Torgersen Hall and Bridge were named after recent President Paul Torgersen. Both the hall and bridge were built in 2000 to accomdate the growing number of students and add a high tech space for students to study. Administrators were skeptical at first of the bridge going over Alumni Mall because it would block the view of War Memorial and the drillfield from Main Street (War Memorial is directly behind me, Main Street is the street that houses the white buildings with red/green awnings). Esocoff and Associates did a fabulous job of making it blend right in with the rest of the campus, using Hokie Stone to blend it in. Along the arch reads Virginia Polytechnic Institue and StateUniversity (see why we call it Virginia Tech now?). On this side of the bridge, on either end reads 1872 a... 03/06/2009

  Your kid is a junior in high school. This summer you'll be college shopping if you haven't already started. You know nothing about Virginia Tech but it should be on your list. Why?   We've got history.  We were founded in Blacksburg, VA as Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, a land-grant military school, in 1872. Aside from Texas A&M, we're the only other non-military school in the country that has all four branches of the military still represented. When we received accredidation in 1923, we droppped the four year Corps of Cadets requirement to two years. Today it is no longer a requirement, but it is still a big part of Virginia Tech. Over the years we had the name change to Virginia Polytechnic Insitute, then added "and State University", and it's now known as Virginia Te... 02/12/2009

I've been meaning to put this post out there for quite some time, then a month or two ago another agent did  something similar and so I figured it was probably time to move it up the To-Do list.A lot of people ask me "when's that house down the street going to sell?", or "how much did that two-story on Main Street sell for?"  While I'm glad to tell you, there's a way you can find out even faster.  If you'll email me your name, email address and the neighborhood you live in, I'll set up a search in the MLS that'll email you every time a property in your neighborhood comes on and off the market.  You'll be the first to know when it this the market, the first to know if the price changes ... be the envy of all your friends!  Don't worry - by providing your email address I won't be spamming... 12/16/2008

 It's the winter time - duh, it's cold outside - and many folks are looking for inexpensive ways to save dollars AND energy in their homes.  I came across this list from GreenCville.com and thought I'd repost it (italics are mine): Seal duct work - this is the number one way to conserve energy during the winter.  Duct work can leak heated air into the attic or crawl space if all the joints and intersections are not sealed with foil-backed tape or silicone caulking. (which is another reason Mt. Tabor Meadows is so unique) Seal air leaks to attic - seal all holes from pipes and wires that run in and out of the living space.  This includes light fixtures, pipes, wires, attic stair openings. Seal fireplaces - never use a fireplace as a heat source for your home.  Even as a supplemental heat... 12/04/2008

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by WDBJ7's news anchor Natasha Ryan about a story she was writing on the online social media site called Twitter. Now, I've admitted my addictions here on the blog before, and it was interesting to see a local news outlet not only recognizing the power of the service but taking the time to investigate it further.  Below is the final result, in two parts done on last night's broadcast: Certainly I feel the service is an invaluable tool - it helps me connect with friends, it's enabled me the opportunity to meet current and future customers, and it's even influenced the creation of a new small business startup in the New River Valley.  It's nice to see local news outlets exploring new ways of breaking news and staying in touch with their viewers.  If you're... 12/02/2008

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and thank you for your patronage and friendship in 2008. 11/27/2008

From the Virginia Resources Authority comes this announcement on Friday: The Virginia Resources Authority has just sold $215 million in infrastructure revenue bonds – a real triumph and nothing short of miraculous given the economic situation. This represents the largest transaction in the pooled financing program in VRA history. The bonds will finance a number of projects in localities across Virginia. The projects are varied in scope, reflecting VRA’s broad support in 14 areas for community investment including public safety and local government buildings. Participating localities will construct a variety of projects including: upgrades to bridges and wastewater treatment plants, replacement of water and sewer lines, and construction of a new firehouse, a new library, and a public saf... 11/24/2008

I've written before about Virginia Tech's focus on energy research and sustainability, even going so far as to say that the university's focus on these issues is a nice example of putting their money where their mouth is, with no outside pressure.  And I believe that. And appointments such as these lead me to believe it even more.  Sure, Dr. Leo's appointment is one that is made to further the university's research advancement goals and bring in more money, but you can bet they'll be putting much of these initiatives in place right here on campus.  Kudos to Dr. Leo and Virginia Tech.  Once again, Inventing the Future. 11/20/2008

Inman News posted information last week a new plan whose focus was to streamline the loan modification process.  I'm admittedly behind on this post, and it's been rehashed across the web.  Essentially, if (1) you're at least 90 days delinquent on a home that is your primary residence and on which you owe at least 90% of the home's value AND (2) either Fannie, Freddie or one of their participating loan companies must own the loan, then under the loan modification program you can restructure your loan to as much as 38 percent of your gross income.  Forgoing the in-depth analysis and critique from economists and Harvard-types for a moment, I have a problem with this.  I'm struggling with the issue of personal responsibility, and Government subsidy of these loans doesn't resolve the problem... 11/19/2008

