Location & Demand Drivers

Downtown Roanoke

Downtown Roanoke has emerged as one of Virginia’s most compelling growth markets, driven by major institutional investment, healthcare expansion, and a regional economy that continues to attract national attention. Roanoke ranked #97 on Livability’s 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live for the second consecutive year.

Steps from RoVa Labs — Downtown Roanoke’s New Biotech Incubator

The VCCC is located within walking distance of a concentrated cluster of healthcare, research, and educational institutions driving demand for housing and mixed-use development. These include RoVa Labs — Roanoke’s new $20M+ biotech incubator opening on Jefferson Street May 6, 2026, a partnership of Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech, Virginia Western Community College, the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance, and Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS virtual residency — along with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, and Radford University Carilion (nursing programs).

Housing Demand

A documented regional housing shortage — particularly for traveling nurses, medical residents, veterinary and nursing students, and healthcare workforce — creates strong, sustained demand for residential development near these institutions. There are currently no live-work-play communities serving this population in the immediate area, representing a clear market gap.

Regional Growth Drivers

Roanoke’s broader regional economy is supported by significant recent investments, including a Google data center in nearby Daleville, Amazon distribution facilities, new retail development (Publix), and continued expansion of the healthcare and biotech sector.

Downtown Amenities

The property is situated within walking distance of downtown Roanoke’s full range of amenities: restaurants, a year-round farmer’s market, boutique hotels, museums, performing arts venues, Dr. Pepper Park, Elmwood Park Amphitheater, and the Roanoke Valley Greenway with over 30 miles of urban trails running adjacent to the property.

Community Data

98,400

Population Estimate, 2024

52.4%

Owner-Occupied Housing Unit Rate, 2019-2023

43,600

Households, 2019-2023

28.5%

% Bachelor degrees or higher for persons Age 25+, 2019-2023

$55,378

Median Household Income, 2019-2023

99,143

Population, Census 2020

$190,500

Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing Units, 2019-2023

2.14

Persons per household, 2019-2023

14.7%

Under 65 with disability, 2019-2023

$34,757

Per Capita Income, 2019-2023

6.9%

Persons under 5 years old

$1,098

Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage, 2019-2023

90.2%

% of households with computer, 2019-2023

61.8%

Population age 16+ in civilian labor force, 2019-2023

8,330

All Firms, 2017

22.2%

Persons under 18 years

$475

Median Monthly Owner Costs W/O Mortgage, 2019-2023

82.5%

% of households with broadband internet, 2019-2023

57.5%

Population age 16+ in civilian labor force – Female, 2019-2023

2,330

Population per Square Mile, 2020

15.4%

Persons 65 years and over

$996

Median Gross Rent, 2019-2023

 

87.5%

% high school graduate or higher, Age 25+, 2019-2023

21.5

Average Travel Time To Work (Minutes), 2019-2023

42.56

Land Area in Square Miles, 2010

Neal Brenner

Owner/Agent
AJAG Real Estate