Christiansburg Town Council approves $1.3 M project for signal installation

New signal installation serves as part of redevelopment for Marketplace

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – The Christiansburg Town Council just approved a $1.3 million project Tuesday a new traffic signal near the Marketplace.

The traffic signal is just a piece to the puzzle in redeveloping the Marketplace, a shopping center which has remained stagnant for more than a decade.

Brian Downey, who was walking around the empty shopping center, is pleased about the new project.

“I just hate to see it crumbling away,” Downey said.

Mayor Mike Barber believes the new entrance to the shopping center will bring businesses to the area.

“This is a time where we feel there is a good possibility that someone is going to buy it. It's kind of a perfect time to spend that kind of money,” Barber said.

The new entrance to the marketplace will allow drivers to enter the shopping center directly from North Franklin.

While most of the shopping center has been vacant for more than a decade, Barber believes creating better entrances to the area will allow business to flourish.

“I believe there will be small businesses, and major block companies and some food businesses,” Barber said.

The property's current tenants include a Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft store, an Office Max, a Harbor Freight hardware store and a tailor shop.

“Hopefully we can get the investors to come in and get it revitalizing and end up being viable again,” Downey said.

The project will include stormwater ponds and construction of new sidewalks.