Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 14, 1991 TAG: 9102140127
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEVE KARK CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
One is an application for a housing development grant and the other is an application for historic district designation.
Randi Lemmon, a planner for the New River Planning District Commission, gave a progress report on the town's housing grant application. The Community Development Block Grant for $465,000, funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, would be used to develop housing for low to moderate income households in downtown Pearisburg.
Lemmon said the two projects would work well together since the federally funded rehabilitation of downtown Pearisburg would not affect the outside structural integrity of historic buildings.
According to Lemmon, the housing project is designed to assist county households whose incomes are at or below 80 percent of the median income for the county. To qualify, he said, would mean an income of $17,500 for a person living alone and $19,650 for a two-person household.
"There is certainly a need for this kind of housing in the county," Lemmon said. There are "something like 184 households" in the county that could qualify for such housing.
The project would add 29 housing units in downtown Pearisburg. A major obstacle to the project, Lemmon said, is that three of the downtown buildings considered as part of study are on the market. Since the funds are available now, he said, the town cannot afford to wait to see if new owners would be interested.
"Without owners," said Lemmon, "the project just will not happen." Two possible solutions, he said, are that either the town or a non-profit community economic development corporation purchase the properties.
"This is the best long-term way" to qualify for the funding to develop the properties, he said.
The town or the economic development corporation would be required to keep the property, developed using federal funds, for at least five years. After that, the properties could be sold and the profits reinvested in further downtown development, he said.
Council postponed making any decision on the project until after the next public hearing, required by the grant application, on Feb. 26.
At the second hearing, Daniel Pezzoni of the Roanoke office of the state Department of Historic Resources answered questions from members of the council and the community about the town's application for historic district designation for downtown Pearisburg.
The area to be considered for the designation includes the county courthouse complex and buildings on both the north and south sides of Wenonah Avenue between Main and Tazewell streets.
Also included are the two buildings on the northwest corner of Main and Wenonah.
To qualify within a historic district, buildings must be at least 50 years old and retain most of their original structural identity.
The historic designation, Pezzoni said, is meant to assist property owners who want to preserve the original character of their buildings. The state offers tax credits for certified rehabilitations if the building is used for income-producing purposes.
Additionally, he said, historic designation can help protect buildings that might otherwise be adversely affected by state projects like road building or utility installations.
Owners of buildings in a historic district are free to make any changes they wish, Pezzoni said, provided the changes are not made with government funds.
Council unanimously agreed to apply for the historic district designation for the downtown area. In the spring, the town's application will be reviewed by the National Register board.
by CNB