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

DATE: TUESDAY, December 21, 1993                   TAG: 9312210251
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROANOKE RELENTS ON HUD PLAN

Council backed away Monday from a fight with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development over a housing plan which is required before a locality receives federal money. Council approved the plan, but it will register a complaint with representatives in Congress.

"I want us to express our concerns to our senators and congressman in Washington," Councilman James Harvey said.

Last week, some council members threatened to reject the plan because they said it perpetuates segregation by keeping blacks concentrated in Roanoke.

They said Salem and Roanoke County should help share the financial burden of providing housing for low-income people.

They said housing for low-income people should be provided on a regional basis, with each locality helping share the financial burden.

Salem and Roanoke County are not required to prepare similar plans, however, because they do not receive federal money for housing and neighborhood revitalization.

"The federal government is imposing this policy [of racial segregation], and it is abhorrent," Mayor David Bowers said last week.

Monday, Bowers and other council members were less defiant. But he suggested that council discuss its concerns with HUD officials in Richmond.

City Manager Bob Herbert said he has already written to HUD officials about the issue.

"The diligent efforts of central cities like Roanoke to address its housing and community development needs, without complementary efforts by their neighbors, may have the indirect effort of actually increasing the concentration and segregation of low-income, high-need households within those cities," Herbert said.

Suburban communities may not receive federal funds for housing, Herbert said, but they "share responsibility for addressing the rising maladies in many central cities, including high crime rates, deteriorating housing and increasing poverty."

Affordable housing, like these other national problems, cannot be solved by simply asking central cities to work harder, he said.

\ ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL\ IN OTHER ACTION MONDAY:\ \ Approved the proposed pedestrian bridge in downtown: The $2 million bridge ove the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks will link the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center with the First Union Tower and the City Market area. Construction is scheduled to be completed in early 1995, about the same time the hotel renovation will be finished.

Architects for the jail project: Hired the firm of Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern to design and oversee the expansion of the jail to relieve overcrowding. The firm will be paid $543,000 for the architectural and engineering services. The jail project is estimated to cost $7.6 million.

Approve a legislative program for the next General Assembly session: The city will ask the state legislature to provide more state aid for schools, authority to levy an additional half-cent local sales tax and more funds for housing and other services for low-income residents.

Recognized M. Carl Andrews for serving as chairman of the Mill Mountain Development Committee: Andrews was chairman for more than two decades. He recently resigned because of poor health. He was given a key to the city, a framed copy of a resolution honoring him and other gifts.