Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 3, 1994 TAG: 9402030287
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The town bought the decades-old buildings for $320,000 in 1990, intending to tear them down and provide much-needed parking. Before proceeding, though, council wanted to take a close look at them.
The committee charged with doing so, headed by council members Jack Via and Ann Carter, said little can or should be done to save them.
"I'm really embarrassed to think that we don't have adequate parking," Carter said, adding that "I'm not one for wanting to tear down buildings and tear our town down."
The committee considered the buildings' historic or cultural value, and couldn't find much.
"We're quite sure there are people who could find some, but we couldn't see any value," Carter said.
The buildings are mostly unoccupied, except for ground-floor businesses.
Ron Graham, owner of G&H Appliance at 34 East Main St., attended Tuesday's meeting and told council that while "it will be an extremely difficult maneuver to relocate," it's something he knows he will have to do.
Graham said he has few options or ideas right now. "It's not going to be pleasant."
But staying wouldn't be easy either. A burst pipe Friday sent water cascading into Graham's business, which his family has owned for 25 years.
"The water was literally pouring into his building from the fourth floor," Town Manager John Lemley said.
The other two businesses that occupy the buildings, Bob's Barber and Beauty Shop and the Corner Beauty Shop, both signed leases that give the town a 90-day escape clause, Lemley said. He gave those businesses verbal notice Wednesday morning.
Those businesses previously occupied buildings across the street, which were bought and razed by Montgomery County. The town offered them two-year leases, which it has since extended by a year-and-a-half.
The town has repaired the roofs of the buildings, but things have gotten so bad that Lemley said, "I would be reluctant to put our people up there right now."
The town has tried to find buyers for the buildings, but there were no takers, and the previous owners turned down no-interest renovation loans, council members said.
The town's current budget includes $100,000 for razing costs and a parking-lot design study, Lemley said. He did not know when demolition might begin, though he said it would not start before mid-May.
Also Tuesday, council passed an ordinance that would allow it to monitor cable television rates in the town. According to the ordinance, cable operators must submit their rates to the town.
If those fees exceed the mandates established by the Federal Communications Commission, the town can object to them.
"It has to be above and beyond FCC rules for the town to have a say," Lemley said.
by CNB