Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 29, 1990 TAG: 9005290078
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As Virginia Tech proceeds with planning for the renovation of Hotel Roanoke and a management training/educational conference center, Herbert said the city needs to begin planning for the convention center so it can be coordinated with Tech's facilities.
In a report on council's agenda for today, Herbert said the city needs professional assistance to make a study of the space needs in a convention center, the size and number of rooms, its operations and its relationship with Tech's conference center and the hotel.
Consultants have recommended that a convention center be built on the site of Norfolk Southern's office buildings across North Jefferson Street from Hotel Roanoke. The city hopes to acquire the site from the railroad. NS plans to construct a new office building at Williamson Road and Franklin Road.
Norfolk Southern Corp. donated the hotel to Virginia Tech last year. Tech hopes to attract a national hotel company for the renovation and operation of the hotel.
City officials have been working with Tech on plans for the three distinct projects that are intended to work together.
If the city makes a space study now, Herbert said, the timing of the convention center construction,Tech's conference center and the renovation of the hotel can be coordinated.
Cost estimates for the convention center have varied, but consultants have projected the price to be at least $20 million.
Earlier this month, council said it wanted to get moving on plans for the convention and trade center.
Council asked Herbert to look into the feasibility of increasing the city's 4 percent lodging tax on hotel and motel rooms to help pay for a convention center.
Doubling the tax to 8 percent would produce about $1 million a year that would be available to finance a center, Councilman David Bowers said.
Bowers said the time has come for council "to be bold" on the convention center proposal and be willing to raise the lodging tax to help pay for it.
On another matter today, Herbert will recommend that council hire a consultant engineering firm to prepare plans for the removal of asbestos from the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium and to supervise the project.
He will recommend that Dewberry and Davis be hired for the job at a cost not to exceed $76,600.
A small portion of asbestos in the lobby ceiling in the auditorium was exposed last fall while workers were installing an elevator for the handicapped. The auditorium was closed for a week and one show had to be moved while the carpet, draperies and other furnishings were removed.
City officials said then they planned to remove all of the asbestos from the auditorium this summer. They estimated the auditorium might have to be closed for six weeks while the asbestos was being removed.
Council will also consider a request from the Showtimers of the Roanoke Valley, a non-profit theatrical group, that its property at 1431 McVitty Road SW be exempt from real estate taxes.
by CNB