The Bridges breaks ground on second apartment complex in downtown Roanoke

Roanoke River Associates has broken ground on the second building in the South16 apartment complex at The Bridges in downtown Roanoke, continuing its multi-year plan to develop the space into a historic riverfront destination for recreation, shopping, dining and downtown living.

The newest South16 building will have 127 units, outdoor recreation areas that include a patio overlooking the Star and Roanoke River, swimming pool and a fourth-floor viewing deck.

Unlike the first complex, South16, the new apartments will bring more brick into the building to create a consistent synergy with the architecture across the street at Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School and Research Institute. 

Coinciding with the recently announced expansion of the Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School and Research Institute and the expected influx of hundreds of new students, The Bridges is planned to grow to 1 million square feet of residential, retail and office space over the next decade. This growth will connect downtown with the Roanoke River to create a destination that will include a public river walk, kayak launch and riverfront dining.

“ On top of the success of South16 and this growing area, we are pleased to announce our new building,” Aaron Ewert, project manager for The Bridges, said in a statement. “When we are done with our second building in the early fall of 2017, we will have invested $40 million into our site. Partnering with the city of Roanoke on the public infrastructure has also paid off. We commend their continuing efforts to grow this important area.”

Richmond-based WVS Cos. is the developer behind The Bridges.