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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 7, 1991                   TAG: 9103090007
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: N-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FOREST PARK RENOVATIONS OK'D

Roanoke City Council has agreed to allow the School Board to apply for a $2.5 million loan from the State Literary Fund to pay for the renovation of Forest Park Elementary School.

But Vice Mayor Howard Musser and Councilman James Harvey said this week that they remain concerned about the sharp increase in the cost for renovating the school and six other elementary schools.

School officials estimated five years ago that it would cost $8.6 million to renovate the seven schools; they now say it will cost $15.2 million.

Richard Kelley, executive for business affairs for schools, said the age and condition of the schools have hidden "structural deficiencies" that caused the estimated cost to nearly double since 1986.

Because of the big jump in cost, Councilman William White asked city officials and school administrators to make sure the city still needs to renovate the final three schools on the list - Morningside, Virginia Heights and Wasena. Work has not started on these buildings, and no detailed plans have been drawn.

The renovation of the Highland Park and Oakland schools has been completed, and Crystal Spring is closed this year for improvements.

Although the city's overall enrollment has dropped from 14,300 to 12,800 pupils since plans were developed for renovating the schools, Kelley said the elementary enrollment has remained at 6,500.

Kelley said the original estimate of $8.6 million was based on a "preliminary general architectural review" of the schools. The cost has risen because the structural problems become apparent after in-depth architectural design work on the buildings, he said.

Councilman James Harvey said last month that he was puzzled and surprised that the price has nearly doubled. At his request, council had delayed action then on the board's request for approval to submit a loan application for Forest Park until school officials could provide updated cost estimates for the renovations.

Kelley told council Monday that the cost for the first three schools has been $7.3 million. The four remaining schools are expected to cost $7.9 million.

Financing the improvements with literary loans is cheaper for city taxpayers than a bond issue because the interest rates on the loans are lower than those on bonds.

by CNB