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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 26, 1990                   TAG: 9006260299
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ANTIQUES MALL GIVEN JULY 20 DEADLINE

The antiques mall in the old A&P Grocery building on the Roanoke City Market must close by July 20 so the structure can be torn down to make way for a parking garage that will be part of the Dominion Tower project.

City Manager Robert Herbert has notified Roland Macher that the city needs to demolish the building because the contractor on the tower project needs to begin working.

The city bought the building last fall from Macher and his brother, Richard, for $425,000. City officials agreed to allow Macher to use the building until the site was needed.

Macher said Monday he asked the city for permission to keep using the building until Labor Day so the antiques dealers could stay in business during the summer, but Herbert denied the request.

"It looks like the contractor on the tower project is not moving so fast, and I thought this would help the dealers get the rest of the summer business," Macher said.

Macher plans to move the mall to the nearby Wright Furniture building, but its renovation is not expected to be finished by July 20.

Under the plan, the Campbell Avenue side of the building would be renovated to house the antiques mall.

Macher has asked the city Architectural Review Board for permission to raze the Salem Avenue facade of the building and use part of the site to develop a parking lot for nearby development.

Macher said he can't afford to construct a new building because it would cost $700,000.

"I don't have the money to do it all. I can't do the Campbell Avenue side without razing the Salem Avenue side," Macher said.

Several board members said they didn't like the proposal for a parking lot. The board delayed action for a month and asked Macher to provide more information.

The board has approved demolition of the A&P building. Both buildings are in the City Market Historic District, where no structures can be demolished without the board's approval.

by CNB