Breathing new life into an old mall

Route 419 Town Center Planning Study

We helped the community reinvigorate a declining mall and the commercial corridor it anchors to turn parking lots and outdated buildings into a walkable new town center for the Roanoke Valley. Over 20 years, redevelopment will replace parts of the mall with a pedestrian-focused street grid, complementary new stores, and more than 400 units of housing that respond to emerging market demand. The result? A new neighborhood with a strong sense of place where people of all ages want to live, work, and play.

Working closely with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders, we created a plan that protects commercial and cultural assets and adds a host of new connections—linking business to business, neighborhood to the Main Street, and the new town center to the region. As well, the plan’s complete streets recommendations turn a high-volume highway into a lively, landscaped corridor that serves foot, bike and auto users equally well.

The plan uses market demand to boost both quality of life and economic performance by making the area more appealing to businesses and educated young workers. Approved in 2019, it has already helped win $25 million in funding for connectivity improvements.