Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 26, 1993 TAG: 9311260069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Architects are preparing an alternative plan that is expected to ease the concerns of downtown merchants and property owners.
"I think we are reaching a compromise which will preserve the views of the hotel and ease the other concerns," said Mayor David Bowers.
Bowers said the revised plan would preserve the scenic view of the hotel from downtown, and the view of downtown from the hotel.
The glass-enclosed bridge will provide a way for pedestrians to walk between downtown and Hotel Roanoke.
"There has been a healthy discussion and I think we have something that will be acceptable," Bowers said.
William Clark, city public works director, said the architects are working on a consensus plan they hope will be satisfactory to all parties, including downtown business leaders and the hotel developers.
But Clark would not release the new plan because not all parties have seen it, he said.
Under the earlier plan, downtown leaders said there were flaws at both ends that could hurt, rather than benefit, downtown.
The pedestrian bridge would have extended from the First Union Tower and the adjacent grass plaza to a spot near the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center.
Downtown Roanoke Inc. wanted the bridge to connect physically to the conference center or hotel.
Otherwise, the organization said, pedestrians won't leave a dry and warm hotel or conference center in bad weather and go outside to enter a walkway.
Downtown leaders were also concerned that the southern end of the bridge would encroach into the small plaza, next to the First Union Tower.
The plaza is the staging area for many downtown events, such as Dickens of a Christmas, Virginia Chili Cookoff, First Fridays at Five and other events.
Downtown Roanoke said it strongly supports the pedestrian bridge project and believes it will benefit downtown economically if it is designed and located to encourage pedestrians to use it. After the hotel and conference center are open, downtown leaders believe, the bridge will help generate more than $10 million annually in additional retail sales for merchants.
by CNB