And this one won't be, either. A few days ago, I needed a break.  I had been in the office all day working on some things, and my craving for a Diet Pepsi Max (yea, I'm one of the 31 people across the nation that actually like the stuff) kicked in.  One of the many reasons I like my office is that its an easy walk to a local gas station, so I hoofed it down to pick up that invigorating cola and then headed back. On my way back I passed the site for The Colosseum, so I snapped some photos of the excavation.  It had been a while since I had stopped in and so I thought I'd capture the moment.  Just a lot of dirt right now ... There's a lot of Blacksburg history in those layers of dirt:       Dozens of piles of dirt looking back towards South Main Street:     Someone's going to have a kille... 11/12/2008

Predicting The Future of Real Estate!  If the media says it is it right...?  I heard it on the news....We don't have many homes in foreclosure in the New River Valley and sellers are not taking offers that 20% less than their sales prices, so what is up?  Predicting the future of real estate in the New River Valley may not be difficult if we base our predictions on the history of our housing market.  What influence does the big picture have on the smaller picture?  More importantly, if national sales of homes are down, our buyers think that sale prices are down in the New River Valley when statistics may often be the opposite.  Of course, there are times when national issues greatly affect our local economy like the effects created by the events of 9/11.  There are also times when local... 11/06/2008

11/03/2008

Saw this article in the New River Valley Current this weekend regarding Progress Street Builders' new NAHB Gold Standard program.  As the owner of a home built by Progress Street Builders, I can speak firsthand to their attention to detail - in this case, they're paying attention to things that have a greater purpose.  And as you'll see in the article, Don is putting his money where his mouth is - Kudos to Don and the team at Progress Street Builders ... (Dear Roanoke Times - would you please publish these articles online so they don't have to be written out in their entirety?) "EarthCraft, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) ... all are promoting sustainable building techniques, energy-efficient usage of space and mater... 11/03/2008

Need a ride to the polls this election day, or want to continue the theme of Sustainability Week and encourage the use of public transportation while exercising your right to vote? Blacksburg Transit is providing "Election Day transportation service to voting locations within the Town of Blacksburg. Service will operate from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday November 4, 2008 to the following voting locations: Blacksburg Library, Blacksburg Middle School Blacksburg Community Center on Patrick Henry Gilbert Linkous Elementary Luther Memorial Lutheran Church Margaret Beeks Elementary Slusser Chapel St. Michaels Lutheran Church For detailed information regarding your district and voting location please visit the Montgomery County Registrar's Office at www.montva.com or call (540) 382-574... 10/30/2008

Rackspace, and it's webmail division of Mailtrust - which, coincidentally is Blacksburg-grown - IPO'd in August 2008, yet very little was written about it in the local paper.  Stuart's contention is that success stories like Mailtrust, and so many others located throughout our region, need the support and publicity that all of us can provide. Thanks to Handshake 2.0 for sharing the video. 10/21/2008

Coal-fired power plants. Critics say they're dirty, that it has enormous leave-behinds in the form of ash, pollutants like sulphuric acids, arsenic and loads of carbon dioxide, not to mention the costs - both quantifiable and non-quantifiable - for mining, disposing of leave-behinds, and illnesses in the local communities. Doesn't sound like a really pleasant thing to be around, does it?  Did you know that Virginia Tech has it's own power plant, and that it's fueled by coal, that dirtiest of fossil fuels? Before you jump up and start making picket signs, check out this article by 16 Blocks Magazine - it might just give you a different perspective on new ways that 800 pound gorilla we call Virginia Tech is discovering to serve an increasing demand while minimizing its' impact.  Think it... 10/21/2008

The Current yesterday ran a "forum" piece regarding the proposed Blacksburg workforce housing project that's been hotly debated; it appears that the forum was a response to this October 5th editorial.  Please tell me this was a joke.  Honestly.  I'm confused as to the message this sends to community residents. Quotes include: "Residents ... would have the convenience of having elementary, middle and (proposed) high schools; churches; parks; recreation fields; and grocery and other shopping located one mile or less from their neighborhood" "Blacksburg Transit service would be extended to the site ..." the residents would enjoy "social and environmental benefits of living in an EarthCraft designed and certified community -- the first such proposed project in Virginia" Why is the Blacksbu... 10/20/2008

I mentioned Sustainability Week recently, but there wasn't much information available.  Now, there's a lot more. What is Sustainability Week? What's happening?  Short version or long version. Why is this important?  Taking care of our environment is more than a fad, it's the right thing to do.  We have a legacy to leave - what will it be? If you enjoyed this post, why not leave a comment and subscribe via RSS or email here to be sure you don't miss the next post? 10/17/2008

Zach Crizer of The Collegiate Times called me early last week and asked "why do people decide to invest in college towns?"  We talked for a few minutes, and later in the week he posted "Blacksburg Real Estate Weathers Financial Storm". Thanks, Zach, for the chance to talk with you, and to be quoted in the same article as someone as well known in his field as Dr. Koebel was an honor.  He certainly described it in much more intelligent terms, but at least I didn't stutter. I appreciated the chat, Zach, call anytime.  Wow. 10/07/2008

The Town of Blacksburg is showcasing it's latest project in sustainability October 25th.  This should be cool, hope to see you there. 10/03/2008