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

DATE: TUESDAY, May 15, 1990                   TAG: 9005150545
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROANOKE WON'T FIND GAINSBORO PROJECT

Plans have been developed for the renovation of the old First Baptist Church in Roanoke's Gainsboro neighborhood into an arts and cultural center, but arts and theatrical groups are still looking for $500,000 that is needed to finance the project.

In the meantime, they need money to help stabilize the historic building at Jefferson Street and Gilmer Avenue so it doesn't deteriorate further.

The church built a new sanctuary at 310 North Jefferson St. several years ago and the old building is vacant.

The Acting Company of the Roanoke Valley and the League of Roanoke Artists had hoped to persuade City Council to provide $40,000 in federal community development funds to fix the roof and shore up the building, which was constructed in 1898.

But council rejected the request Monday night because city officials said the city has more pressing needs in drug abuse, economic development, housing and neighborhood revitalization projects.

Council also rejected a request to provide more community development money for the Gainsboro neighborhood redevelopment program.

City Manager Robert Herbert said the city's needs far exceed the federal money that is available and city officials had to reject many requests for funds.

The city will have about $3.8 million in federal funds available for community development projects in the fiscal year that begins July 1. This includes about $1.7 million in unspent funds from the past year and money that has been transferred from other accounts.

About 35 existing housing, neighborhood revitalization and economic development projects would be funded again in the fiscal year that begins July 1, said Marie Pontius, the city's grants monitoring administrator.

Six new projects and programs would be funded. These include housing rehabilitation projects on Gilmer and Harrison avenues and public improvements for a proposed town house and condominium development on Kellogg Avenue Northwest.

The city will also use $40,000 to provide a staff for a proposed drug and alcohol abuse council that will coordinate the city's effort to prevent and treat drug abuse.

The city manager's task force on drug abuse recently recommended the creation of such a council.

Nearly $7,000 has been allocated for a series of workshops and activities for parents and children, mainly in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, to make them aware of the dangers of drug abuse.

This is the first time the city has earmarked community development funds for a staff and drug abuse prevention programs.

The city plans to use 43 percent of the money for economic development projects. This includes the purchase of land for the Deanwood and Shaffers Crossing industrial parks, the Henry Street revival project and grants for renovation of downtown storefronts.

About 32 percent of the funds will be spent on more than a dozen housing programs, mainly in inner-city neighborhoods. About 5 percent will be earmarked for the drug abuse prevention and treatment. The remaining 20 percent will be used for the city's Neighborhood Partnership program and administrative costs for the housing and economic development programs.

by CNB