ROANOKE, Va. – The future generation of Roanoke is coming together to take a stand against the proposed Evans Spring project, a highly contested project for decades.
Over the years, Roanoke city leaders and residents have been at odds on what to do with this vacant lot, called Evans Spring.
The land is located along Interstate 581 right across from Valley View Mall. The city is in the early stages of development planning, looking at four different options.
But the Roanoke NAACP Youth Council is taking a stand.
“It’s 150 acres of the African American community in the Roanoke area and they want to build on this land when it’s perfectly fine land and its good for nature, so it really has no reason to be built on,” Olivia Davoll, President of NAACP Youth Council said.
The group says this isn’t the first time Roanoke has pushed people out of where they live, specifically black people.
“Citizens in Roanoke have been run out of their communities before, if we keep taking what people have worked for, what will we have left? There are plenty other areas in Roanoke to develop and to add economical stabilities in the community,” Paris Scott, Secretary of NAACP Youth Council said.
The council and dozens of community members are not in favor of the proposed plans, but they do have alternative ideas.
“And having a botanical garden there, number one would not damage anything it would enhance it, education-wise,” Brenda Hale, President of NAACP Roanoke Branch said.
City Council is expected to make a decision on the proposed master plan later this month.