The Bridges, a $100 million project that will include apartments, offices and stores along South Jefferson Street, has announced that the development is part of the new Roanoke River & Railroad Historic District.
The designation will make its developer, WVS Companies, eligible for state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits to make it more feasible to rehabilitate eligible historic properties within the district and keep the cost of renovations competitive with new construction.
“This is a significant development in our goal to preserve the history of Roanoke’s industrial past while repurposing historic buildings for future use,” said Jason Vickers-Smith, owner of WVS Companies Inc. He said historic tax credits are only granted when regulators are satisfied that renovation work does not damage the historic significance of a building or neighborhood.
The 47-acre district was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register in September 2013 and the National Register in December 2013. The state Department of Historic Resources and the National Park Service approved the historic district status.
The Virginian Railway Passenger Station and the S.H. Heironimus Company Warehouse (originally the Virginia Can Company) had already been listed on the National Register individually. The study of these buildings led to further interest in the other industrial buildings located along the train tracks between South Jefferson Street and the Roanoke River – site of The Bridges. Most were built between 1905 and the late 1920s.
The boundaries extend from Albemarle Avenue and Fourth Street on the north, to South Jefferson Street on the west and Reserve Avenue on the south.
Hill Studio, a Roanoke firm specializing in community planning, architecture and historic preservation, conducted a survey in 2013 and prepared the National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Roanoke River & Railroad Historic District. It comprises 23 resources, the majority of which are industrial buildings.
The area developed quickly as an industrial center with the completion of the Roanoke & Southern Railway in 1892 and the Virginian Railway in 1909. The industries that located along these two rail lines reflected the growth experienced by the city with the construction of the railroads. From lumberyards to iron and bridge works, the industries were directly tied to either the construction of the railroad or the many homes built during Roanoke’s early boom years.
“The district is significant in the areas of commerce, industry, transportation, and for its role in the industrial development of Roanoke,” said Alison Blanton, director of the preservation studio of Hill Studio.
The buildings have barely been altered from their heyday and remain in good condition.
Work on The Bridges continues with a 157-unit apartment complex, South16, along South Jefferson Street. The first units are expected to open in September.
The first phase of The Bridges also includes a restaurant/coffee house, office space and public promenade along the river, kayak launch, sidewalks and streetscapes.
For more information visit www.bridgesroanoke.com or http://southsixteen.com.
