Roanoke is prospering from a new generation of small upscale niche shops, an expanded business presence throughout the downtown and near-downtown area, and a revitalized historic Farmers Market. The city’s long-range economic plan prioritizes expansion of the downtown business area to improve connections with surrounding neighborhoods and also encourages downtown locations for mixed-use residential buildings. The city is currently developing plans to use the Roanoke Valley Greenway system, seven corridors of protected open space, to link downtown centers to city parks and recreation sites.

Roanoke’s recent downtown strategic investments include:

• Hotel Roanoke, a renovated “railroad” hotel that dates back to the late 19th century,
  and is now the region’s premiere lodging and conference center.

• Roanoke Higher Education Center, 15 institutions of higher learning under one roof.

• Jefferson Center, a former high school building skillfully renovated to house numerous
  arts and cultural agencies as well as a performing arts auditorium.

• Historic Market Building and Farmers Market area; on the National Register of Historic
  Places.

• Center in the Square, home to the Art, History and Science Museums of Western Virginia,
  a planetarium, and Mill Mountain Theater, which offers live performances. The Center
  averages more than 600,000 visitors annually, including tourists and school children
  on field trips.

• Eight Jefferson Place, the first significant residential development in downtown, which
  involved the renovation of a former railroad office building to create an 87-unit
  apartment building.

• O. Winston Link Museum, a former rail passenger station renovated as a museum and
  headquarters for the regional convention and visitors center.

• Roanoke Civic Center Complex, with multiple spaces for concerts, meetings, trade
  shows, sporting events, and performing arts.