Downtown

Outlook Roanoke- The Downtown Area Plan

The first edition of Outlook Roanoke, a master plan for the City of Roanoke's downtown area, was written in 1997 through a collaboration of City staff, the , and . With the subsequent success of several downtown development projects, and with other new projects on the horizon, the need arose to update the plan. In August 2000, Urban Design Associates (UDA), an architecture and planning firm, was hired by Downtown Roanoke, Inc. to facilitate a planning process and prepare an update of the plan. UDA sub-contracted with Hill Studio, P.C., Nottingham and Associates, Inc., and Zimmerman/Volk Associates, Inc. to prepare the plan. A steering committee consisting of citizens, downtown business persons, neighborhood leaders and City staff was created to oversee the development of the plan. Several sub-committees were also created to address specific issues regarding the downtown area (e.g., housing, parking and transportation, technology, entertainment, the Main Library and the Jefferson Center). The end result, Outlook Roanoke Update, was adopted by City Council in 2002.

The purpose of the plan is to provide a framework for prioritizing and coordinating the development projects and planning activities in the downtown area. The plan identified several priorities that are categorized into five initiative areas and opportunities:

Executive Summary
Planning Process

1.) Elmwood Park Initiative (park enhancement, library alternatives, new development opportunities)
2.) Church Avenue Initiative (Jefferson Street & Church Avenue development opportunities, Williamson Road & Church Avenue development opportunities, other Church Avenue development opportunities)
3.) E-Town Initiative (Warehouse Row, Campbell Avenue)
4.) Market Initiative (City Market area development opportunitites)
5.) Jefferson Center Initiative (Jefferson Center area development opportunitites)
6.) Frameworks