BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – Recent changes to the planned on-campus student housing by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors have stirred concerns among Town of Blacksburg officials. In 2022, the board had approved the ambitious Student Life Village Master Plan, a project designed to create around 5,000 beds along with a suite of amenities for undergraduate students. However, a new resolution from board members now seeks to eliminate that housing plan altogether, leaving local leaders worried about the future of Blacksburg’s already tight housing market.
Vice Mayor Michael Sutphin of Blacksburg expressed deep concern over the development. “The town has always been supportive of Virginia Tech’s Student Life Village Plan,” he said. “The university’s growth over the years has put tremendous pressure on both the availability and the cost of housing here. If Virginia Tech decides not to invest in this plan, it will only exacerbate the current challenges we face.” Sutphin emphasized that if the resolution passes, the town will be forced to take a strong stance against any further growth that could worsen these issues.
The resolution in question mandates that, if approved, all planning and allocation of funds for the Student Life Village would immediately cease. This would require the university to remove any associated projects from its budgeting and long-term planning efforts. For a town like Blacksburg, which has already struggled to keep pace with student housing demands by approving thousands of off-campus bedrooms, this move could have significant repercussions.
Despite the growing concerns, recent discussions between Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, and other local partners have been promising, with talks focused on developing formal solutions to manage the university’s rapid growth while addressing the town’s housing shortages. However, Vice Mayor Sutphin warned that if the Board of Visitors’ resolution is approved, these constructive conversations might come to an abrupt halt. “Why would we continue with those plans if the university stops investing in addressing the growth challenges on its own campus?” he questioned. “I’m very worried that these discussions will simply end.”
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors is set to vote on the resolution at its March 25 meeting. The local community and university stakeholders are awaiting further clarification on the board’s reasoning behind this proposed policy change. WDBJ has reached out to the Board for comment and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.
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