Ever since the New River Valley Mall opened in Montgomery County, other construction projects nearby, seemed to never stop.
The newest project will involve 61 acres. The seller wanted $3 million, the town of Christiansburg has signed a contract to pay $2.5 million for the tract off Route 114, next to the railroad tracks.
First it was the New River Valley Mall, soon other big box stores and a theatre also popped up within spitting distance of each other. It wasn't long before strip malls became part of the Route 114 landscape.
The Virginia Department of Transportation, VDOT, continues transforming about a mile of what was once a cramped two-lane country road, into four lanes that will eventually handle major traffic.
"It's frustrating' says Penny Brown of Christiansburg, "It's really frustrating trying to get from one area to another, it's just too much congestion."
Other long-time property owners are feeling the squeeze, and putting their land up for sale.
One of those landowners has a hidden jewel, 61 acres of beautiful, almost completely flat land, right across from the already established NRV Mall.
The lure for developers is what could be built here. Hotels, offices, maybe more places to shop. We found out the town of Christiansburg has signed a contract to buy it all. Samantha Grisham asked the next question, "What do they plan on doing with that? No idea? I guess that's the price of progress?"
The land owner told me part of the reason the town of Christiansburg wants to buy all 61 acres, is because it wants to have control over what gets built here. 61 acres is a lot of land and that means a lot of possibilities.
A town spokesperson said the initial plan is to use most of the 61 acres to build a park.
