R. Fralin Company buys 7-acre property on Brandon Avenue

Roanoke denied the developer's proposal to build apartments there

ROANOKE, VA – Developer Robert Fralin has bought the property at Brandon Avenue in Roanoke that just a week ago was the topic of debate in City Council.

Fralin originally wanted to develop apartments there, but the property had to be re-zoned.

The council unanimously voted against it.

The property is zoned for single-family homes, and Fralin's company says it's prepared to move forward with, or without community approval.

The announcement Thursday from the R. Fralin Company that the property had been purchased came in a brief email.

The last line read: "We are fully prepared to develop the property by right and will do so if we cannot come to a reasonable solution."

Speaking to neighbors, WSLS learned that's not something many neighbors want to hear.

"I think we've got a textbook case of being bullied," said David Charles Campbell, who lives right next to the property.

Just a week ago, Campbell thought development was gone for good.

"I'm sad, because what the community really wanted was a permanent green space," said Campbell.

He says he was surprised Friday morning to learn that the R. Fralin Company was still interested in the land behind his home.

"Why would we want to go into a neighborhood where nobody wants you? And we still have the same traffic issues, the same flooding issues, the same sediment runoff issues. This very steep drop-off," said Campbell.

Campbell says those issues will only get worse with new homes.

"You can hear the traffic now, even with all the trees remaining. What's going to happen when that all comes out?" said Campbell.

In addition to homes, the R. Fralin Company said it would also be considering office space.

City Council Member Ray Ferris, who voted against the apartments, says it's an improvement.

"It concerns me, but to a lesser extent, and we have to remember that this is a usage by right, it's already zoned single-family, so the city council can't really affect that kind of density," said Ferris.

According to the City Planning Department, that density could extend up to 33 homes.

"Thirty-three quote possible homes. I think somebody's fantasizing, and that maybe for homes that might be 800 square feet, and they're going to have to be packed in there like sardines in a can," said Campbell.

Campbell says this time, it's all the more frustrating, because he can't do anything about it.

"He's just saying it's my way or the highway and I've got money, and I've got power, and I'm willing to exert that," said Campbell.

In the release, the R. Fralin Company did say it is eager to work with the community and the city moving forward.

It also says it has an "unlimited timeline", so any plans for development could still be a ways off.