$344,218Average Value$165Average Price per Sq Ft11Homes For Sale
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An active and historic Roanoke community
Old Southwest is the largest residential historic district in the state, offering an array of vintage homes, local restaurants and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Located a mile from downtown Roanoke, the neighborhood is home to the Alexander Gish House, which is one of the city’s oldest properties, as well as office buildings and public green spaces. The community’s non-profit neighborhood association organizes block parties and helps preserve historic buildings. Old Southwest maintains its storied character, but residents are within a mile of more modern entertainment options, like the Dr. Pepper Park music venue.
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20th century Victorians and American Foursquares
There are several apartment complexes throughout the neighborhood, but single-family homes make up the majority of the housing stock. Old Southwest’s collection of historic homes sit close together on smaller lots, with front yards often decorated with rounded shrubbery and concrete walkways. American Foursquares and Victorian shingle homes from the early 1900s are priced between $200,000 and $400,000, depending on renovations. There are some condos from the 1930s that sell for between $150,000 and $170,000. Investors can buy duplexes and multi-unit apartment buildings for between $450,000 and $700,000.
Visit the historic Alexander Gish House in Old Southwest.
Historic home tours and outdoor concerts
The Old Southwest Neighborhood Association organizes community events, like block parties and group repair projects at the Alexander Gish House. The house was built in 1838 and is one of the oldest buildings in Roanoke—the Old Southwest non-profit association took over the maintenance of the home from the city in the 1970s. The Alexander Gish House can be rented for events, and during the holidays, it’s part of the neighborhood’s parlor tour. During the tour, residents stop by the decorated parlors of six historic homes, and the Gish house has festive treats and art exhibits. For more modern festivities, households can participate in the holiday light contest; the neighborhood uploads a map so residents can take a walking tour of the lights. When the weather warms up, the community looks forward to concerts at Dr. Pepper Park, which is about a mile south of the neighborhood. “It’s an outdoor music venue, so it’s not big city vibes. It’s not like Taylor Swift is coming here, but it feels more intimate,” says Lisa Marie Santacaterina, a Realtor with MKB, Realtors who’s served the area for 19 years. “It’s an all-grass field, so even the ‘cheap seats’ aren’t the cheap seats. Everyone’s just bringing their blankets and lawn chairs out to appreciate the music.” In the summer of 2024, artists like Chase Matthew and Elle King played at Dr. Pepper Park.
Highland Park
Disc golf, tennis and basketball at Highland Park
“It’s an active place, but you don’t necessarily have to be super adventurous. You can just take a short walk on the trails or go to the park and enjoy being outside,” says Kaelyn Spickler, who’s lived in Roanoke for six years. Highland Park is the hub for outdoor recreation in Old Southwest. Not only is it the highest area in the neighborhood, which affords residents the best views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Mill Mountain Star, but the park has a large, shaded disc golf course. Kids kick balls around the soccer field or meet for pickup games at the basketball courts, and locals meet for after-work tennis matches at the tennis courts. Children also enjoy the playground and skate park, while dogs can run around the off-leash dog park as their owners chat.
Local bakeries and bistros in Old Southwest
The Albemarle Bakery and Coffee House is a new addition to the neighborhood. Situated in a historic American Foursquare, the coffee shop serves lattes, cinnamon rolls and scones. Locals can head to Evie’s Bistro and Bakery for soup and sandwiches for lunch and enjoy slices of cake for dessert. Lews Restaurant is a casual eatery serving American fare like burgers, wings and beer on tap. There aren’t many choices for shopping in Old Southwest, but there are a few local businesses like Sunnyside Market, a small grocery store for grab-and-go conveniences. Residents drive a little over a mile southwest to stock up on groceries at Kroger. To browse a wide array of retailers, the Valley View Mall is a little over 4 miles northwest; Walmart and Target are near the mall, which has shops like H&M, Ulta Beauty and Macy’s.
Check out The Albemarle Bakery and Coffee House in Old Southwest.
Evie's Bistro and Bakery is a local favorite in Old Southwest.
