ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010016
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
Christiansburg's plan to renovate the Lowe's building on North Franklin Street into a much-needed recreation center has run into a couple of glitches lately, first with all the bids for construction coming in over budget and then with a member of the recreation planning committee offering a point-by-point criticism of the project.
But town leaders say they will proceed with the idea.
Bob Hockett, a Christiansburg mechanical engineer who was a member of last year's facilities planning committee of the Recreation Commission, which developed the town's recreation master plan, had several criticisms at Tuesday's council meeting, among them:
The basketball courts planned for the building will not be 50 feet wide, which is regulation width. The Lowe's plan calls for three courts, each of them 46 feet wide. Moreover, seating would be behind the goal posts, obscuring spectators' views, Hockett said.
The three courts are side by side, raising the possibility of confusion during play.
Two racquetball courts are included in the plans for the building, even though racquetball did not rate among the top 10 recreation facilities Christiansburg residents want, according to a survey by the commission.
No swimming pool or park is included in the plans, even though both rated high in the survey.
The Lowe's building is close to a busy intersection, and its parking lot is often used as a short-cut.
The building's roof collapsed three years ago after a heavy snow storm.
Hockett told council he hopes members will reconsider their plans for the Lowe's building, which the town bought in a surprise move last April for $1.4 million. At the time, renovation costs were expected to be about $1 million, but recent bids were as high as $2 million and more.
Hockett also reminded council that no detailed cost estimate was completed for a new building the Recreation Commission recommended on Depot Street, which would have offered outside green space.
"My only concern is that the new building was not fully evaluated," Hockett told council. "It may have been $2 million, I don't know."
All of the council members present at Tuesday's meeting (Wayne Booth was absent) offered point-by-point responses to Hockett's concerns. Though some of them conceded the Lowe's plan has shortcomings, all of them indicated they wanted to proceed with it.
Truman Daniel, a member of the Recreation Commission, said the Lowe's site would provide space for the town's active senior center, and pointed out the building is one story, removing the need for a costly elevator.
Jack Via said, "I don't know how much difference 46 feet or 50 makes makes.... It beats playing basketball in the back yard."
Mayor Harold Linkous said issues of vehicle safety can be addressed, and the architect is aware of previous problems with the building's roof.
Ray "Eddie" Lester said, "I have not heard a single citizen speak against the [Lowe's] location."
"I think if we back it up, we'll lose the money we've already spent. I'm perfectly willing to go on like we are," said Scott Weaver.
Ann Carter said the original plans for a new recreation building called for constructing a swimming pool at a later stage.
At the end of council's discussion, Linkous asked if anyone wanted to suggest changes to the town's plan. No one offered any.
"We're past that point now," Via said. "I'm satisfied with what has been going on."
LENGTH: Medium: 74 linesby CNB