Gainsboro Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative

Gainsboro Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative
Roanoke's Department of Planning, Building and Development, along with Nottingham Associates, worked with Gainsboro neighborhood representatives, residents, property owners, and business owners to prepare the Gainsboro Neighborhood Plan. Through numerous work sessions, the community's issues, opportunities, and areas of greatest need were discussed. This involvement formed the basis for the plan's recommendations and assured that community interests, as well as the overall concerns of the City of Roanoke were addressed. The plan was approved by Roanoke City Council and will become an integral part of Roanoke's Vision 2001-2020 Comprehensive Plan.

After City Council designated the Gainsboro neighborhood as a recipient of targeted CDBG funding with a focus for its revitalization, the Gainsboro Steering Committee was elected. Made up of residents and businesses within the neighborhood, the Gainsboro Steering Committee's role is advisory regarding the decisions being made utilizing the targeted CDBG funds. The city recognizes how important the activities to be undertaken in the neighborhood are to Gainsboro residents and organizations, and how important it is to have the support of the residents and organizations for these CDBG-funded activities. Therefore, the city wanted to incorporate the views of the Gainsboro Steering Committee regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the various funded project applications being considered that would affect Gainsboro.

The committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at the Gainsboro Library located at 15 Patton Road NW at 5:00 p.m. The Gainsboro Steering Committee meeting minutes are available for your convenience.

Summary of the Gainsboro Neighborhood Plan's Major Initiatives for Implementation:

HOUSING DEVELOPMENT - Comprehensive, community-endorsed housing strategy promoting rehabilitation, maintenance, infill development, and increased home ownership.
CONSERVATION - Zoning changes needed to establish future land use patterns and architectural design standards that will protect the character of the neighborhood. Obtain historic designations for promotion of rehab and infill development.
CAPACITY BUILDING - Collaboration among the various neighborhood-based organizations to ensure open communication and awareness of development projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE - Traffic management and street design (traffic calming, sidewalks, curbing, open space, etc.)

The map of the Gainsboro Neighborhood Implementation Plan is available for your convenience.