Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110034
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STEWART MACINNIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Obviously, we set this up for them, especially the newer members of council, to let them see some of our issues and concerns firsthand," said Jan Wilkins, vice president of Old Southwest Inc. Old Southwest had invited all council members and some city administrators for the April 30 tour.
"I've been involved in neighborhood issues for more than 20 years," Wilkins said, "and I've never before had people just not show up."
Of the no-shows, only Councilman Mac MacCadden sent his regrets before the departure of a borrowed Valley Metro bus from the municipal complex.
"I just wasn't able to come," Councilman William White said later by telephone. "Any neighborhood and any citizens' group is important, and I want to hear what they have to say. But I get so many invitations to so many events that, if I went to them all, I couldn't get my job done."
Councilman John Parrott said a previous family commitment prevented him from participating, but he is interested in the group's views.
Comments from other council members contacted after the tour were similar.
Dick Willis, president of the neighborhood association, said the group will continue to present its views and recommendations to council. "Of course we're disappointed, but we'll keep at it."
After only a few minutes of hesitation, the 11 association officers and members pressed on with the tour with Mayor David Bowers in tow.
Topping the group's agenda was promoting an ordinance requiring a certificate of occupancy each time property is rented to new tenants. Currently, a certificate of occupancy is required only when a property is first built or is extensively renovated.
Petie Cavendish, who researched the matter for the association, said similar ordinances have been used in other cities to force absentee landlords to maintain their properties. The ordinance would require city inspectors to ensure the property meets building code requirements each time it is rented.
"Over the years, some of these houses have become rabbit warrens," she said as the bus paused in front of a ramshackle, unpainted house surrounded by trash and old furniture.
"These places start on a downward spiral that threatens to take the neighboring homes with them. The [certificate of occupancy] ordinance levels the playing field for those who are investing in the area and living here."
Property values suffer because neglected property makes the entire neighborhood less desirable, and that's unfortunate, she said, because "there are so many wonderful people living here."
Cavendish said the proposed ordinance would apply to conservation and rehabilitation districts, which would include Old Southwest.
Bowers was shown examples of the "checkerboard" pattern of renovations occurring in the area. On many streets, houses that are being repaired are flanked by houses that are falling apart. One association member pointed to her renovated house and then to an apartment building across the street where a tenant has tried for a year to have his landlord repair an unusable bathroom sink.
Bowers also was shown houses to which police have been called repeatedly.
"I'm impressed to see some of the individual investment I've seen here," Bowers said.
"Getting people to do it is the big thing," Ann Bowling said.
Bowers also was shown the on-street parking problems on Highland Avenue, where homes built for single families have been converted into as many as four apartments. Also on the tour were some small markets the association members said sell cheap wine, attracting drunks.
All was not negative, however. Bowers was shown renovation projects that are creating modern, upscale apartments in older buildings. He was shown improvements in Highland Park.
Association members told Bowers the city should interpret its zoning ordinance more strictly to reduce commercial encroachment into residential areas.
Bowers said he generally favored the ideas proposed by the association, although he stopped short of endorsing any particular measure.
by CNB