Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 25, 1992 TAG: 9203250292
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Several shop owners told Town Council that they're fast losing customers who are miffed at paying 25 cents per hour to park and too often find $10 tickets on their windshields.
"All I'm asking is that we save downtown," said David Chapman, co-owner of Arnold's Sandwiches on North Main Street.
He and others said the parking rules and aggressive enforcement by police are driving customers away. And it's not just business owners urging council to lighten up on parking rules and costs.
Paul Torgersen, Virginia Tech professor of engineering and longtime town resident, gave council a petition with 850 signatures calling for free parking on Saturdays, free parking after 5 p.m. and a reduction in the hourly rate.
"I think 25 cents is excessive to pay to shop in downtown Blacksburg," he said. Since the new quarter-only meters went in six months ago, Torgersen said, he's spent less time browsing in downtown bookstores and camera shops and eating at the restaurants.
He said the owner of Grand Piano & Furniture told him that the parking situation has gotten so bad, the furniture store - a fixture in downtown for many years - might have to move to U.S. 460.
"That made me and my wife nervous," Torgersen said. "What we worry about is people leaving, and leaving stores vacant."
After some discussion, most council members seemed to agree that free parking after 5 p.m. and on Saturdays would greatly help the downtown businesses, and customers.
Council told Town Manager Ron Secrist to continue working with the merchants on the issues of reducing the fine; changing the meters to accept dimes, nickels, or tokens; and providing some sort of parking for employees.
A public hearing has been set for 7:30 p.m. April 14 at council's regular meeting.
In another matter, council heard from Polly Damron, a member of the Para Transit Advisory Committee and wife of a Blacksburg Transit driver. Damron said that late Saturday, a passenger struck and seriously injured a driver in the face.
She said it wasn't the first time drivers had been physically or verbally abused, although it was by far the most serious.
"Can we do something to protect our drivers at this time of night?" she asked.
Secrist said police will be riding some buses at night this weekend, and that he would continue to pursue ways to protect drivers.
He said warm weather often increases rowdy behavior among people patronizing bars.
The bus service, he said, "is a better alternative than having these people driving . . . but we will not stand for that," referring to attacks on drivers.
In other matters, council:
Passed an ordinance to begin implementing changes in the Blacksburg Transit system to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
Appointed Ron Rordam, an insurance salesman, and Roland Wheeler, Tech vice president of student affairs and director of budgets and facilities development, to serve on the Planning Commission. J.D. Oliver, William Claus and Georgia Anne Snyder-Falkinham were reappointed.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on March 26, 1992 in the New River Valley edition.\ Correction
Roland Wheeler, who was appointed to the Blacksburg Planning Commission, is the director of budgets and facilities for the division of student affairs at Virginia Tech. Because of a reporting error, his title was wrong in a story Wednesday.
Memo: Correction