Collegiate Times

Blacksburg officials are developing a plan to renovate the College Avenue area in downtown Blacksburg, making it a more pedestrian-friendly, public space.

The renovation plans come at a time when many are worried that the addition of big businesses such as Wal-Mart will hurt the small-town atmosphere of the downtown area.

"We're trying to make that College Avenue corridor a more high-quality environment," said town manager Marc Verniel. "A place where people want to be."

According to Verniel, there are several tentative possibilities for renovation, including widening the sidewalk, changing the paving material of the street, making College Ave. a one-way street and removing the fence separating the sidewalk from Henderson Lawn.

"We want to have Henderson Lawn become kind of the town green between the university and the town," Verniel said.

If the change is enacted, the town could close off the street and hold outdoor performances and other special events there, Henderson said.

Another possible renovation includes the addition of a traffic circle at the intersection of Main Street and the Alumni Mall with a small clock tower to complete the new town square.

College Avenue has already seen some changes in the last year, with the recent addition of Moe's and the Lofts at the Lyric. However, many of the storefronts that line the street have been long-standing businesses in downtown Blacksburg.

"Whenever you increase foot traffic you are going to improve your business," said Hal Bullock, manager of Pee Wee's Pit Barbecue.

The Lyric Theatre, a staple of the College Avenue setting since 1930, is one of the businesses that will likely be directly affected during the eight-month development period for the potential renovations. The Lyric's executive director, Susan Mattingly, said that despite these initial issues, she believes the renovations will greatly help the businesses downtown.

"In the long run, improving the streetscape will enhance our business," Mattingly said. "I think it's a great win for us."

The official plans for the newly renovated district have yet to be agreed upon. Town officials will hold several public meetings in which members of the community can voice what they would like to see done to the area.

Funding for the project is expected to come from the town of Blacksburg, the state and Virginia Tech.

The College Avenue Promenade was one of the main components of Blacksburg's Master Plan, developed in August 2001. As stated in the plan, its essential goal was to further cement the connection between the town of Blacksburg and the Tech community while at the same time providing a place that offers resources and activities for citizens.