Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412010074
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The $310,000 addition will make the Falling Branch park more visible, attractive and marketable, according to Don Moore, executive director of the Montgomery Economic Development Commission.
In the long run, officials hope the new frontage will aid the county's effort to augment Christiansburg's rapid retail growth with higher-paying industrial jobs.
The new land, to be purchased from Paul A. Powell Jr. and others, borders to the west the 141 acres the county bought 18 months ago, and on the east the 2-year-old Falling Branch Elementary School.
"I think it's a step forward for the county, I really do," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Larry Linkous. He expects it to go along well with Gov. George Allen's emphasis on helping local governments that help themselves. That could mean state money for certain improvements.
After months of closed-door discussions, the board voted 5-2 Monday to buy the land and buildings of the Twin Oaks Quarter Horse Farm. Vice Chairman Nick Rush and Supervisor Joe Stewart opposed the purchase.
Rush, generally an economic development proponent, said the price was a little too high. "I would want us to concentrate on the land that we already own," Rush said Wednesday. "Get an agreement for sewer and get some basics down before we start expanding."
The new land brings the size of the future industrial park to 164 acres. Since June 1993, the county has spent a total of $1.21 million to buy the land.
The supervisors have paid for that out of the county's general fund. But the cost will be reimbursed from a $5 million loan the county Industrial Development Authority is pursuing from the federal Rural Economic and Community Development agency.
Linkous said he expects the federal agency, formerly known as the Farmers Home Administration, to approve the loan in January. The county would like to start construction early next year.
"We want to start development as soon as possible," Linkous said. "Most industry wants a site ready to go," with water and sewer lines, level building sites and roads already in place.
Sewer and water infrastructure is expected to cost another $4 million, for a total cost of approximately $9 million to develop the park. The county Public Service Authority is in the midst of negotiating with Christiansburg over the provision of sewer service to the park, which sits on the southwest edge of town. At the same time, the authority has considered seeking the money to build its own sewage treatment plant if the negotiations don't succeed.
The horse farm site comes with a house, a barn and several outbuildings. Linkous would like to see the horse barn put up for sale, if possible. The house could possibly get a second life as a day care center for businesses in the park, Linkous suggested.
by CNB