ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602260002
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
First as a candidate, then as mayor, David Bowers has proposed intiatives affecting economic development, education, transportation, housing, tourism and other facets of life in Roanoke and the Roanoke Valley. Here's a scorecard on how those ideas have fared.
* accomplished
? some action taken, still up in the air
x didn't happen
1992
Proposes economic summits if he is elected mayor to bring together business community, labor and citizens. SUMMITS ARE HELD *
Supports a stronger tourism program. CITY INCREASES PAYMENTS TO ROANOKE VALLEY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU TO MARKET HOTEL *
Proposes construction of high-rise housing for elderly people in downtown Roanoke. NEVER WENT ANYWHERE. x
Pledges to ask the city redevelopment & housing authority to develop a plan for downtown housing??? (still checking).
Proposes "Population 2000" proposal that would set a stratefy for increasing Roanoke's population.??? (still checking
Says a renovated Hotel Roanoke will be prime economic development goal of his administration. ACCOMPLISHED *
Proposes Amtrak service between Roanoke and Chattanooga, Tenn. AMTRAK SAYS IT WON'T DO IT; STATE STILL STUDYING POSSIBLE RAIL SERVICE TO ROANOKE. ?
Proposes downtown streetcars between the Transportation Museum and City Market, perhaps connecting to Explore Park, Valley View Mall and Roanoke Regional Airport. NO ACTION. x
Says he wants the city to try to persuade federal officials to place the
National Railway Trust's national office in Roanoke. TRUST NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND. x
Says the city should replace the Walnut Avenue Bridge with a new bridge linking downtown to the Riverland Road area, he said. WORK UNDERWAY NOW. *
Proposes "Golf Roanoke" packages that would allow a consortium of golf courses to jointly market their facilities. ONLY ONE GOLF COURSE AND HOTEL WERE INTERESTED, AND THE ADVERTSING PROGRAM HAS LAPSED. ?
Proposes a joint Roanoke-Roanoke County panel to develop regulations to
preserve the beauty of the mountains surrounding the valley and prohibit
unsightly development on the slopes. COUNTY LEADERS NIX IDEA. x
Proposes to develop the Henry Street Revival project, including housing in the area. PLAN FORMULATED, NOW BEING DEBATED. ?
Says the city should ask state highway officials to provide better access to
Valley View Mall, including a limited access interchange on Interstate 581
just south of the mall. STATE WON'T PAY, BUT CITY MIGHT, IF FEDS APPROVE. UP IN THE AIR. ?
Supports a proposed D-day Memorial downtown. NIXED; BEDFORD GOT IT. x
Proposes to construct a monument to honor Virginians who have been president. NEVER WENT ANYWHERE. x
1993
Tells City Manager Bob Herbert: "Don't bring us another affirmative action report without hiring a woman firefighter." ALTHOUGH THE CITY HAS HIRED 10 FIREFIGHTERS SINCE 1993, THERE ARE STILL NO WOMEN ON THE FORCE. WOMEN ARE ON THE WAITING LIST, BUT THEY RANK RELATIVELY LOW. x
Proposes the city end agricultural tax breaks for 21 property owners who own 670 acres, both as a way to increase city revenues and encourage development. COUNCIL KILLS THE IDEA. x
Proposes the city and county begin talks again on consolidation. COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY NO WAY. x
Proposes renovation of Victory Stadium. COUNCIL IN 1996 APPROVES A CONCEPT FOR RENOVATION, WHICH WON'T TAKE PLACE UNTIL 1998 AT THE VERY EARLIEST, IF IT TAKES PLACE AT ALL. ?
Proposes the city hire a sports coordinator for events and festivals, events, commonwealth games. COUNCIL KILLS THE PROPOSAL. x
Proposed improved road access to Smith Mountain Lake; IDEA SHOT DOWN IN JAN. 1994 WHEN HERBERT SAYS THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY. x
1994
Proposes borrowing money to fund a railside park (which was first proposed by Noel Taylor in 1990), calling it a "urban Explore Park." Cost estimate is $2.4 million. COUNCIL AGREES; BONDS SOLD; WORK WILL BEGIN THIS YEAR. *
Proposes giving the Transportation Museum $800,000, if matching funds can be raised, toward sprucing it up. COUNCIL AGREES, WORK UNDERWAY. *
Proposes downtown movie theater. DEVELOPER UNABLE TO ARRANGE FINANCING SO FAR. ?
In a letter to county, proposes a joint city-county high school in southwest "portion of our area." QUICKLY NIXED BY CITY AND COUNCIL SCHOOL OFFICIALS. x
Urges business involvement to focuses on ills of the state's inner cities. STATEWIDE COALITION FORMED; LEGISLATION BACKING URBAN PARTNERSHIP'S GOALS MOVING THROUGH GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR. *
1995
Proposes city and county develop a metropolitan transit district and tax gasoline within it as a way to fund valley metro. CITY SENDS PROPOSAL TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY; BILL INTRODUCED, BUT CHANCES ARE DIM. ?
Proposes city build a new parking garage at civic center, perhaps with an ice rink in it. NOTHING HAPPENING; NO SHORT OR LONG RANGE PLANS FOR NEW GARAGE. x
Top Schools 2000 - a strategic planning process to improve educational quality of roanoke city schools. X HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE.
Proposes cut in the real estate tax rate, asks that it be referred to budget study. DOUBTFUL THAT COUNCIL WILL CUT TAXES. ?
Proposes new elementary school for Gainsboro area. Initially, some school board members are receptive to the plan. SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT WAYNE HARRIS SAYS A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS UNEEDED, SOME MINORITIES FEAR IT WILL REVIVE SEGRATION. x
Proposes private interests erect a tram up to Mill Mountain or rebuild the old Mill Mountain incline. NOTHING SO FAR. x
LENGTH: Long : 147 linesby CNB