By Debbie Adams
Vinton’s Economic Development Specialist Marshall Stanley and Town Manager Pete Peters
updated town council on several economic development and transportation projects at their
meeting on May 7.
Stanley’s updates on economic development projects included:
- The Gish Mill Redevelopment Project which has been underway for several years is
moving to the next phase with stabilization and construction beginning in July. This is
estimated to be a 15-month project. - The proposed hotel project is moving forward with discussions with investors and
consultants. - The Cleveland Mart redevelopment project will be completed later this year. Plumbing
work is nearly finished. Interior work is about to begin. - The Tacorita Restaurant (formerly Red Jasmine) on Pollard Street anticipates opening in
late summer. Plumbing work is nearly complete; a sidewalk is being added from the rear
parking lot to Pollard Street. - A formal ribbon-cutting for the new Marco’s Pizza at Lake Drive Plaza is scheduled for
May 22. The restaurant is now open. - Down Home Pharmacy is now open at River Park Shopping Center. There are openings
for other businesses in that location. - A new specialty food and beverage restaurant is coming to Vinyard Station with details to
be announced. - The $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant the town received will be used for
three projects—structural assessment of the McClung building on Walnut Ave.,
assessments of the fire property at the corner of Pollard Street and Lee Avenue, and three
structures on Madison Avenue (off of Washington). The town’s goal is to make
properties more attractive and affordable to private investors by using grants and external
funds to “buy down/pay costs on the front end to sweeten the pot” on properties that
might otherwise be unaffordable for private investors. - The Vinton Business Center on Hardy Road (former McDonald farm) provides an
opportunity for manufacturing or other options. - The Gauntlet Business Program Awards ceremony has moved from the Vinton War
Memorial to the Berglund Center this year, set for May 23.
Peters’ updates on transportation included:
- Paving on Lee Ave. and West Jackson is nearly complete. Fourth and 8th streets are next
on the list. - Crosswalk projects on Gus Nicks Blvd. and Hardy Road are beginning. The Gus Nicks
project is now underway and will require about a month to complete—weather
dependent. The Hardy Road crosswalk near W. E. Cundiff Elementary will also take
about a month and will begin when school is out. - Preparatory work is being completed on the Mountain View Road Full Depth
Reclamation (FDR) project. This is a 30-day project which will begin when school is
out—also weather dependent. Utility companies are now in the process of marking the
pavement in preparation. This is not a normal repaving project—FDR involves
pulverizing existing pavement to a potential depth of 12 inches.
- The Vinton 2050 Comprehensive Plan process kicked off at the Dogwood Festival.
- A waiver has been received from the Virginia Pharmacy Board which will allow the
historic Cundiff Drug Store sign to be moved to its original location on Pollard Street.
This was made possible when the town applied for Historic District status and
recognition on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic
Places.
- Demolition of the West Cedar Mobile Home Village by Public Works is scheduled to
begin on May 28 after utility disconnects are complete. The flood prone area will be
reseeded and become green space.
Updates on current transportation projects are available online at
https://www.vintonva.gov/528/Transportation.
