|
- Improve the quality of life in the city of Roanoke by creating a more vibrant and sustainable urban environment.
- Present innovative and inspired ideas to the community, providing them a vision of how well-designed public spaces can improve the city and its quality of life.
- Encourage young talent in the area to become involved in the future growth and development of the city.
Design Options
- Early Registration - August 18th - 31st, 2008
- Registration - September 1st - 30th, 2008
- Q & A - August 25th – September 5th, 2008
- All Q & A will be addressed by this date - September 12th, 2008
- Site Visit - September 27th, 2008
Walking Tour of the Focus Areas
Please plan to meet in front of the Roanoke City Parks and Recreation Building located at 210 Reserve Avenue, Roanoke VA 24016. The site tour will begin promptly at 10:00 AM.
* Transportation will provided for people with disabilities
- All competition entries must be received by 5:00PM EST to be eligible for judging - October 31st, 2008
- Competition Judging - November 13th, 14th and 15th, 2008
- Awards Announcement and Final Awards Event - November 15th, 2008
- Exhibition - November 16th, 2008 – December 7th, 2008
Jury Panel
- Bill Chapman
Bill Chapman Enterprises Developer
Richmond, Virginia
- Prataap Patrose
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Deputy Director for Urban Design
Boston, Massachusettes
- Patrick Clay
Office of Santiago Calatrava Designer
New York, New York
|
|
The City of Roanoke is nestled in a picturesque valley surrounded by the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. First inhabited by Native Americans, the region was a fertile hunting ground with an abundant supply of game drawn to the area by the natural salt licks occurring along the valley's floor. These natural salt deposits gave the region its first name, Big Lick. Due to its favorable geographical location and with passable gaps in the four cardinal directions, colonials and pioneers began to settle the area. With the emergence of coal mining in West Virginia, the area developed from a small farming village into the railroad hub for the Norfolk & Western Railway. In 1882, the railroad developers, seeking a more dignified appellation for the growing town, changed the name from Big Lick to Roanoke. As the influence of rail travel increased and lines were built and expanded the town grew rapidly. Within two years the population grew from 600 to 5,000 inhabitants. In eagerness to expand the railroad lines, tracks were laid along the path of least resistance. For Roanoke this meant filling and covering the salt licks, the largest of which was filled with rock and became the city's Main Street, now known as Jefferson Street.
Jefferson Street runs on a North/South axis crossing the rail lines at Norfolk Avenue on the south side of downtown. The rail yards and machine shops are located along the north side of the tracks and to the east of downtown. The Hotel Roanoke and the former Norfolk & Western passenger station, now the O. Winston Link Museum, are both located to the east of Jefferson Street on the north side of the tracks. The urban core of the city extends southward from the tracks along Jefferson Street. Market Street, home to the vibrant local farmer's market as well as retailers and restaurants, parallels Jefferson Street to the west and terminates at Elmwod Park. Jefferson Street continues through the city, past the new Carilion Medical complex and proposed Riverside Center, ending in the neighborhood of South Roanoke.
The Jefferson Street Corridor has been chosen as the focus area for this competition due to its unique influence in Roanoke's history, on its urban core, and its potential to affect the city's future.
|
|