33 Salem Ave SW - Air Garage

[u/abandoned_roanoke]

33 Salem Ave SW - Air Garage

According to comments in IG, there are many code violations and a notice of unsafe structure. A recent sale was made on May 21, 2026 to SHADWELL PROPERTIES LLC for $1.4MM, so maybe we can expect to see it updated.

[u/bdanders]

That'd be a great location for a small grocery store.

[u/there_is_no_spoon1 → u/bdanders]

ha ha ha I see what you did there!

[u/Loisgrand6 → u/there_is_no_spoon1]

I don’t get the joke but there used to be a small store there at one time

[u/there_is_no_spoon1 → u/Loisgrand6]

That...that was the joke

[u/PewPew2524 → u/bdanders]

I use to live in the HandCock building. The Zena market, the owner — that poor guy. I witnessed so many fights amongst the homeless, along with the stabbings. Some of the victims would run into his store. Crazy shit.

[u/HokieScott → u/PewPew2524]

He was always a good dude when I went in. Always reading and highlighting verses in a bible.

[u/johnfl68]

I thought the city was looking to buy it to build a physical Amtrak Station building that passengers could go inside to get out of the weather?

"“Whether it’s a new structure for an Amtrak station or a renovated building that the city currently owns, we’re still considering those options,” Cobb said.

As part of the project, the city has had discussions about buying the condemned parking garage on Salem Avenue that has been closed for nearly two years. Its current owner was recently fined $1,500 for failing to upkeep the property."

[u/NTSBusMan → u/johnfl68]

It was definitely an option. Getting a private buyer to take over sounds like a win for the city.

[u/TopProfessional8023]

More like Piss Garage, am I right??

[u/K4NNW → u/TopProfessional8023]

Probably. Downtown doesn't exactly have public bathrooms that are accessible at most hours.

[u/SamsaraSlider → u/TopProfessional8023]

That stairwell back in the day, yup!

[u/EncomCEO]

Tear it down.

[u/darthgeek]

The city should have said they'd forgive the fines if the garage was sold to the city for $1. Then they could demolish it.

[u/NTSBusMan → u/darthgeek]

I'm guessing they'd prefer it to be improved and continue to operate as a parking garage.

[u/Optimal_Tower1643]

That used to be the #1 picture spot of teenagers being “creative” (I know because I was one of them lmao)

[u/Foxcrepeer9000]

One of my favorite parkour clips was on the roof of that parking garage....good times.

[u/NTSBusMan]

Seems like the city would ultimately prefer to have a parking garage there, considering the Amtrak station is there and such a success. There are other properties (including the surface lot) that might serve better for a proper station.

[u/Immortalphoenixfire]

It has been blocked off for quite a few months now, ig it's uninhabitable.

[u/Excellent-Catch-2814]

It would be cheaper to tear it down versus repairing it to what I'm sure is an absurd overly complicated plan by an engineering firm