fine little city that impresses me everytime I have been.

[ChicagotoRoanoke]

I lived in Chicago up until I was thirty before coming to Roanoke eight years ago as an intern. My intent was to be here a year, but obviously I have stayed (largely due to meeting my wife here and having a great job). I LOVE Chicago and always will.

That being said. I think Roanoke is waking from a long slumber. My first impression when I moved here was interesting little city with huge unmet potential. For the first five years I came to understand why. This place was in it's heyday in the 50's, built around the railroad, and the residents, and thus the powers that be were trying to keep it in a time capsul. As I say, if you resist change too hard then the change you will get will be decay. That's was what was happening here as every new idea that came up got enough oppostion to shoot it down. In the last three years there has been a real shift in thought and a complete change in elected officials. As a result, opposition to new projects has been losing left and right. One of the most encouraging changes has been the new art museum mentioned. The architect was actually an apprentice of Gehry and you can tell. His work has also recently been chosen for a new museum in Edmonton. You can check out it out here.
http://www.artmuseumroanoke.org/index.php?do=the_future

Another good piece of news has been the development for the Riverside Center for Research and Technology. A multi-acre site downtown that is a joint project between Virginia Tech and Carilion (a not for profit healthcare company that employs 10,000 people in the valley). The park now houses Luna Technologies and Carilion Biomedical Institute. The Carilion Clinic is a $100 mil, 250,000 sq foot bulding in the works for the site. Cambria Suites is also planned for the site. Recently it was revealed that Virginia Tech in conjuction with Carilion wants to open a medical school on the site. It has tremendous potential to transform our economy and appears to be chugging along, especially in the last year. Plans for a multipurpose park adjacent to the complex are also in the works. http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/94446
Additionally, there is a proposal for streetcars to make a comeback linking Riverside with the Market area downtown.

There were also some gems here to beging with. The mountains give natural beauty that is hard to beat and the outdoors and all the activities that go with it are very easily accesible. The downtown Market is very nice to have. Hotel Roanoke is a great historic landmark and first class hotel and convention center. Old buildings with good bones are being rehabed into condos and people are moving downtown. I like it here now and feel like it is moving in a very positive direction.

Finally, here is the neighborhood where I live with my family within walking distance of downtown. I walk to work. I love it. I have been able to maintain a good urban lifestyle here.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/bmedpsych/2006_0504Image0001-1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/bmedpsych/2006_0504Image0005.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/bmedpsych/2006_0504Image0008.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i218/bmedpsych/2006_0504Image0003.jpg

[Roanokerichmonder]

:previous: Nice shots of Old Southwest Roanoke

[MarketsWork]

Finally, here is the neighborhood where I live with my family within walking distance of downtown. I walk to work. I love it. I have been able to maintain a good urban lifestyle here.

The old neighborhoods of South Roanoke are beautiful. Please do us both favor, and walk down to Tinnells Finer Foods at Crystal Spring near 22nd Street and visit the butcher shop. I never visit Roanoke without bringing back a cooler of their little Virginia ham biscuits, which my in-laws got me hooked on back in the 1980s. They are incredible with coffee, and I wish I had some right now! Thanks for the great photos.

[Pillsbury Doughboy]

My brother and his girlfriend took off to Virginia a couple of weeks ago---I think they were aiming for Richmond but somehwo ended up in Roanoke. They both loved it and said it was one of the coolest towns they'd ever been to.

[ChicagotoRoanoke]

The old neighborhoods of South Roanoke are beautiful. Please do us both favor, and walk down to Tinnells Finer Foods at Crystal Spring near 22nd Street and visit the butcher shop. I never visit Roanoke without bringing back a cooler of their little Virginia ham biscuits, which my in-laws got me hooked on back in the 1980s. They are incredible with coffee, and I wish I had some right now! Thanks for the great photos.


My office is on McClanahan and Tinnells is a block away. I have gone there many times to pick up a bite to eat for lunch. Nice little neighborhood grocer. South Roanoke is a very pretty neighborhood. Homes there have been beautifully maintained. Old Southwest is steadily rehabilitating. I would like to see more business pop up in the 5th street corridor near the new YMCA. For those who don't know, both these neighborhoods are in close proximity to downtown. The homes in the pictures were built at the turn of the century. Ours is 100 this year, having been built in 1906.

[ChicagotoRoanoke]

I haven't looked on this forum for a long while. Just thought I would revive this tosee if there is anyone out there who livesin Roanoke or keeps upwith what is going on there.