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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 9, 1990                   TAG: 9005100478
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

KIRK AVENUE STILL AFFORDS FAMILIAR VIEW

ACCOLADES to Cecil Edmonds! His comments (April 13) about "restoring" Kirk Alley, as old Roanokers affectionately call the little street, were apropos.

Many of us say, "leave well enough alone" and "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." We like the looks of the back door of Woolworth's, Wertz Florist, Mike's and the other flourishing small businesses.

Edmonds noted that the northern end of Jefferson Street will soon be blighted by "Faison's Folly," but it's nice to know that we have a familiar view on the west end of Kirk Avenue: Roanoke Book & Stationery, Moose's, Guy's, and at the end of the next block, we know the old courthouse still stands.

If allocations already have been made for this project, perhaps they could be diverted to promote more small businesses to occupy the empty stores sprinkled along Jefferson Street and Campbell Avenue. Those empty windows are an eyesore and a disgrace to downtown Roanoke.

\ MRS. THOMAS C. LEE\ ROANOKE

by CNB