BLACKSBURG — Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith wants Virginia Tech to do more to ease the pressure that annual enrollment growth puts on the town.
This isn't the first time she's expressed her opinions on housing issues and Virginia Tech's role. It has long been one of, if not the most pressing issue facing the town.
Much of Hager-Smith's latest State of the Town address was spent outlining what she claims the university's large student population puts town government in an untenable position. There is.
“Blacksburg's student population already outnumbers the general public by more than two to one,” Hagersmith said in his written annual report. “Students pay less in taxes and require more services than other demographic groups. They need more police, more mental health services, and more hot water.” This imbalance is completely unsustainable.”
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While many Virginia universities, including Radford University and the College of William and Mary, to name a few, have seen enrollment declines in recent years, Virginia Tech's enrollment continues to grow. The university's hope is to see more modest growth in the coming years, and Hager-Smith's hope is that that growth can be managed within the university's campus.
“If Virginia Tech wants to succeed in retention and recruitment, it needs to build the infrastructure to sustain its ambitions,” Hager-Smith's report said. “And if a university cannot thrive without adding more students, then that expansion must also occur at other campuses, of which there are seven today and more to come. The Good of Blacksburg people can no longer subsidize [the university’s] Growth plan. ”
Construction of new apartment buildings, primarily used by students, has continued for five years in the town of Blacksburg. More than 3,000 new apartments have been built in town during this time, Hager-Smith said, but Virginia Tech has contributed little in terms of new housing construction of its own.
Hager-Smith specifically mentioned Virginia Tech's plans to build a new student living village that will include dormitories. While she believes this is a step in the right direction, the project also includes the demolition of some of the campus' older dormitories, which will only slightly increase student housing capacity.
“Town officials have been told that the town's current plan is to add a 'modest' 100 students each year as smaller colleges and universities decline in enrollment,” Hager-Smith's report said. “it is written like this. “If that happens, we will need a new apartment every year, [Virginia Tech] We just can't build it fast enough. ”
Aside from housing, Virginia Tech imposes other burdens on Blacksburg businesses. Hager-Smith specifically pointed out that the university does not impose a “meal tax” on vendors, meaning the university's own food service and affiliated vendors compete unfairly with local restaurants and vendors. are doing.
“A meal tax costs nothing,” Hager-Smith said.
Hager-Smith also said the school has indicated the possibility of working with the town on urban planning to promote student growth, but there has been little movement on that proposal.
“That doesn't seem to be happening,” Hager-Smith said. “They made some offers, but there was no update.”
As for where the student's growth will be directed, Hagersmith said he hopes it will be directed to other Virginia Tech campuses or online classes.
Hager-Smith said her statements about Virginia Tech are focused on maintaining the quality of life for people living in Blacksburg. As students, who already make up a large portion of the population, continue to migrate, the cost of amenities, real estate, rental prices, and goods will continue to increase.
“I want Virginia Tech to be more aware of its responsibility for Blacksburg's quality of life,” Hagersmith said.
