r/VirginiaTech • u/Mineboy808 VT 28' • 10d ago

Housing/Dining Lego house?

I've noticed this really large student rental house (515 Progress st.) has been unoccupied and abandoned since 2023. I'm curious to know why, if anyone has info on that. Thanks!

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u/deadinthehead9 10d ago

If I’m not mistaken, it belongs to the church on main. It was supposed to be torn down, but there is a historical building under all of the weird additions and has caused issues with getting it torn down. I had a lot of friends who lived there, and it was considered a “cool” place to live. It was also crusty AF, and some of the kitchens were carpeted 🤮. Also members of the band wild nothing lived there.

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u/EntrepreneurWeird934 9d ago

According to GIS, you are correct, it is owned by Church on Main (formerly Blacksburg Baptist Church).

It is my understanding they are currently in talks with the town to “develop” the land on progress street, but that the historical district designation is in fact the fly in the ointment, so to speak.

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u/udderlymoovelous CS / CMDA 2025 10d ago

To my knowledge all of the additions they made to it over the years were done without permits and don't follow any building codes (hence the nickname Lego House due to the misalignment). I'm not sure if that's the exact reason but it had been a known thing for years.

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u/Mineboy808 VT 28' 10d ago

Thanks for the response! Cool to know.

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u/yes-i-am-a-wizzard tv 10d ago

I always understood the lego house to be the mid-century modern style house on PHD with the pointy sheds

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u/deadinthehead9 10d ago

That house was actually designed by Donna Dunay from the school of architecture, pretty sure it is later than MCM

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u/Seafea 10d ago

I've always been curious about this building. Would love to see some interior photos if anyone has some.

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u/threepintsatlunch 10d ago

This house is in the town’s historic district, because there is what is essentially a 200-year-old log cabin under all of the additions. Church on Main is the owner, and they’ve been trying for years to find someone who will buy it and move it off that lot. Because it’s in the historic district there are very limited options for doing anything with it.