Newly constructed homes popping up around Belmont.
A neighborhood seeking to bounce back
Belmont languished for more than 50 years after a manufacturing plant employing thousands shut down and residents left for Roanoke’s suburbs. But there’s more to this Southeast Roanoke neighborhood than dilapidated homes. It has19th-century architecture, access to the Roanoke Riverfront and proximity to downtown. Since the ‘60s, nonprofit Presbyterian Community Center has served Belmont and the rest of Southeast Roanoke with a food pantry, after-school programs and other resources. Fifty years later, Belmont and the rest of the southeast still face the issues of poverty and vacant homes, says Nicole Jennings, the center’s executive director. “I call us the stepchild. I have students who go to school, and they’re like ‘Oh, you’re from the southeast,’ and they write these kids off.” However, more assistance is on the way. The city of Roanoke in 2019 targeted Belmont as one of two neighborhoods where it would invest roughly $1.7 million in annual aid. Between 2019 and 2025, that money will fund new houses, home rehabilitation and sidewalk repairs. Plus, Belmont was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. That makes some federal and state incentives available to homeowners who fix up historic properties. Belmont still has a long way to go, but Jennings says there is value to be unlocked if the neighborhood is spruced up. “It’s in a great location in the city,” she says. “It has easy access to the town of Vinton, and it’s semi-walkable.”
Belmont Park has newly surfaced tennis courts.
Belmont Park gets updated
Belmont Park is a nearby green space with kept-up amenities; the city updated its tennis courts, baseball diamond and playground in 2023. A path winding through the park provides a spot for walks and runs, while the Belmont Branch Library is next door. Just across the Roanoke River, pedestrians and cyclists travel the Roanoke River Greenway. Jennings says Southeast Roanoke’s segment of the 14-mile trail is her favorite section. “At the 13th Street entrance, there are several beautiful murals painted under the bridge by local artists,” she says. “Part of it feels like you’re not in the city because of some overgrowth, and you’re beside the river.” Presbyterian Community Center broke ground on a new building in 2024 that’s expected to be finished in 2025. The center will have a playground and indoor gym, two features Jenning says will help the organization better serve the community. “We’ll be able to expand our programs and hopefully bring some stability to people in the southeast.”
Community events for springtime, Halloween
Community organization I Heart SE is a driving force for events in Belmont and other Southeast Roanoke neighborhoods, Jennings says. “They’ve really rallied together to show Southeast Roanoke is more than the reputation it’s gotten.” The group organizes May’s Belmont Spring Festival at the local library and an October Trunk or Treat Block Party at Belmont Park. Meanwhile, Belmont Branch Library hosts multiple weekly events, including Zumba classes, movie showings and even pop-up escape rooms. Library events are free and open to the public.
American Foursquare homes are sprinkled throughout Belmont.
Historical homes in need of work
Belmont was developed as a grid, with sidewalks and compact rows of homes on both sides of the streets. Houses were generally built between the 1890s and 1940s, but many American Foursquare, Victorian and bungalow homes have deteriorated in the past 50 years. Some are boarded up and vacant. Other homes are kept up, with gardens blooming on their small lots. Dilapidated homes sell for as low as $14,000, while move-in-read houses start around $100,000. Recently updated homes cost up to $250,000.
Attending Roanoke City Public Schools
Roanoke City Public Schools oversees the three schools where most Belmont students are zoned to attend. Fallon Park Elementary School and John P. Fishwick Middle School are within a mile of the neighborhood and get a Niche grade of C-plus. William Fleming High School, which also gets a C-plus, is 6 miles away. In addition to 17 sports, Fleming High offers extracurriculars focused on business, gaming and dance. Less than a mile from Belmont, A-rated Community High School provides a private high school curriculum.
William Fleming High School
John P Fishwick Middle School
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Take a short trip to downtown Roanoke from Belmont to check out local shops.
Shops, restaurants scarce
Shopping and dining are limited in Belmont. Emilio’s Famous Pizza & Subs offers carryout and delivery, while the other restaurants are fast food chains such as Arby’s and Hardee’s. People can pick up items from CVS and Dollar General and get groceries from Walmart Neighborhood Market a mile east of Belmont. “I still feel it’s a food desert to a large degree,” Jennings says. Downtown Roanoke borders Belmont to the west, with dozens of locally owned restaurants and boutiques. Churches are prominent, with eight packed into the neighborhood. Train tracks cover the area north of Campbell Avenue, where Genesis Rail Services operates shops formerly used by Norfolk Southern. Rail traffic can be moderately noisy, according to Department of Transportation data.
Take the Valley Metro into downtown from Belmont.
Accessing downtown Roanoke, Vinton
Belmont sits alongside Interstate 581, which runs north to south through Roanoke, and Campbell Avenue, which connects to downtown. It’s a 2-mile drive to the town of Vinton, which has a selection of stores and restaurants. However, Jennings says not every resident can use these roadways. “We still have many people in the area who don’t have transportation and are on foot or rely on the bus system.” The city bus stops in the neighborhood heading to and from downtown. However, the bus only comes by once an hour.
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
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Belmont
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
7
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
7
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Belmont Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Belmont, Roanoke sell after 58 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Belmont, Roanoke over the last 12 months is $129,000, down 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Kivante WebbDIVINE FOG REALTY COMPANY LLC- ROANOKE
Owner financing available!Step into this beautiful home featuring a spacious living room with gleaming hardwood floors and a dining room large enough for 8 -- perfect for gatherings and family meals. The kitchen offers plenty of cabinet space for all your storage needs.Upstairs, the very spacious primary bedroom easily fits a king-sized bed, while both bathrooms feature double sinks for added
Kivante WebbDIVINE FOG REALTY COMPANY LLC- ROANOKE
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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.
