Vinton has been on a roll the last few years: a new public library that has helped transform the face of downtown on South Pollard Street, apartment complexes taking shape at two former schools (the old William Byrd High School, the former Roland E. Cook Elementary School) and improvements to streets and the Farmer’s Market bolstered by a $700,000 block grant from the federal government that is then doled out by the state.
Mayor Brad Grose outlined the winning streak Vinton seems to be on during his annual State of the Town address recently.
“There’s been a lot of economic development and some changes in our staff that has brought some renewed enthusiasm,” said Grose, alluding in part to the designation of Barry Thompson as the new permanent Town Manager.
Thompson is the long time finance director who acted as interim town manager after Chris Lawrence left that post for a position in Blacksburg. “There’s been kind of a renewal of pride in our town – and renewed pride in working for our town,” adds Grose.
Still on its way is a new Macado’s restaurant where the old public library on Washington Avenue used to be located. Final upgrades to the Farmer’s Market area are expected to be completed by spring’s Dogwood Festival. A $100,000 revolving loan fund is now available to help new and existing businesses. The one–mile long Glade Creek Greenway, which will extend from the Tinker Creek Greenway into downtown Vinton is currently under construction and should be completed sometime next year.
Then there is the Twin Creeks Brewery on South Pollard Street near the post office – Roanoke County’s first craft beer brewing operation. It grew out of a home brewing hobby into a business and opened in mid-November to big crowds. There was a ribbon cutting to make it official on December 2.
“We actually think Twin Creeks Brewery will bring a lot of people into town that don’t live here. It will certainly give us some night life in the evenings and weekend traffic should increase,” said Grose.
Twin Creeks has also partnered with several local restaurants in the area, which will deliver food to patrons drinking beer after they place orders. “We’re very excited about it. Overall I think it will be a very positive move for the town on Vinton.”
If it seems like it’s all coming to a head at one time, Grose says it might look like that but he also attributes it to hard work by the town’s staff as well, “several years of hard work,” he notes.
But he does note that renewed energy and enthusiasm comes from having a winning streak. “That’s helping to bring this to fruition – kind of like the old saying ‘it took us years to become an overnight sensation.’”
On the agenda going forward is more attention to the town’s storm water management system, constrained by the town’s small budget “that is always a challenge,” according to Grose. In the face of mounting costs, improving the delivery of services to residents is on Grose’s list. Town Council and staff are also looking at ways to increase the rate of home ownership within the town, perhaps through incentive programs that might be available.
Grose says the town “has an unusually large number of renters,” although he praises the quality of landlords at the same time. “We’ve got a lot to work on, that’s for sure,” says the Mayor – but adds that the last year or two have been looking up.
By Gene Marrano