BLACKSBURG — Poised for development, the city of Blacksburg is already attracting extra housing and companies with new infrastructure being put in to accommodate future growth.
The city of about 1,900 individuals in northern Cherokee County is only some miles from the North Carolina border. It is lengthy been a spot that has struggled economically with dilapidated buildings downtown which have been vacant for years. With the development of the Catawba Nation’s Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, N.C., new development is predicted in Blacksburg and Cherokee County for the reason that new on line casino will probably be a brief drive from the realm.
Development on the brand new on line casino started in June.
The $700 million on line casino is being constructed on 17 acres and is scheduled to open its first section in 2026. It would embrace a 400-room resort and make use of 2,200 individuals. Blacksburg is hopeful the brand new on line casino will draw extra guests to the city seeking to store or go to the realm’s points of interest.
“I’d assume the on line casino would have some impression with people happening trip eager to get out and discover,” Blacksburg City Administrator Shane Childers stated. “We plan to do some advertising up that approach to assist drive some guests from the on line casino into South Carolina.”
There’s already been some planning to revitalize Blacksburg’s downtown.
A examine was performed by West Pelzer-based panorama architect agency Studio Main on how one can spruce up downtown with new streetscaping. The city plans to spend about $10 million over the following few years to make downtown look extra engaging. It is also working to revise its zoning legal guidelines to permit brewpubs and micro-distilleries to open on the town.
New housing can also be coming.
Greater than 35 homes are being constructed and the city just lately annexed property the place one other 250 homes are on monitor to be constructed. Childers expects extra companies to open on the town over the following decade with extra individuals shifting to the realm.
Iron Metropolis BBQ on North Shelby Road in downtown Blacksburg.
Iron Metropolis BBQ is amongst a number of new companies which have opened to this point in 2024. Situated on North Shelby Road, the restaurant sells extra than simply barbeque. It additionally options wings and smoked rooster.
Proprietor Jason Merritt moved to Blacksburg in 2009. Whereas he hasn’t seen a whole lot of adjustments on the town, Merritt stated there’s expectations development will ramp up within the close to future. He is optimistic the brand new on line casino will assist drive some enterprise to the realm.
“I feel the on line casino goes to be an enormous factor,” Merritt stated. “It is going to be an excellent factor for our space and produce extra jobs and housing right here. We want extra rooftops right here for our tax base to continue to grow.”
Iron Metropolis BBQ opened in downtown Blacksburg this summer season. Proprietor Jason Merritt prepares a barbeque sandwich on Aug. 26 on the restaurant.
At first, Merritt was uncertain whether or not to start out his enterprise in Blacksburg.
He began promoting his Lexington-style barbeque throughout athletic occasions at Blacksburg Excessive Faculty. After establishing a loyal following, he opened Iron Metropolis BBQ at 115 N. Shelby St., on June 19. He would possibly open a second location sooner or later.
Merritt is hopeful the city will hold attracting new enterprise.
“Blacksburg must develop and I imagine the mindset is altering,” Merritt stated. “We’re proper subsequent to the border of South Carolina and North Carolina and development is coming whether or not individuals need it or not. We’re kinda like in a candy spot right here.”
Ken Moon, Cherokee County Growth Board govt director, agrees.
“The potential of enterprise, housing and industrial development in Blacksburg is de facto excessive,” Moon stated.
The northern space of Cherokee County together with Blacksburg will doubtless see much more development as soon as a brand new $55 million sewer line extension undertaking is accomplished from Broad River to Blacksburg. There’s additionally work set to start quickly on a 300-acre industrial park off Tribal Street close to Freeway 29. A brand new Fast Journey can also be close to completion at exit 106 off Interstate 85 that can give motorists one more reason to cease on the town.
Moon expects the city’s investments in revitalizing downtown will make a distinction.
“Blacksburg has been working laborious to revitalize itself,” Moon stated. “There may be a whole lot of potential there they usually have already began to repair up some buildings.”
Blacksburg is not alone.
Progress can also be anticipated over the following decade in Gaffney, the county seat.
Greater than 2,000 new houses are being deliberate within the metropolis over the following six years. The town of about 12,500 residents is predicted to develop by at the very least one other 5,000 by 2030. A number of new companies have opened in downtown Gaffney over the previous 12 months. A brand new guide and low store, Spencer and Firm, is scheduled to open in September on East Robinson St.
Moon expects curiosity in Cherokee County to proceed with the brand new on line casino in Kings Mountain doubtlessly driving some enterprise to the realm.
“I feel the on line casino may have some impression on the interstate’s interchanges,” Moon stated. “I’m not positive what impression it is going to have on Gaffney and Blacksburg as a result of more often than not casinos internalize all of their buying and leisure. It may have some spill-off come to Cherokee County.”
