Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 12, 1993 TAG: 9310120219
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Rob Glenn will step down as chairman of the city Redevelopment and Housing Authority's board of commissioners after nearly three years in the post.
Glenn said Monday he will give up the position because he believes leadership should be shared Anderson and no one should hold the job too long.
"I believe it's time for others to assume leadership. I don't want to be chairman for a decade [or longer], as has been a tradition with the authority," Glenn said.
Former Mayor Willis "Wick" Anderson, who was appointed to the board last year, is expected to succeed him as chairman.
City Council appoints the board members, but the board chooses its chairman.
Glenn, vice president for marketing and strategic planning for Roanoke Gas Co., said the recent controversy over the city's aborted attempt to take over the company was not a factor in his decision.
And Glenn said he does not intend to run for City Council - and he has no plans to resign from the authority's board.
Glenn said he's aware of recurring speculation that he's positioning himself to make a bid for council, but there is no truth to it.
"I'm not leaving the board or abandoning my work with the authority," he said.
Glenn said he will nominate Anderson to succeed him at the authority board's next meeting.
Anderson, general counsel for Shenandoah Life Insurance Co. and a Republican, was appointed to the board last year after he lost a bid for a political comeback in a race with Mayor David Bowers, a Democrat.
Anderson was on council from 1958 to 1962, mayor from 1960 to 1962 and a member of the House of Delegates from 1963 to 1971.
Meanwhile, the authority has decided to investigate the feasibility of constructing a building in the Henry Street area that could include administrative offices for the agency.
Neva Smith, authority executive director, said an anchor building is needed to help stimulate redevelopment in Henry Street, which once was the center for black restaurants, hotels and nightclubs.
Smith said a multi-story building could include offices, rental space and housing.
The authority's offices now are in the Lansdowne Park housing complex at 2624 Salem Turnpike N.W.
Smith said she spends a lot of time downtown in the Municipal Building and other offices to take care of the authority's business.
If the agency's offices were on Henry Street near the Hotel Roanoke, she said, it would be more convenient.
by CNB