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

DATE: TUESDAY, July 13, 1993                   TAG: 9307130297
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ELDERLY COMPLEX GETS BOOST

Rob Glenn says the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority is willing to lend a helping hand.

And Mayor David Bowers said Monday the city might call on the agency for help.

Bowers said the authority might be able to help with the development of a high-rise housing complex for elderly people in downtown.

It could also help forge a strategy to help attract businesses to the Henry Street revival project, he said.

For the first time in many years, City Council met Monday with the authority's board of commissioners to see how they could work together better.

Glenn, chairman of the commissioners, said the agency wants to help the city, especially in economic development projects. The authority has the right of condemnation and other legal powers that could be beneficial in developing sites for businesses and industries, he said.

Bowers raised the possibility of a high-rise housing project in the vicinity of Elmwood Park. He also suggested that housing might also be developed on the upper floors of businesses on Henry Street and other areas in downtown.

Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. said that redevelopment and housing authorities in Norfolk and other cities have helped with downtown housing and commercial projects.

Councilmen James Harvey and Howard Musser said they hope the authority can help with middle-income housing.

"We are acutely aware of the need for a good housing stock," said Ron Crawford, a member of the authority's board.

"I think we need to look at it collectively and see if we can take the money we have and use it to leverage money for housing," Crawford said.

"Let's see if we can put together our heads and get rolling on it," Harvey said.

Neva Smith, executive director of the authority, said the agency already pumps $14.5 million a year into the city's economy with its existing housing programs and other activities.

The authority has 1,500 units of public housing and 1,300 units of federally subsidized housing.

by CNB