ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY BISHOP STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Below
First it was that foot of snow early this month; now it's people wanting to attend the Thousand Man March.
For the second time in two weeks, the city's biggest public hearing so far on the rebuilding of Henry Street has been postponed.
Devona Springer, spokeswoman for the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority, said black Roanokers asked that Saturday morning's meeting be reset so they can attend the march.
The march events begin at 10 a.m. The Henry Street session had been scheduled for the same time.
Both are of special interest to the black community. Until the 1970s, Henry Street was the prime black commercial strip in the city.
Most of the buildings have been torn down and the land acquired by the authority.
The new Henry Street meeting date is Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Addison Middle School.
Many black Roanokers complained in two small sessions with authority executive Neva Smith last month that they knew little about the Henry Street plans until the authority and the city's Henry Street Revival Committee announced them at a January news conference.
Smith agreed to hear more public feedback before the Henry Street land-use plans go to City Council.
Residents can examine the plans and record their comments from Feb. 28 to March 8 at authority offices, 2624 Salem Turnpike N.W.
Hours will be from noon to 5 p.m. most days, but the office will stay open until 6 p.m. March 5 and 7.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB