The Town of Blacksburg's proposed uses for this property are definitely the "highest and best use" for the site, and what better entity to manage this land than the town in which it is located?
R
Ron Jarrell
9 years ago
I, as many people do, regularly enjoy the use of the only public track, especially as it is right near the existing community center
B
Brandon Smith
9 years ago
As a home owner of a property next to the old high school I urge Montgomery to set aside personal profit and allow this property to transition to Blacksburg so that it may be developed to the benefit of the town residents.
E
erin mckelvy
9 years ago
Featured
I went to that high school (before it collapsed) and have lived in this county since the 80s. I'm signing to support the kind of development thinking Blacksburg will appreciate in thirty more years-preservation of community resources as open spaces!
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
As an professional that's not connected to VT, a recreational facility would be welcomed. If Christiansburg and Radford can afford and justify an indoor track, then why can't the town of Blacksburg?
S
Susan Cook
9 years ago
Featured
Please accept the Town of Blacksburg's offer to purchase the old Blacksburg High School property. Montgomery County is on its way towards being a place of strip malls and housing/apartment developments. We need more green space. The beauty is what has attracted people and kept them here.
C
Christopher Wood
9 years ago
We need to have something comparable to Christiansburg
A
Ann Stevens
9 years ago
I strongly support the sale of the old BHS to the town of Blacksburg and encourage the county board of supervisors to work with the town to find a compromise solution. Sale of the land to yet another developer putting in more apartment or townhouses is a much less attractive option than conversion of the lands into additional parks and rec space for the entire community.
The county and town leadership need to demonstrate that they can work together on this issue!
A
Anastasia Apisa
9 years ago
No more houses please. With all the student housing being built, Traffic is building up as is. Also, if they close off all left turns off 460 to North Main, the traffic will be ridiculous. Also, we will have to then build more schools to hold all the children- $$$. Blacksburg is in desperate need of more rec. space... it may not add immediately to revenue- but it WILL add to quality of life. Big picture!
S
Sheila Winett
9 years ago
There is more than one way to measure maximum value. Using this space to support the area's quality of life will ultimately be the best, highest use for this land.
J
Javad Torabinejad
9 years ago
Right after the November 16, 2016, joint meeting between the Town of Blacksburg and the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, I approached a couple of the county supervisors to tell them that a compromise was possible. When I was unsuccessful to arrange a meeting with the town officials, I sent an email detailing my proposal to my District's Representative and copied it to other members of the Board, the County Administrator, and the County Attorney. Later, on January 11, 2017, after Mr. Rordam's commentary in Roanoke Times, I sent the same proposal to our Mayor, the Town Manager, and the Town Attorney. Here is the proposal: "First, certain portion of that property (7-10 acres) be set aside for a future school and owned still by the County; site should be selected by the Town with the County's final approval. Second, the rest of the property should be sold to the Town based on their first alternative price tag (or something close to it) for the Town to do whatever it wants to do with it." After all the time spent in the closed meetings, it is time for both parties to come up with a compromise plan that is best for our citizens. The sale of the Old Middle School property should have taught us a lesson.
L
Lisa Belden
9 years ago
We can never reclaim this type of space in our community once it is gone. The time is now to save this land for recreation and the schools we will need in the future. Please.
C
Carolyn Jake
9 years ago
It is very convenient having the Aquatic Center and Rec Center side-by-side. I use the track for jogging and I believe if we had activities for the young folks such as touch football, Frisbee, etc., it would be most beneficial as we need our children and others to have safe access to outdoor play.
S
Samantha L.
9 years ago
My house is located near this property and my kids attend Blacksburg schools.
W
Winema Lanoue
9 years ago
Our PO Box is in Radford but we live just outside Blacksburg town limits in Montgomery co and we use Blacksburg for all of our shopping, social and recreational needs. Building more student or other housing will detract from the community appeal of the Downtown area, as well as use up valuable land that could better serve the community.
K
Kristin Adams
9 years ago
All points of this petition are well made. It only makes sense to keep this property for recreational use, as it is being used currently with soccer games, baseball games, walking and biking on the track. Montgomery County in general does not have enough green recreational spaces that are safe to walk to and from for children and families. If the local neighborhoods are able to travel to this space safely as a family and are using it throughout the year, that should speak volumes to our Board of Supervisors and our county that the space is needed as is. If Blacksburg is willing to purchase it, remove the hazardous dilapidated building, pay to maintain it as it is currently being used, and allow the county to use it for a school when needed in the future, it seems like a win for all-Blacksburg residents, Montgomery County residents, and Montgomery County Schools. Why does it always seem to be the county vs Blacksburg? Perhaps Blacksburg should start the process of becoming its own city, like Radford, to stop this county vs Blacksburg issue. This way we would not hear that Blacksburg schools are better/receive more attention than Christiansburg or other county schools. I grew up in Northern Virginia, we have lived in Montgomery County for more than a decade, and have never heard so much bickering about the differences between neighboring communities as between Blacksburg and the rest of the County. If we can't see that keeping green space that local residences use is more important than the Blacksburg/County rivalry then maybe it is time to separate the two so that the governments can concentrate on the people they serve and not the egos of those in office.
K
Kristine Reid
9 years ago
I highly agree with the contents of this petition. It would be extremely unwise not to heed the argument presented and preserve the land for our recreational and education needs.
M
Mikaela Kelley
9 years ago
I absolutely think the town of Blacksburg should have the final say over what happens with this property.
