what disappoints me is the end use. now it’s just another municipal office building. why not a showcase for green building tech? a 16 Blocks visitors center? I like Jeff’s idea of a small biz incubator. I’d even entertain the idea of some specialized commercial development – in keeping with CCI and/or a “small-town downtown” atmosphere. lots of end-uses that seem to me to be more appropriate for such a building in such a location.

what disappoints me is the end use. now it’s just another municipal office building. why not a showcase for green building tech? a 16 Blocks visitors center? I like Jeff’s idea of a small biz incubator. I’d even entertain the idea of some specialized commercial development – in keeping with CCI and/or a “small-town downtown” atmosphere. lots of end-uses that seem to me to be more appropriate for such a building in such a location.

Honestly, I’ve wondered if the building’s best use wasn’t for municipal use … I mean, who else would have the pockets deep enough to make the project work, otherwise (and it could be argued that a local government shouldn’t have pockets that deep either, I understand)? But with tax credits and the like, at least SOME of the burden is alleviated.

It’s an interesting project, for one, because Blacksburg has subscribed to this Cool City initiative, but I don’t know how well we could say we’re following through on that. This is a real, brick and mortar example of putting our money where our mouth is and showcasing what can be done with LEED principles – geothermal, rain water collection and reuse, etc. Did it cost a lot of money to do? Yes. Was it the right thing to do? Yes. And in the end I think that’s most important. Maybe the why/how/when wasn’t communicated to citizens as well as it should’ve been, but in the end I think we’ll appreciate having this as the cornerstone to responsible in-fill.

I hope.

Honestly, I’ve wondered if the building’s best use wasn’t for municipal use … I mean, who else would have the pockets deep enough to make the project work, otherwise (and it could be argued that a local government shouldn’t have pockets that deep either, I understand)? But with tax credits and the like, at least SOME of the burden is alleviated.

It’s an interesting project, for one, because Blacksburg has subscribed to this Cool City initiative, but I don’t know how well we could say we’re following through on that. This is a real, brick and mortar example of putting our money where our mouth is and showcasing what can be done with LEED principles – geothermal, rain water collection and reuse, etc. Did it cost a lot of money to do? Yes. Was it the right thing to do? Yes. And in the end I think that’s most important. Maybe the why/how/when wasn’t communicated to citizens as well as it should’ve been, but in the end I think we’ll appreciate having this as the cornerstone to responsible in-fill.

I hope.

Learning that it will be municipal made me sigh just a bit. In the town I went to college in, they renovated an older building that looked much the same and used it for a nice office building, leasing space to small businesses that needed offices and providing a common reception, secretary and office equipment areas for those small businesses that couldn’t afford their own. It was and remains full to this day (more than 20 years ago!).

However, I really appreciate the city not allowing the space to be anything less than what it has become. We’ll be very proud of it as the years progress.

Learning that it will be municipal made me sigh just a bit. In the town I went to college in, they renovated an older building that looked much the same and used it for a nice office building, leasing space to small businesses that needed offices and providing a common reception, secretary and office equipment areas for those small businesses that couldn’t afford their own. It was and remains full to this day (more than 20 years ago!).

However, I really appreciate the city not allowing the space to be anything less than what it has become. We’ll be very proud of it as the years progress.