Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 31, 1992 TAG: 9201310211
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
DOWNTOWN CHRISTIANSBURG'S FUTURE STILL UNCERTAIN
What is to become of downtown Christiansburg?On Tuesday, Town Council members will again discuss involvement in a proposed downtown design study that would lay out plans for future development.
And in a surprise comment this week, Mayor Harold Linkous said the town is willing to consider selling the properties it owns on East Main Street if someone wants to buy and renovate them.
"I'm sure the town would consider selling them and then make other arrangements for parking," Linkous said Wednesday.
The town purchased several deteriorating buildings on East Main Street in 1990 with plans to raze them for parking.
The properties have become part of a controversial design proposal that is advocated by the county Board of Supervisors and some local citizens. The county also owns buildings across the street and wants a coordinated effort on development and planning.
Contacted this week, Mayor Harold Linkous and the six Town Council members said they were not impressed with the design study proposal given to them at their Jan. 21 meeting by Town Manager John Lemley. Many are concerned that it deals mostly with county-owned properties.
Lemley received the proposal from Town Administrator Betty Thomas after the two met to discuss oversight of the design study project. The mayor had asked council to look the proposal over for their first February meeting.
The supervisors have decided to take the first step and pay two-thirds of the study's estimated $7,288 cost with the idea that if the town doesn't chip in to help, the issue is dead.
"What direction this will go is uncertain," said Councilman Wayne Booth. "No one has any money."
But everyone does have concerns.
"I have quite a few questions about it," said Councilman W. Scott Weaver. "It frightens me."
After attending a meeting on the beautification of the U.S. 460 corridor earlier in the week, Weaver said he saw firsthand how the Virginia Tech Community Design Assistance Center - which would conduct the proposed downtown study - would handle a redesign.
"It was all landscaping!" Weaver said. "They showed some beautiful pictures, but that's not our interest as far as the downtown is concerned. And that's a tremendous price to pay for that."
Several council members were concerned that the proposal did not address enough specifics, such as how the renovations would be paid for after the study was completed and the exact areas that would be included in the study.
"Are downtown businesses and property owners being asked for their input?" said Councilman Truman Daniel. "Will they be willing to pay to have their buildings changed?"
Councilwoman Ann Carter said she has been conducting an informal survey of downtown merchants and has "been getting negative feedback" from them concerning the study.
Many merchants have done their own renovations, Carter said, and are not willing to pay for more.
And council members were concerned because the proposal summary only addressed the county-owned property on East Main Street, which includes the old Angle's supermarket, and construction of new county government offices.
"If this design study is just for the Angle's building, then the county should pay for it," Weaver said.
"Will the study include all of the downtown?" Daniel said. "Or will it just be for Main Street or just for East Main Street?"
None of the council members was sure if a final decision would be made on Tuesday. Councilman Ray Lester said the matter probably will be referred to the finance committee.
"I'm strictly sitting in the bleachers to see what the show's going to be," Councilman Jack Via said. "I need more information before I make a decision."