A
Ann Marie Conner
9 years ago
My family currently uses the existing track frequently. My disabled daughter has learned to ride a bicycle on the track and it is the only appropriate place for her to ride in Blacksburg. Every time we visit, the track is being used and it is a joy to see elderly people walking, college students running, families biking or playing soccer all together. Blacksburg recreation needs this property permanently for its recreational needs! What a shame it would be to allow it to be privately developed.
The Town of Blacksburg's proposed uses for this property are definitely the "highest and best use" for the site, and what better entity to manage this land than the town in which it is located?
I, as many people do, regularly enjoy the use of the only public track, especially as it is right near the existing community center
As a home owner of a property next to the old high school I urge Montgomery to set aside personal profit and allow this property to transition to Blacksburg so that it may be developed to the benefit of the town residents.
I went to that high school (before it collapsed) and have lived in this county since the 80s. I'm signing to support the kind of development thinking Blacksburg will appreciate in thirty more years-preservation of community resources as open spaces!
As an professional that's not connected to VT, a recreational facility would be welcomed. If Christiansburg and Radford can afford and justify an indoor track, then why can't the town of Blacksburg?
Please accept the Town of Blacksburg's offer to purchase the old Blacksburg High School property. Montgomery County is on its way towards being a place of strip malls and housing/apartment developments. We need more green space. The beauty is what has attracted people and kept them here.
We need to have something comparable to Christiansburg
I strongly support the sale of the old BHS to the town of Blacksburg and encourage the county board of supervisors to work with the town to find a compromise solution. Sale of the land to yet another developer putting in more apartment or townhouses is a much less attractive option than conversion of the lands into additional parks and rec space for the entire community. The county and town leadership need to demonstrate that they can work together on this issue!
No more houses please. With all the student housing being built, Traffic is building up as is. Also, if they close off all left turns off 460 to North Main, the traffic will be ridiculous. Also, we will have to then build more schools to hold all the children- $$$. Blacksburg is in desperate need of more rec. space... it may not add immediately to revenue- but it WILL add to quality of life. Big picture!
There is more than one way to measure maximum value. Using this space to support the area's quality of life will ultimately be the best, highest use for this land.
Right after the November 16, 2016, joint meeting between the Town of Blacksburg and the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, I approached a couple of the county supervisors to tell them that a compromise was possible. When I was unsuccessful to arrange a meeting with the town officials, I sent an email detailing my proposal to my District's Representative and copied it to other members of the Board, the County Administrator, and the County Attorney. Later, on January 11, 2017, after Mr. Rordam's commentary in Roanoke Times, I sent the same proposal to our Mayor, the Town Manager, and the Town Attorney. Here is the proposal: "First, certain portion of that property (7-10 acres) be set aside for a future school and owned still by the County; site should be selected by the Town with the County's final approval. Second, the rest of the property should be sold to the Town based on their first alternative price tag (or something close to it) for the Town to do whatever it wants to do with it." After all the time spent in the closed meetings, it is time for both parties to come up with a compromise plan that is best for our citizens. The sale of the Old Middle School property should have taught us a lesson.
We can never reclaim this type of space in our community once it is gone. The time is now to save this land for recreation and the schools we will need in the future. Please.
It is very convenient having the Aquatic Center and Rec Center side-by-side. I use the track for jogging and I believe if we had activities for the young folks such as touch football, Frisbee, etc., it would be most beneficial as we need our children and others to have safe access to outdoor play.
My house is located near this property and my kids attend Blacksburg schools.
Our PO Box is in Radford but we live just outside Blacksburg town limits in Montgomery co and we use Blacksburg for all of our shopping, social and recreational needs. Building more student or other housing will detract from the community appeal of the Downtown area, as well as use up valuable land that could better serve the community.
All points of this petition are well made. It only makes sense to keep this property for recreational use, as it is being used currently with soccer games, baseball games, walking and biking on the track. Montgomery County in general does not have enough green recreational spaces that are safe to walk to and from for children and families. If the local neighborhoods are able to travel to this space safely as a family and are using it throughout the year, that should speak volumes to our Board of Supervisors and our county that the space is needed as is. If Blacksburg is willing to purchase it, remove the hazardous dilapidated building, pay to maintain it as it is currently being used, and allow the county to use it for a school when needed in the future, it seems like a win for all-Blacksburg residents, Montgomery County residents, and Montgomery County Schools. Why does it always seem to be the county vs Blacksburg? Perhaps Blacksburg should start the process of becoming its own city, like Radford, to stop this county vs Blacksburg issue. This way we would not hear that Blacksburg schools are better/receive more attention than Christiansburg or other county schools. I grew up in Northern Virginia, we have lived in Montgomery County for more than a decade, and have never heard so much bickering about the differences between neighboring communities as between Blacksburg and the rest of the County. If we can't see that keeping green space that local residences use is more important than the Blacksburg/County rivalry then maybe it is time to separate the two so that the governments can concentrate on the people they serve and not the egos of those in office.
I highly agree with the contents of this petition. It would be extremely unwise not to heed the argument presented and preserve the land for our recreational and education needs.
I absolutely think the town of Blacksburg should have the final say over what happens with this property.
My family currently uses the existing track frequently. My disabled daughter has learned to ride a bicycle on the track and it is the only appropriate place for her to ride in Blacksburg. Every time we visit, the track is being used and it is a joy to see elderly people walking, college students running, families biking or playing soccer all together. Blacksburg recreation needs this property permanently for its recreational needs! What a shame it would be to allow it to be privately developed.
Joe