Welcome to the Town and Gown Website
Welcome to our group. The success of the Town and its neighborhoods rests on how well all aspects of the community can work together towards mutual satisfaction. This includes accommodating neighborhood needs as well as student needs and respect for each. This group focuses on enhancement of the Town, starting from the base that the Town and its neighborhoods are a good place to live now, but we can make them even better through expanding the lines of communication and developing partnerships. The meetings are co-chaired by Dr. Frank Shushok, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Mr. Steven Ross, the Town Governments Deputy Manager.
There have been a number of issues and concerns addressed by the committee since its creation in February 1999. They include:
- Input on the development of the Town's Neighborhood Enhancement Program
- Greek organizations appearance and image self-policing
- Non-recognized student group issues
- Educate off campus students on community standards, judicial processes regarding alcohol, and properties cleared and left dormant.
- Input on the Mayor's Task Force on Rental Permitting
- Re-occurring vandalism, rental rights, and lease variations; discussions concerning formation of a tenant's union
- Discussions of traffic speeding and how to raise driver awareness
- Discussions of noise and parties; parental notification reports; football traffic concerns; and VT Airport concerns
- Town and Campus parking; Neighborhood Federation activities
- Intramural Field Lights; alcohol-free activities for students; fireworks authorization; and BT bus services and future planning
- Discussion of a variety of diverse student activities
- Hear presentations from VT Judicial Review, VT Transportation Office, Corporate Research Center, and various Town and VT staff on significant projects. Receive annual VT and Town Police reports
- Review various public information pamphlets and brochures
- Co-sponsor of the 2004 5th Annual Statewide Neighborhood Planning Conference
- Partner with Virginia Alcohol Beverage and Control through enforcement grants
- Sponsor 20 VT student leaders to attend the 2004 State Neighborhood Planning Conference; sponsor staff for Annual Town Gown and Univerity/Community Best Practice Conferences.
- Developed an award winning Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Campaign; June 2009 VA Transit Award and August 2009 Governor's Excellence Award.
- Networked to create the Community Connection Plan supporting key events promoting on and off campus participation. Promoted annual welcome event "Gobblerfest Celebration"
- Partnered with Greek Life to create Fall Annual Clean Up initiative "Greeks Give Back" and sponsor Annual Zeta Psi Roanoke Street Clean Up since 2001
- Continuously work in partnership developing information and services to assist students with their new community.
This network typically meets the 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm with the exception of November-December holidays in which case the group meets the 1st Thursday in December. Meetings are held on the VT Campus in the Graduate Life Center on Otey Street. You are encouraged to attend or feel free to contact us for more information by calling 951-4347 or emailing kkirk@blacksburg.gov.