Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 30, 1993 TAG: 9310300222
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
And that's the reason for a brewing controversy over the proposed $2.1 million pedestrian bridge over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in downtown Roanoke.
Downtown merchants and property owners are upset about the proposed location for the ends of the glass-enclosed bridge that would link Hotel Roanoke with downtown.
On the north side of the railroad tracks, the enclosed walkway would end near the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center, but would not connect with it.
On the south side, the bridge would terminate in the small, grass plaza next to the First Union Tower.
The proposed design is the result of two earlier meetings that included architects, city planners, city officials and business leaders.
Mayor David Bowers confirmed Friday that there have been differences about the design and details of the bridge.
"We are trying to resolve them," Bowers said. "We want to hear everyone's concerns."
Downtown leaders say there are flaws at both ends that could hurt, rather than benefit, downtown.
Unless the bridge connects physically to the conference center or hotel at the north end, it will be a "bridge to nowhere," said Douglas Waters, president of Downtown Roanoke Inc.
In bad weather, he said, pedestrians won't leave a dry and warm hotel or conference center, go outside, walk several yards in the elements and then enter the enclosed walkway.
The same thing would occur at the south end when pedestrians have to leave the First Union Tower parking garage, go outside and then enter the pedestrian bridge, he said.
"We believe that this issue is fundamental to achieving the intended function and benefit from a pedestrian bridge," Waters said in a letter to Bowers and other city officials.
As proposed, Waters said, the bridge would provide only minimal, if any, benefit to downtown.
Downtown leaders also are concerned that the southern end of the bridge would encroach into the small plaza next to the First Union Tower.
The plaza is the staging area for many downtown events, such as Dickens of a Christmas, Virginia Chili Cookoff and First Fridays at Five.
In addition, the downtown leaders say the long escalators and the proposed two-story glass atrium are too cumbersome and intrusive for the area next to the First Union Tower.
Waters said the downtown group strongly supports the pedestrian bridge project and believes it would benefit downtown economically.
"We are not advocating that they change the location of the bridge. We are just concerned about the details of the ends," Waters said.
Waters said downtown leaders believe that once the hotel and conference center are open, the bridge would help generate more than $10 million annually in additional retail sales downtown.
"Our ability to reach this potential is directly tied to the building of a pedestrian bridge that works," Waters said.
In addition to the requested changes, Downtown Roanoke wants the design to include a safe, temporary holding area for mounted police patrol horses near the south end of the bridge.
William Clark, city public works director, said no decision has been made on the issues raised by the downtown group.
David Hammond, an architect for the project, said the architects are waiting for guidance from the city on how to proceed.
"We are already considering some of the concerns that have been raised. Some were raised at the last [design] meeting," Hammond said.
Waters said he believes the requested changes can be made within the project's $2.1 million budget. Hammond agreed.
by CNB