Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 26, 1995 TAG: 9504260091
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In an unexpected and sudden move, Town Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to buy the vacant Lowe's building on North Franklin Street and convert it to a recreation center.
Council will pay $1.4 million for the building and expects to spend $1 million for remodeling, said Town Manager John Lemley.
The town's recreation master plan, unveiled in December, estimated a cost of $2.9 million for a new building. Town officials had anticipated that planning, budgeting and building a new structure would have taken potentially years.
Lemley said acquisition of the Lowe's building could save a year or more, but it was too early to schedule a move-in date.
Bob Oliver, a Blacksburg architect, said renovations could take five or six months. Town officials said work could begin in the fall, after the purchase is final and plans are complete.
Oliver said the building "can be made very suitable. It's certainly adequate for what they want to use it for."
But at least one person involved in planning Christiansburg's recreation facilities is "a little disappointed."
"It's a building that was built for mercantile use. I'm going to have to be convinced," said Bob Hockett, a Christiansburg mechanical engineer who, as a member of the facilities planning committee of the town's Recreation Commission, has worked closely in developing the recreation master plan.
Hockett said he was disappointed the recreation center won't be on Depot Street, where it was planned and where there would have been outdoor facilities, especially for children.
Hockett, who said he hasn't seen the plans yet, also was concerned about the building's condition. Its roof collapsed two years ago after a heavy snow storm.
Oliver said the roof has been repaired.
The Lowe's building will be able to accommodate all of the facilities planners had wanted except a swimming pool. When renovations are completed, the 60,000-square-foot building will have basketball and racquetball courts, a senior center, and classrooms and offices.
There are added benefits, said Art Price, director of parks and recreation. The site has a large, well-lighted parking lot, is conveniently located, and the structure is one story, removing the need for an elevator.
Mayor Harold Linkous said the building can be expanded and the smaller outbuildings on the property can be used for recreation as well.
"This is something that is real positive and real good for Christiansburg," Price said. "This is brilliant, in my opinion."
The acquisition "puts the master plan way ahead of schedule and way below budget," said Lance Terpenny, assistant town manager.
by CNB