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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 5, 1995                   TAG: 9505050056
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A15   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WHAT BIG ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SHOULD THE REGION TACKLE NEXT?

SIX YEARS after it was shut down, the Hotel Roanoke has reopened with much fanfare, with the help of an unusual public-private partnership, and with a brand new adjoining high-tech conference center.

Rehabbing the landmark hotel has been for years Roanoke's No. 1 economic-development priority. Indeed, the project's success holds regionwide significance. Now that it is up and running, the question arises: What should be the region's next big-priority economic-development effort?

Any number of candidates might vie for the attention:

From developing a network of greenways, to installing a large, regional industrial or office park. From beginning to implement the New Century Council's vision after it is unveiled, to renewing the old Henry Street downtown district, or finding a use for the abandoned Norfolk-Southern office buildings nearby.

From securing better transportation links via the Smart Road and Interstate 73, to expanding the Blacksburg Electronic Village computer network across the region. From building up Explore Park, to planning a new convention center. From trying to encourage more housing in downtown Roanoke, to finding new ways to expand Virginia Tech's role in regional cooperation.

Numerous other possibilities could be mentioned, of course. But what do you think should be our community's next No. 1 priority?

What should be the next big project drawing the kind of hard work, broad support and careful planning that the Hotel Roanoke did, and offering the kind of regional economic-development benefit that the hotel project promises?

Send us your thoughts. We'll print a selection of responses on this page. They should be 300 words or less. Please send them by Thursday, May 11, to:

Readers Forum, c/o Editorial Department, Roanoke Times & World-News

P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010.

You can also fax responses to (703) 981-3391, or E-mail them to responseinfi.net. Include your address and, for verification only, a phone number where you can be reached during the day.

by CNB