ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 10, 1997 TAG: 9703100019
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JOE KENNEDY
SOURCE: JOE KENNEDY
We've seen the news stories about Outlook Roanoke, the latest downtown plan, and many of us have read it.
The movers and shakers have emitted various levels of excitement and approval.
Our comments are being collected by the city and by Downtown Roanoke Inc.
But important questions remain - like, what's next? How much will implementation cost? How much tax money will be used? Are they really going to make Campbell and Salem avenues two-way again? What about Southeast?
And my personal favorites, what's the difference between a mover and a shaker? Who decides whether you are one? Are women eligible? Is there a vote?
Here's the scoop:
Public comments will be taken for another couple of weeks. Then the city, Downtown Roanoke Inc., and the Redevelopment and Housing Authority will ask the consultants, Urban Design Associates of Pittsburgh, to use them in creating the final document. About 60 days from now, said Matt Kennell, executive director of the downtown business group, public presentations will seek residents' opinions about priorities.
Then the players will try to include some elements in the next bond issue.
At this early juncture, the cost of implementing Outlook, from building downtown apartments to naming downtown districts, is unknown.
Public money? "We need to look at combinations of investors - public, private, civic, nonprofit," said Debbie Moses, assistant city manager for special projects. "You can't just go to that [public] answer all the time."
Items requiring tax money "will always be a challenge" because of competing priorities within the city, Kennell said.
The ideas for altering traffic flow, which include making Campbell and Salem two-way and slowing traffic on Williamson and Jefferson, will receive careful scrutiny. The city soon will ask Wilbur Smith Associates of Richmond to study it, as well as an upgrade of the downtown signals, said Bob Bengtson, Roanoke's traffic engineer.
His concerns are safety and other impacts changes could have on drivers and pedestrians. Nobody wants gridlock.
Residential construction and development were proposed for the City Market area, Warehouse Row, Old Southwest and Gainsboro. What about Southeast?
"We picked up that the 'gateways' in the plan left off the biggie, through Southeast, and said, 'I don't think so,''' Moses said. "When we go to the neighborhoods, we need to involve those folks. ... We're going to have to look at those areas that have been underrepresented and look at how we can get them represented."
Since last summer, I've spent a fair amount of time walking and driving throughout Southeast and have fallen in love with its atmosphere, from its neatly kept streets and homes south of Tazewell Avenue to its denser neighborhoods near the East End Shops. It's the mother lode of Roanoke's working-class history. The consultants said we've underplayed our railroad heritage, but that goes double or triple for our blue-collar origins.
That parts of Southeast are in steep decline makes it even more valuable. It must be saved.
I joke about who gets to be a mover and shaker around here, because we so often quote the same few male business people. Kennell assures me that Outlook is everyone's plan. It will go nowhere without general support.
Check it out. Borrow a copy from Downtown Roanoke's office in the Crestar building at First Street and Church Avenue or any city library.
Then get involved.
What's your story? Call me at 981-3256, send e-mail to joek@roanoke.com or write to P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010.
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