Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 20, 1991 TAG: 9104200395
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Buying and renovating the building at 348 Campbell Ave. S.W. would cost $1 million, and the city has just $650,000 available for the project, Herbert said. The city has an option to buy the building for $815,000, and renovations would cost an additional $185,000.
In a report on council's agenda for Monday, the city manager has recommended that council not exercise the option, saying the city has higher priority needs.
City officials had considered moving administrative offices for the Fire Department, Water Department and Roanoke Police Academy into the IBM building.
But Councilman Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. said the city could save $1 million by moving the offices into the proposed Jefferson Center instead of buying or renovating other buildings. The money could be used to help pay for the renovation of Hotel Roanoke or development of industrial sites in the Roanoke Centre for Industry and Technology, he had said.
Herbert said Friday that city officials are giving "serious consideration" to Fitzpatrick's suggestion.
City voters have approved $3.5 million in bonds to help pay for converting the old Jefferson High building into a center for the performing arts and community service agencies. The Jefferson Center Foundation, a private group of alumni and others, is trying to raise $2 million as its share of the cost.
Offices for the fire and water departments and police academy now are in a building on Kirk Avenue that was sold by the city to James Trinkle. As part of that deal, the city acquired four historic buildings at 118-124 Campbell Ave. S.W. to prevent them from being demolished. The city has been leasing office space in the building since it was sold to Trinkle.
by CNB