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

DATE: THURSDAY, May 17, 1990                   TAG: 9005180626
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COUNCIL ASKED TO OK PARTNERSHIP'S BID FOR STATE FUNDS

John Hudgins, a Salem commercial Realtor, asked council to approve his partnership's application for a $130,000 loan from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The loan represents half of the $260,000 it will cost the Hudgins-Winston Partnership to renovate several old buildings that had been low-income apartments at 600-610 West Main Street.

Ivan Winston, a Roanoke property manager, is Hudgins' partner.

"Nothing is required of the city by virtue of its approval," City Attorney Steve Yost said. Council's approval was sought because the state department "does not want to lock into an area where the governing body is dead set against it," Yost said.

Hudgins said the complex will be converted into adult rental units - possibly as many as 18. The buildings need exterior painting, electrical wiring and sewer-line repairs, he said.

The renovated buildings would not be considered subsidized housing, Hudgins said.

In other business, council added the Salem Historical Society to the list of human- and community-service agencies it is allocating money to in the 1990-91 city budget. With this allocation, council will be giving human- and community-service agencies $186,890, the largest amount it has ever appropriated.

Not only did council vote unanimously to give $5,000 to the society, but it also agreed to discuss setting up an endowment fund for the organization.

The society hopes to open its renovated Brown-Williams House-Store in time for Olde Salem Days this fall. To do that, the society needs to complete $12,800 in roof repairs and $34,000 worth of first-floor renovations.

The building - a historic landmark - is being converted into a museum.

In other business:

Council awarded a $1.4 million contract to the Salem firm of Aaron J. Conner Contracting, Inc. to install sewer lines in the North Mill Road area.

Mayor Jim Taliaferro abstained from voting because he owns property in the area and said he could benefit from the new lines.

Council awarded a $969,000 contract to the Loeb Construction Company of Roanoke for construction of a three-story building and stands at the Moyer Sports Complex.

Council awarded a $741,450 contract to Martin Brothers Contractors Inc. of Roanoke for construction work on the expansion/renovation of the Salem Public Library.

Council agreed to spend $234,000 of the 1990-91 bond issue on upgrading the city's main computer system.

Council re-appointed councilmen Sonny Tarpley and Alex Brown to the board of directors of Total Action Against Poverty and George Daniels to the Virginia Western Community College board.