Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 30, 1990 TAG: 9003300957
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-4 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY BUSINESS WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Steven S. Strauss, president, said the association, founded in 1955, now has 550 firms as members and reflects an area that includes the Roanoke Valley and stretches to Floyd and Craig counties and to Smith Mountain Lake.
Strauss, speaking at the Salem Civic Center where the home builders were preparing to open Better Living Expo '90 this afternoon, said the group's pro-consolidation stand is the result of a polling of membership by mail and of a vote by the 35-member board. The board vote was unanimous in favor of a merged valley. He said the mail ballot had a 25 percent return and 80 percent of those favored consolidation.
The builder, who is president of Strauss Construction, said his group believed a consolidated government can plan and manage growth more efficiently than two governments. It could produce a comprehensive plan for the region instead of two plans "not necessarily tied together."
Water demand will exceed current supply by 1993, the city-owned sewage treatment plant is nearing capacity and the regional landfill will reach capacity in 1992 before a new one is open since delays are anticipated, Strauss said. "The list goes on . . . issues need to be addressed today so that we may maintain our quality of life tomorrow."
Roanoke has the oldest, average-age population of any major metropolitan area in Virginia, Strauss said. It is the home builders' belief that a consolidated valley can reverse the trend of young people leaving the area.
Strauss also announced a new partnership between the home builders and Habitat for Humanity in which the builders will complete a house a year for Habitat to sell to low-income persons. Ground will be broken in May on a lot in Southeast Roanoke for the homebuilders' first house, which will be sold to Judy Caldwell, a single parent with two sons. Caldwell and her son, Travis, were guests at today's gathering and received the doorknob and lock panel to their front door as the group's pledge to provide them with a house.
by CNB