Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 20, 1993 TAG: 9310200025
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Heafner Tires & Products plans to construct a 20,000-square-foot distribution center along Thirlane Road near the Interstate 581 and Hershberger Road interchange. The company did not provide a value for the project, which it expects to complete in April.
The company, which employs 10 people at its Salem center, has asked Roanoke to rezone the site from commercial to light manufacturing use. The city Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the rezoning request Nov. 3.
James McCraney, manager at the Salem center, said Tuesday the company is in leased space on Fourth Street.
The Roanoke location would be more efficient for the company in serving its customers within a 100-mile radius, McCraney said.
The company has sales of more than $5 million a year in the Roanoke Valley, he said.
McCraney said the Roanoke site would be convenient to Interstate 81 and the United Parcel Service distribution center. Heafner uses UPS to ship some products, but has its own fleet of trucks for most shipping.
Heafner, based in Lincolnton, N.C., is a wholesaler selling to retail automotive dealers, garages, service stations and other automobile-related businesses.
The company is buying the land from heirs of Thomas J. Andrews, who also own other land along Thirlane Road that is now taxed for agricultural use instead of its development value.
City officials are considering a proposal to end the agricultural zoning and tax all land in the city at its market value.
John Bradshaw, a spokesman for the Andrews family, said the decision to sell the site to Heafner reflects the family's concerns that the agricultural assessment might be eliminated.
"If it's going to be taxed at $30,000 an acre [compared to $2,000 an acre for agricultural use], the family can't afford to keep it," he said.
by CNB