Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130022
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PETER L. DOWNEY JR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
You have a wonderfully active downtown, but that's not what makes you so special to me. The mixture of beautifully restored old buildings and magnificent, modern structures is appealing, but that's not the main reason I want to come back to the city. It's not even the thrill of staying in a hotel as elegant and fine as Hotel Roanoke that makes me look forward so to my next visit.
Roanoke, you have something special that should be the envy of many communities around the world.
The city of Roanoke has some of the most sincere, friendly people that I've had the pleasure to meet.
I attended a conference at Hotel Roanoke recently. The Virginia Institute for Economic Development held a course on basic community economic development.
Throughout the course, lecturers discussed a variety of ways a community can attract people and businesses. Methods range from financial incentives to quality education. Certainly all of the methods covered in the course would prove attractive to potential newcomers.
During my visit, your city demonstrated another very powerful incentive that could be used to market a community. The welcoming attitude of an area's citizens will surely keep people coming back. When considering incentives for attracting people to a community, sometimes a smile truly can be worth a million dollars.
Once again, thank you, Roanoke, for a wonderful stay. From the waitresses at the local restaurants to downtown storekeepers to the average citizen on the street, the people of Roanoke display a sincere attitude of caring.
Roanoke is a community where citizens ask, ``How are you?'' and take the time to stop and listen to your answer!
Peter L. Downey Jr., of Chesterfield County, is regional planner for the Crater Planning District Commission in Petersburg.
by CNB