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Green Ridge Rec Center: Fiscal Success or Financial Failure?

If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the roaring success of Roanoke County’s latest venture, the $30 million, taxpayer-funded Green Ridge Splash Park in north county.

Roanoke, the “Industrial Core?”

“Industrial Cores,” the Brookings Institute calls metro areas like ours. Cities with aging populations, slow growth, lack of higher-education facilities and attainment, and low levels of diversity.

Whither The Amphitheater?

A wise man phoned our offices the other day from another town, and began talking about the SWOT process for analysis: Strengths. Weaknesses. Opportunities. Threats. The context was Roanoke's downtown...

What’s Your Parking Beef? (Or Non-Beef?)

It’s an economic development tool and an emotionally explosive topic; it’s “easy and fast” and it keeps you “driving around the block till hell freezes over.”

Roanoke Walks: The Classic Small City, Salem

Buildings are just buildings when you drive by them. Get out of the car and walk by them, though, and they take on a whole new personality. They project a beauty through architectural design and diversity...

Hidden Tax Increases in Roanoke County

In a year when the average American homeowner saw his or her home value decline by 12 percent, Roanoke County’s number-one revenue generating machine – the real estate tax – was already cranking into high gear...

Who Is Ed Elswick And Is He About To Turn Roanoke County Politics Upside Down?

And how could he proceed to unseat three-term Roanoke County Supervisor Joe McNamara in the Republican Primary in June, albeit by the slimmest of margins?

Dear Defenders of the Queen…

Over the last few days, several of you have commented about our decision not to speak with Darlene Burcham or members of City Council in our preparation of our May/June cover story...

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

In proportion to its average household income, the lowest of all Virginia Cities with populations of 50,000 or more, it seems a fair statement that the City of Roanoke takes a greater bite of its residents' income...

How Roanoke Raised Your Taxes Without Raising Your Rate

Did you catch it? They didn’t raise your tax rate, the city government simply reappraised your home.

Current Issue

Green Ridge Rec Center: Fiscal Success or Financial Failure?

If you’ve been watching the news, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the roaring success of Roanoke County’s latest venture, the $30 million, taxpayer-funded Green Ridge Splash Park in north county.
Downtown Industrial Core

Roanoke, the “Industrial Core?”

“Industrial Cores,” the Brookings Institute calls metro areas like ours. Cities with aging populations, slow growth, lack of higher-education facilities and attainment, and low levels of diversity.
Elmwood Amphitheater

Whither The Amphitheater?

A wise man phoned our offices the other day from another town, and began talking about the SWOT process for analysis: Strengths. Weaknesses. Opportunities. Threats. The context was Roanoke's downtown...
9b40e038-dae3-11e1-8498-1231394043be-parkingcenter-in-square-parking

What’s Your Parking Beef? (Or Non-Beef?)

It’s an economic development tool and an emotionally explosive topic; it’s “easy and fast” and it keeps you “driving around the block till hell freezes over.”
9b40dee4-dae3-11e1-9750-1231394043be-rwsSalemWalkImage

Roanoke Walks: The Classic Small City, Salem

Buildings are just buildings when you drive by them. Get out of the car and walk by them, though, and they take on a whole new personality. They project a beauty through architectural design and diversity...
hidden tax roanoke

Hidden Tax Increases in Roanoke County

In a year when the average American homeowner saw his or her home value decline by 12 percent, Roanoke County’s number-one revenue generating machine – the real estate tax – was already cranking into high gear...
9b40d872-dae3-11e1-90f4-1231394043be-32ed-elswick

Who Is Ed Elswick And Is He About To Turn Roanoke County Politics Upside Down?

And how could he proceed to unseat three-term Roanoke County Supervisor Joe McNamara in the Republican Primary in June, albeit by the slimmest of margins?

Dear Defenders of the Queen…

Over the last few days, several of you have commented about our decision not to speak with Darlene Burcham or members of City Council in our preparation of our May/June cover story...

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

In proportion to its average household income, the lowest of all Virginia Cities with populations of 50,000 or more, it seems a fair statement that the City of Roanoke takes a greater bite of its residents' income...

How Roanoke Raised Your Taxes Without Raising Your Rate

Did you catch it? They didn’t raise your tax rate, the city government simply reappraised your home.
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Ask the Experts: Homes

Local homes experts tackle your questions on finances, building and remodeling and more.

September 1, 2025
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On the Rise

The renovations to create new living spaces continue unabated.

September 10, 2015