Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990 TAG: 9006270335
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTINA A. SAMUELS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The A&P Grocery building that houses the antiques mall will be torn down soon to make way for a new parking garage, part of the Dominion Tower project. And with an alternative antiques mall location not nearly ready to be occupied, dealers are left with goods to sell and no place to sell them.
"I try not to even think about it," dealer Danni Lowman said of the impending move.
Mixed in with the worry, however, is resentment toward city officials.
"They want small business on the market, but you can't prove it by us," said Lowman, who added that the city gave the dealers no options. "They [city council members] never showed any interest."
The last day of business is July 15, and the dealers will have five days to move out before the mall is shut down.
"We've asked for a little more time but they've flat-out refused," said a dealer who asked not to be identified. "We want someplace to go."
Roland "Spanky" Macher, owner of the mall building, is planning to renovate the nearby Wright Furniture building.
Lowman said some of the dealers are trying to find another vacant building in which to relocate, but unless that happens, she'll be left with only a small spot she rents in Cambria, outside Christiansburg.
Macher has continued to criticize city officials for their handling of the mall.
"It's not a matter of money; it's a matter of what's moral and what's not," said Macher, who sold the building to the city for $425,000. City officials told Macher he could use the site until it was needed.
Macher asked City Manager Robert Herbert if he could keep the mall open until Labor Day, but was refused. Macher said he thought that because the Dominion Tower project was moving slowly, the antiques dealers would be allowed to stay longer.
Officials gave the antiques mall "absolutely no consideration," Macher said.
"We have no direct responsibility to the merchants there," said Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles. "It was not City Council's responsibility to allow them to stay longer. We hope they can be relocated. I think those types of businesses are very conducive to the market."
Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr., the vice mayor, said he believes Macher has known when the building had to be vacated, and it's not the city's responsibility to make sure the dealers know.
"This is an issue with the owner, not the city," he said. Macher's plans for the Wright Furniture building, which he owns, include tearing down the side facing Salem Avenue for a parking lot.
However, the city Architectural Review Board does not want parking on the Salem Avenue side because it would "adversely affect the streetscape," said city planner Evelyn Gunter.
The board wants to "ensure the integrity of the City Market is preserved," Gunter said. Having buildings next to each other, without any wide gaps between them, is an integral part of maintaining the look of downtown Roanoke, she said.
Macher questioned the board's reasoning.
"Why would you give parking to the bank and not give me my parking lot?" Macher said.
However, Gunter said that as part of the Dominion Tower project, the A&P building will be converted to a parking garage and atrium with a pedestrian bridge - not just a surface parking lot.
Lowman said Roanoke is "really missing the boat" by tearing down the mall. A lot of out-of-town visitors and antiques dealers come to the mall, she said. Another dealer said that on a good Saturday, it's "nothing" to have 2,000 people come to the mall.
Macher said he feels a "moral obligation" to the dealers and will probably start renovating the Wright Furniture building in the next 45 days.
Until then, the dealers will be out of downtown Roanoke. Lowman said she'll "just pack it up and wait and see and keep looking."
by CNB