A History of Success

Blacksburg has always been a community that places emphasis on the preservation and reuse of historic buildings. Over the past decade major steps have been taken to expand upon the town’s rich history and cultural heritage by bringing active use and programming to many of these spaces. The Town owns a number of historic properties, many of which have been renovated and either used for municipal services or leased to other entities. The following are examples of those success stories.

- Alexander Black House – Draper Road
- - Purchased by the Town and moved to its new location to allow for construction of Kent Square, and to save a treasured piece of history. Future home of the Alexander Black House and Cultural Center.
- St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall – Gilbert Street
- Restoration
  - Museum of African American Heritage
- Old Town Hall – Jackson Street
- Temporarily houses the offices of the Blacksburg Museum and Cultural Foundation and has a small exhibit. Open to the public.
- Bennett House at Wong Park – Wilson Avenue
- Renovation and Adaptive Re-use
  - Current home to the Town of Blacksburg Housing and Neighborhood Services Office
  - The site includes examples of storm water management best practices including: a rain garden, pervious pavement, bio-retention, and a retention pond
- Blacksburg Motor Company – Main Street
- Restoration
  - Home of the Town of Blacksburg Planning and Building, and Engineering and GIS Offices
  - LEED certified
  - Restored in accordance with Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
- Price House – Wharton Street
- Adaptive Re-use for the SEEDS Nature Center
- Sixteen Squares Initiatives
- Various Projects
  - Educational programs and tools to highlight the origins of the Town
  - Walking tours of the Historic District
  - Historic Street Sign Installation
  - Historic Building Pedestrian Signage
- Freshwater Heritage Initiatives
- Various Projects
  - These demonstrate the historic importance of water to the Town in projects such as water quality, storm water management, and watershed development
- Westview Cemetery – Roanoke Street
- Landscaping Project
  - Enhancing the beauty of the Town’s treasured cemetery
  - Guided historic tours
- Five Chimneys – Corner of Draper Road and Washington Street
- Houses the Town’s Community Relations Office.
- Blacksburg Armory – Draper Road
- Virginia Tech leases this property from the town for studio space and a public art gallery.
- Thomas Conner House – Draper Road
- Virginia Tech leases this property from the Town for the Center for Public Administration and Policy.

In addition to historic preservation, promotion and cultivation of the arts is paramount. To that end, Blacksburg has designated a section of its downtown as an Arts and Cultural District, which includes an artist live/work/sell component, allowing the Town to offer incentives for arts based businesses and entrepreneurs.

Existing venues such as the Lyric Theatre, the Armory Art Gallery, Theatre 101, the Farmers Market, Center for the Arts, Haymarket Theatre, and many arts-related businesses and galleries in downtown Blacksburg provide a strong foundation for this growth. The Alexander Black House will be a venue where history is preserved and the arts are celebrated through exhibits and special programming.