Residents weigh community, business concerns

(Editor's note: Gwyneth's quote beginning with "Just because I don't go..." has been corrected.)

About two hours into the Blacksburg Town Council meeting Wednesday night, a young 9-year old girl walked to the center of the room, adjusting the microphone to her height.

“I know you may think a third-grade nine year-old may not know what she is talking about,” said the girl, who introduced herself as Gwyneth, a young resident who has lived in Blacksburg her whole life.

Yet youth didn’t stop Gwyneth from reading the words she printed before the meeting to read during her three minutes, the time allotted to each resident to voice thoughts on ordinance 1450.

“I don’t want a big box store because it could be a Wal-Mart. I don't want a Wal-Mart because it would ruin the spirit of Blacksburg,” Gwyneth said.

Gwyneth, like many who stood up to speak, voiced concerns about the environment and safety of Margaret Beeks elementary school, located next to the proposed site.  

“Just because I don’t go to Margaret Beeks doesn’t mean I don't care about the kids that go there,” she said softly into the microphone.

Michael Love, also from Blacksburg, had the same concerns. “A whole lot of crimes are committed in Wal-Mart parking lots,” Love said. “And if a Wal-Mart comes, the parking lot will be right next to an elementary school.”

Other residents spoke about business concerns, including Virginia Tech senior political science and biology major Andrew Rogers, who doesn’t think ordinance 1450 is a good idea.

“From my perspective, being a college student, having more retail is a good thing because it attracts quality students and faculty. Virginia Tech is a wonderful campus, but one thing Virginia Tech lacks is sustainability of students,” Rogers said.

“Nearly every student who comes here goes somewhere else to live. That’s why I support growth, and consequently oppose the ordinance.”

Joe Wensco, who has lived in Blacksburg nearly 30 years, agrees.

“It’s time for Blacksburg to bring our people back,” Wensco said. “We want to invite people — and money — to stay in Blacksburg. We aren’t just Virginia Tech.”

Wensco added one more thing. “Oh, and socks and underwear, that’s a good thing.”
Throughout the night, those who came to the microphone joked back and forth on whether residents can buy products like underwear in Blacksburg, or if traveling to retail outlets in Christiansburg is the only way to go.

One man said he bought Calvin Klein underwear at the Volume Two Bookstore several years ago — and still wears the same pair. Another man walked away from the microphone joking, “Underwear? Who needs it?”

On the other side of the business debate, many community members said large development projects will harm small, locally-owned stores in town.

“I own a small business about one block from the proposed site,” said Alan Moore, who has lived in Blacksburg 22 years and co-owns Oasis World Market with his wife. “As a small business owner, I’m concerned about the ability of our business to compete.”