DOWNTOWN ROANOKE, VA
Virginia Can Company Complex
Location & Demand Drivers
Downtown Roanoke is experiencing a surge of institutional investment and regional growth that is reshaping demand for housing, mixed-use, and commercial space. The VCCC sits at the center of this transformation.
Within walking distance: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Radford University Carilion nursing programs, and RoVa Labs — Roanoke’s new $20M+ biotech incubator on Jefferson Street (opened May 6, 2026), a partnership of Carilion Clinic, Virginia Tech, Virginia Western Community College, the Roanoke Blacksburg Innovation Alliance, and Johnson & Johnson’s JLABS virtual residency. The Roanoke Valley Greenway — 30+ miles of urban trails — runs adjacent to the property. Downtown Roanoke was ranked #97 on Livability’s 2026 Top 100 Best Places to Live for the second consecutive year.
Regional growth drivers include a Google data center in nearby Daleville, Amazon distribution facilities, new retail (Publix), and continued expansion of Roanoke’s healthcare and biotech corridor. A documented housing shortage — particularly for traveling nurses, medical students, and healthcare workforce — creates strong demand for residential development in this district.
Redevelopment Opportunity
The Virginia Can Company Complex is a 46,000 SF historic industrial property in downtown Roanoke, built in 1912 for the Virginia Can Company and individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It offers a rare adaptive reuse and redevelopment opportunity within one of the region’s most dynamic growth corridors.
Located approximately one block from RoVa Labs, Roanoke’s new biotech incubator — and within walking distance of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, and Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital — the property sits at the intersection of downtown amenities and the region’s expanding life sciences and healthcare district.
The property supports a range of redevelopment strategies: residential or multifamily conversion, mixed-use development, creative office or innovation workspace, or hybrid approaches integrating adaptive reuse with new construction. Additional adjacent parcels may be available, offering expanded development footprint and assemblage potential.
Zoning & Development Flexibility
Zoning Overlay
Historic Designation Overlay
Neal Brenner
Owner/Agent
AJAG Real Estate