
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 21, 1990                   TAG: 9004210392
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Joel Turner Municipal Writer
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MACHER SELLING SOME PROPERTY; PRESSURE DENIED

Roland Macher is trying to sell part of his rental property in Roanoke's Old Southwest neighborhood, but he said it has nothing to do with complaints by residents about his tenants and his failure to obtain building permits for some renovation work.

Macher, a Republican candidate for City Council, said Friday that he and his family have put 10 pieces of property in Old Southwest on the market because they have more property than they can adequately manage.

"It is strictly a business decision" that is unrelated to complaints by the neighborhood organization or his campaign for council, he said.

"With our plans to open a restaurant in Salem and other things, we just have more than we can manage on a long-term basis."

The Machers own 27 pieces of property in Old Southwest containing more than 200 rental units. About half the rental units have been put on the market, he said.

Macher said his family has no plans to sell all of its holdings in Old Southwest.

At a forum for council candidates Thursday night, Macher came under attack for his failure to get building and zoning permits for renovations to some houses and apartments. He was asked why he violated zoning restrictions by putting more apartments in some houses than permitted under lot-size requirements.

One resident said Macher's violation of housing density restrictions would undermine the residents' efforts to preserve the quality of life in the neighborhood.

Another resident said she was surprised that Macher showed up for the forum. She complained some of Macher's tenants have disrupted the neighborhood and awakened nearby residents at 5:30 a.m. some days.

Macher denied he is trying to undermine the neighborhood's density restrictions, adding that more details about his request for variances on two properties will be presented to the Board of Zoning Appeals on May 8. Macher said he has obtained the required permits and corrected the problems that had been cited by city inspectors on several other pieces of property.

Macher said he has helped improve the neighborhood by buying and renovating property that had been occupied by drug addicts, prostitutes and vagrants. He said he doesn't want to do anything to hurt the neighborhood because he has invested a lot of money in his property.

by CNB