
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 28, 1990                   TAG: 9004280167
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: DAMASCUS                                LENGTH: Short

APARTMENT COMPLEX OPENED IN DAMASCUS

Riverside Place, a 28-unit apartment complex for elderly and disabled low- to moderate-income families, has been opened by the town of Damascus and People Inc., a community action agency serving Washington County and Bristol.

Seventeen units have been occupied so far in the converted school building. Work is continuing on restoring the auditorium for use by residents and community groups.

Todd Christensen, program director for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, admitted he doubted the project could be carried out with the money available. The department funded most of the project through the Community Development Block Grant Program.

Christensen, who has been involved with more than 200 projects funded under the block grant program, called this "one of the two most ambitious projects in my experience."

Several residents attended school in the building that is now their home.

"I spent five summers of Saturdays on this stage taking piano lessons," recalled Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, who took part in the dedication ceremony recently. "I learned to locate middle C."

- Southwest bureau

by CNB