By Debbie Adams
Tammy Shepherd, who represents the Vinton Magisterial District on the Roanoke County Board
of Supervisors, has requested that the county look into marketing the Vinton Business Center and
the historic McDonald Barn on Hardy Road in Vinton. She presented her proposal at the board
meeting on March 26.
requesting that the county economic development staff issue a Request for Proposals to market
the Vinton Business Center and McDonald Barn. The German-style barn was built in 1938 and
occupies 6,618 square feet on 8.10 acres of land in the Vinton Business Center on Hardy Road. (photos by Debbie Adams)
“As the representative of the Vinton Magisterial District, I, for some time, have been particularly
excited about the development potential of the Vinton Business Center,” said Shepherd. “For
those of our citizens who are not familiar with this center, the Town of Vinton and the county
each acquired a one-half interest in six contiguous parcels, approximately 65 total acres in size,
located adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway, with close proximity to Vinton’s central business
district and formerly known as McDonald’s Farm. One of our valued businesses, Cardinal IG
Co., a manufacturer of glass products, is located in the center.
“In 2021, the town and the county conveyed their interests in the center to the county’s
Economic Development Authority, in order for the EDA to help facilitate the marketing of the
sites for economic development purposes, and the conveyance of the sites to interested
purchasers.
“I would like to request that our economic development staff work together with our
procurement staff to issue a request for proposals (RFP), or to otherwise propose new marketing
strategies for the center. Specifically, I would like to explore two options:
- Developing a portion of the center as a residential development, and
- Refurbishing the existing historic barn, transforming it into a meeting center or some
other form of business space
“These proposals and strategies could then be shared with the members of the Economic
Development Authority. The sites have much to offer! I look forward to reviewing staff’s ideas,
and thank staff, in advance, for their efforts.”
Shepherd says she would also like to see the residential part of the project connect to adjacent
Montgomery Village to give the residents an additional exit from the subdivision.