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Patrick Henry High School
Academic clubs at Patrick Henry High
Kids can begin at Highland Park Elementary, which has a B rating from Niche. Students progress to B-minus-rated James Madison Middle and B-rated Patrick Henry High. The high school has clubs to encourage student involvement, like the scholastic bowl, the student literary magazine, the debate club and more.
Residents of Old Southwest can hop on a bus and ride into downtown.
Buses take residents a mile downtown
Though there’s a rail yard for freight trains near the western border of the neighborhood, residents must travel a mile northeast to catch a passenger train. “The Amtrak station downtown keeps everything connected. The train goes up to NOVA and New York City,” Spickler says. The area’s sidewalk-lined streets lead to bus stops operated by the Valley Metro. Old Southwest is bounded by Interstate 581, which residents can merge onto to connect to Interstate 81. From there, locals can drive 40 miles southwest to Blacksburg. They don’t have to travel far for most services, however, as the Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital is just outside the neighborhood.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
DON MARR,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Highland Dog Park
Highland Park
Transit
Airport
Roanoke/Blacksburg Regional (Woodrum Field)
13 min drive
Bus
Franklin Nb & Mountain
Bus
Jefferson & Mountain
Bus
Jefferson & Highland
Bus
Franklin Sb & Woods
Bus
Franklin Sb & Highland
Bus
Jefferson Sb & Marion (Breast Cancer Center)
Bus
Elm Ave & 2nd St Wb
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Old Southwest
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
8
4
Assault with Weapon
6
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Old Southwest, Roanoke sell after 42 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Old Southwest, Roanoke over the last 12 months is $357,303, up 19% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to stunning 529 Day Ave!! Step into a storybook with this beautifully updated historic home, where timeless character meets modern comfort. Inside you'll find original heart of pine floors, cozy nooks, built-in benches, and restored stained glass windows. The first floor features a living room perfect for relaxing by the wood stove, an updated kitchen, laundry room and a whimsical atrium
Southern Victorian charmer on the outside, this 3- bedroom, 2 and a half-bath home is thoroughly modern on the inside. Located next to the bonus corner lot in historic Old Southwest, this walkable neighborhood offers coffee shops, restaurants, beautiful Highland Park, and is walking distance to music venues and Downtown Roanoke. The gracious front porch steps into a winsome foyer adjoining the
This historic home features tons of space with three stories and a full basement. Meticulously cared for. Beautiful hardwood floors 6 BR, 2 1/2 baths. Heat pump & forced air gas with central air. Paved parking in the rear makes this suitable for residential or business use. Property is zoned Downtown/Mixed Use providing the ultimate flexibility to use as a primary residence, office space or
Charming 1915 Old Southwest Roanoke Gem with Modern Updates! Welcome to 407 Elm Ave SW--a thoughtfully renovated 2-story home in the heart of Downtown Roanoke. This timeless beauty seamlessly blends original 1915 charm with modern conveniences. Offering 4 spacious bedrooms and 2 full baths, the home greets you with a large foyer leading to a formal dining room, perfect for hosting. The cozy
2 Story Brick Townhome nestled along wooded edge of Historic Old Southwest. Quality 2014 build featuring granite and stainless kitchen with pantry and breakfast bar opens to living room. Huge primary suite with generous walk-in closet and laundry conveniently located on bedroom level. Relaxing rear patio with privacy fencing and attached garage. Enjoy low maintenance living in a vibrant,
Nicely renovated second-floor STUDIO UNIT in a historical building with tons of charm.. All electric unit with central air. Water and lawn maintenance included. The resident pays for electricity. No pets of any kind. Coin-operated laundry facility onsite. Responsive owner and professional management.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
DON MARR,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,234
Median Age
38
Population Density
9 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13.2%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$32,686
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$49,997
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
90.6%
College Graduates
42.2%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
21.8%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.7%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
29°F
Average Summer High Temperature
88°F
Annual Snowfall
1''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
65/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
60/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
42/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
