ROANOKE COUNTY (WSLS 10) - one of the busiest sections of Roanoke County is about to change.
Officials will unveil the Reimagine 419 draft plan to the public on Thursday.
Officials say they plan to unveil three different redevelopment scenarios. Each includes ways to improve transportation and economic development opportunities.
"We want to see more entertainment options in this area of the county," explained Roanoke County Deputy Director of Planning Philip Thompson. "What we are trying to do is develop a mixed-use walkable community that has a variety of modes of transportation and create that Town Center feeling."
The idea is to develop a town center over the next 20-plus years.
Ideas currently on the table focus on ways to improve both vehicle and foot traffic and increase entertainment and housing options.
One concept uses entertainment as a key attraction.
"This shows a redevelopment of a theater, obviously entertainment being an important draw," said Thompson.
The other two designs reflect mixed-use development.
One with a grocery store and residential properties, another with housing redevelopment and ground floor retail.
These plans being unveiled for the 419 corridor come just one week after an announcement that the J.C. Penney at Tanglewood Mall would close.
t's too soon to tell the impact of losing the anchor, according to the developers, but they, along with county leaders are committed to making an improvement.
"Obviously we don't like to see any business close in the county really its too hard to tell how that will impact development on that site," said Thompson.
Moving forward, Thompson said planners will get public feedback and make adjustments to this 419 plan with hopes of making this area more successful down the road.
The final 419 town center community meeting to reveal the draft plan is Thursday night from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the South County Library.