This past weekend I set out to obtain some new information and pictures of the Keagy Village project. It’s still too early yet to see signs of future stores, and it seems any information of what stores are confirmed is pretty much a mystery.

Last I heard an anchor grocery store had not yet been confirmed for the project, and it seems there are ample locations of Food Lions and Krogers already in the area. Perhaps another The Fresh Market? Or a completely new chain such as Publix or Whole Foods Market?

Here are some pictures that are an update from a previous post.

Ongoing Construction at Keagy Village. Keagy Road in Foreground. (3/23/08)

Ongoing Construction at Keagy Village (3/23/08)

However, a short distance further down Keagy Road on the same side of the road (just beyond and across from the intersection with Sugar Loaf Mountain Road) a vast clearing of land is underway. According to a site plan from the Kahn Development website this area of land was not to be part of the new Keagy Village.

Land Clearing and Construction Along Keagy Road (3/23/08)

So, what’s going on there?

I suppose that’s also currently a mystery but maybe a new housing subdivision or some other sort of rental property? Only time will tell.

This project will continue to be on the Update 30 until complete, which means I’ll be posting updates each calendar month (or more often) to keep up with notable changes.

(Edit: This project has been updated for the following month.)

This past Thursday marked the first day of Spring. And just in case you hadn’t seen the date on the calendar, nature provides some first signs of the season.

Bradford Pear Trees along Valley View Blvd (3/22/08)

Bradford Pear Trees as Seen along Electric Road Near Tanglewood Mall (3/23/08)

The Bradford Pear is prominent around Roanoke, and it’s not uncommon for the blooms from this tree to informally announce the start of Springtime.

Happy Easter from Noke News.

I was out at the DMV in Crossroads Mall this past weekend to renew my license plate registration, and I noticed a large banner draped across an adjacent building.

New Gold's Gym Location near Crossroads Mall (3/16/08)

Larger View of Gold's Gym Banner (3/16/08)

Gold’s Gym is going to open its second location in Roanoke. (The other is at 3270 Electric Road, on the hill behind Ruby Tuesdays.)

This particular trip to the DMV also led to a new series of posts, aptly titled Noke Annoyances.

Noke annoyances are slight irritations of and about the Roanoke area.

A recent trip to the DMV at Crossroads Mall led to this new series of posts, and it’s probably not for the reason you may be thinking…

I drove out to the DMV this past Saturday to renew my license plate registration and get the new “09″ stickers, since the “08″ ones are slowly becoming out of style (and expired). The place was packed of course. But, fortunately, I was able to handle my transaction at the front self-help computers and was in and out in just a few minutes.

And, even so, I know the DMV stays busy and also when to go to lessen the wait time so I have no great quarrel with the DMV itself.

The problem is ..well.. let me ask you a couple questions:

Do you usually enter the parking lot to reach the DMV from Rutgers Street (across from the K&W Cafeteria)?

Ok, check.

Crossroads Mall Parking Lot (Turning from Rutgers Street) as Seen Leading to the DMV

But, how many times do you swerve in order to miss a pothole, or other rough spot, on that short section of road that leads to the DMV?

So many times you feel like you may be on some kind of vehicle obstacle course?

I feel your pain.

I assume the road is owned and maintained by the mall, but either way I say this section of parking lot is long overdue for some repaving. Maybe one of these days…

It seems like only a few weeks ago the entire area was filled with open or lightly forested land.

New Walgreens Under Construction. Located at the Corner of Wonju Street and Franklin Road in Roanoke (3/16/08)

Now, this area of retail space, named Ivy Market, features a Ukrops grocery store and a Walgreens is currently under construction.

And that’s not all.

According to a site plan for Ivy Market I found online, more retail and or office space may be in the works for the northeast section of the project. Due to constraints of building area, this development features a rather substantial underground parking system. A traffic light was also put into place at the main entrance.

I’m fairly young, but old enough to have faint memories of the Holdren’s store that used to be in this area. Roanoke continues to evolve.

Noke Novelties are interesting aspects, picturesque moments, and other quaint nuances of or about the Roanoke area.

The Stone and Tree on Ferdinand Avenue in Roanoke City (3/13/08)

You have probably seen it before.

I frequently travel along Ferdinand Avenue in Roanoke City and on occasion have noticed a stone on the side of the road. It’s located on the same side of the train tracks and opposite the intersection with 10th Street.

There’s also a tree directly behind the stone that was seemingly planted to act as a marker. Even as driving past I could tell the stone was inscribed with some kind of writing. But I never bothered to stop and find out why on earth it’s there. Or more importantly, what it says.

Until now.

The apparent reason the stone’s existence is to mark an old tract of land dating back to the late 1700s.

The writing on the stone says:

“THIS TREE MARKED THE BOUNDARY LINE OF A 150 ACRE TRACT OF LAND CONVEYED TO JAMES ALEXANDER FOR FIFTEEN SHILLINGS BY GEORGE III, KING OF ENGLAND. AUGUST 3, 1771.”

Hmm, interesting, and I’m really at a loss for words here. But, if you’re in the mood for a bit of Roanoke area historic nostalgia then stop by and check it out in person.

Old Dominion Office Park Sign (3/9/08)

Loose gravel and a combination of orange construction netting and exposed dirt mark the proposed location of a new office park in Roanoke. The construction site is along Electric Road/Route 419, on the northbound side of the road, and around the 2700 block.

According to a sign posted at the site, six new office buildings will be available for lease or new owners. There was no expected project completion (or start) date on the sign, and currently only one small bulldozer is present at the site.

Olde Dominion Office Park Site (3/9/08)

These types of buildings seem to be constructed overnight, so I imagine any delay now is to give interested occupants the time to undergo negotiations.

Previously, this area consisted of forest.

Construction seems to be edging closer towards completion on a new office building around the 3100 block of Electric Road (Route 419) in Roanoke. The building is located across the street from the Roanoke County Public Library.

Windsor Hills Executive Building as seen traveling north on Electric Road (3/9/08)

According to a sign at the site, this building is one of four others that are ultimately proposed for development in this area.

The overall project upon completion will closely resemble a square, with a building near each of the four corners. (When facing the current building, another is slated for construction to the left and then 2 others behind each of those stretching away from Electric Road.) Parking in the middle and other perimeter sections will presumably be shared by all inhabitants.

Access to the office park from Electric Road will be via the extension of an existing driveway that now leads to a bank.  I’ll update this project periodically as other buildings are constructed.