Rezoning affects single-family neighborhoods
The Roanoke Rambler is reporting that the City of Roanoke wants developers to be able to build multi-family units (Duplexes and apartment complexes) throughout the city. They will no doubt be in neighborhoods where some residents don’t desire this change but the City will do what they choose.
In 1985 the Gainsboro PAC office under the leadership of George Heller ran a notice in the Roanoke Tribune. They were giving away lots of land on Rutherford Ave. and Rutherford Court to perspective homebuyers if they could secure a loan to build a house. One of the stipulations was that only single-family dwellings would be allowed.
Duplexes may invade single-family neighborhoodsPhoto byZACHARY STAINESonUnsplash
Zoning rules change
Fast forward to the late 1990s and two duplexes were built on the street. These duplexes began showing up on Staunton Ave., Essex Avenue, and other Northwest locations that used to only have single-family homes.
Some residents complained that renters did not take care of the property and were worried home values would decrease. This let us know that at some point the zoning was changed to allow multi-family units. Rezoning happens all the time in the Roanoke Valley.