UNFINISHED BUILDING COULD BE A FLORAL DELIGHT

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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 4, 1992                   TAG: 9202040380
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
UNFINISHED BUILDING COULD BE A FLORAL DELIGHT
UPON MY joyous return to the valley after a six-month absence, I was intrigued and amused to see the skeleton of the still-unfinished Fralin and Waldron office building looming over the Green Valley subdivision in Southwest Roanoke County.
It is apparent that local government and big business have been unable to resolve the height-limitation conflict in more than a year. It's up to those of us forced to view this rusting hulk day after day to produce a feasible solution.
What shall we do with this monstrosity? As a Virginia Tech-trained horticulturist, I am aware of plants' ability to mitigate the effects of urban blight.
I suggest we use the structure as a large trellis. It could support crops such as beans, squash, cucumbers and grapes. Maybe Roanoke will become the rising "star" of the Virginia wine industry. Kudzu could be planted for a quick cover, and climbing roses would perfume the air along 419 from Tanglewood to Oak Grove. Just visualize the verdant vines cascading off every girder!
Think about it, Roanoke: We could wait for decades for this eyesore to rust away, or we can beautify it now. JAMES SETTLE ROANOKE

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB