Roanoke Proposes Free Downtown Parking Changes
Park Roanoke wants to remove downtown meters and offer free garage parking, while a condemned garage near the Amtrak station remains closed.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Remote Work
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Park Roanoke has proposed removing downtown parking meters and offering the first hour free in its garages, along with free Sunday parking in city-owned garages and surface lots. The changes would be phased in over the coming months, pending council approval.
Why it matters
Downtown Roanoke has more than 9,000 parking spaces, and the proposal aims to better manage existing spaces rather than add new ones. The condemned garage at 33 Salem Avenue, bought by Shadwell Properties in May, adds pressure on available parking near the Amtrak station.
Downtown Roanoke contains more than 9,000 parking spaces, and Park Roanoke's proposal would make the first hour free in its garages. The source does not specify how the change would affect city parking revenue, and council approval remains pending.
The players
Park Roanoke
Park Roanoke is the city's parking management entity that proposed the removal of downtown meters and new free-parking options.
Shadwell Properties
Shadwell Properties is a property company that bought the condemned garage at 33 Salem Avenue and is working to reopen it.
Dale Wilkinson
Dale Wilkinson is the president of Shadwell Properties, who declined an on-camera interview about the garage.
The details
Park Roanoke proposed removing downtown parking meters and offering free Sunday parking in city-owned garages and surface lots. Separately, Shadwell Properties, led by president Dale Wilkinson, is working to secure the condemned garage at 33 Salem Avenue, which sits next to the Amtrak station; Wilkinson declined an on-camera interview.
Timeline
May: Shadwell Properties bought the property at 33 Salem Avenue.
Coming months: Proposed parking changes would be phased in, pending council approval.
Six to 12 months: Estimated duration of repair work at the condemned garage.
Remote Work Context
Roanoke's plan to manage its existing 9,000-plus downtown spaces rather than add new ones reflects a choice to optimize current capacity. Parking demand in the central business district is tied to the in-office workforce, which is why the timing of any downtown parking change matters for employers and commuters.
Commuters who drive downtown could pay less for parking if the first hour becomes free in Park Roanoke garages and Sunday parking is free in city lots. Visitors to the Amtrak station area should expect continued limited garage capacity while the condemned structure at 33 Salem Avenue stays closed.
The takeaway
Roanoke's proposal signals a shift toward managing existing downtown parking more efficiently instead of building new capacity. Drivers planning downtown trips should watch for council action on the phased changes.
Further reading
For broader context on how commuting patterns are shifting, see Remote Work coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSLS.
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