Collegiate Times

A proposal to knock down Stadium Apartments, located behind Lane Stadium, will be made to the Blacksburg Town Council on February 13.

The proposal describes about 66 new condominiums that will have between one to three big rooms and hardwood floors. It will be owner-occupied and will not be student housing. The new complex will be called Legends of Blacksburg.

“Every year, I have between six and 10 groups of people who want to buy these apartments,” said Kim Lester, property manager for Stadium Apartments. “They have sent in a proposal and I sent it to the majority owner (of the apartments).”

Council member Mary Holliman said that she is not ready to comment on the housing, but the vote from the Planning Commission was four to four.

Lester believes that a decision to build a new complex is a good one.

“I think it would be a very good decision for the town because of the condition the area has gotten to over the past 15 to 20 years,” she said.

Students who are living in the area are not pleased with the inconveniences attached to the project.

Another student thinks the town should keep their focus on Tech students.

“The decision doesn't make much sense to me,” said Amber Deans, senior English major and resident of Stadium Apartments. “Who would know where Blacksburg was if it was not for Virginia Tech and its student presence? (Tech) makes Blacksburg what it is. True, the decision for the city is easy enough — new developments will bring in more revenue, and they're not getting a lot out of us, but I've never looked at my apartment and said, ‘Wow, this place looks awful,’ so it can't be in that bad a shape. My roommates and I all love Stadium Apartments, and we're very disappointed to leave. I think the city just needs to remember where their interests really are.”

Resident and senior English major Katie Catalano said all the residents received a notice about the decision last semester.

“I did not know the decision was definite until just after I came back from break,” said Jessica Brown, sophomore psychology major. “This is our home, and I'm sure most of us had planned on living here for a while. I know the people who live in the apartment below mine have lived here for at least eleven years. I do not like the idea that our apartments, and possibly several of the surrounding apartment complexes, are going to be knocked down to have this luxury condo complex built, which will only be lived in eight weekends of the year, during home game weekends.”
However, Brown does recognize some of the advantages of building a new complex.

“There are various construction problems with the apartment complex itself,” Brown said. “There is not enough parking, and that the people buying the complex and surrounding area will also be doing Virginia Tech and Blacksburg a favor by correcting underground piping at the cost of the contractors. The area will also be more emergency-vehicle-accessible during football games.”
Since the Planning Commission’s decision has been split, the council will have to hear the opinion of the town before making a decision.
The developers have been talking to council members and the public hearing in February will allow people to express their opinions. Some people will send in their comments, which will also be considered, Holliman said.