Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 12, 1995 TAG: 9507140007
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The concept of the plan, in which the city of Roanoke will be a partner, was described Monday to City Council by Mayor David Bowers.
The plan, to be called "Outlook Downtown Roanoke," is symbolized by a logo with the outlines of three buildings bounding the revitalization area: Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, the Jefferson Center and the Roanoke Market Building.
Bob Lawson, president of Downtown Roanoke Inc., said the city "is recognized as having one of the most vibrant downtowns of any community its size in America. This is the result of our planning, and it's time to begin that process again."
He said three prior studies, beginning in 1979, resulted in $300 million being invested in downtown. With 13,500 people employed in the district, Lawson said, downtown has the largest concentration of workers in Western Virginia.
"Downtowns generally are seen as an indicator of the success of an entire region," Lawson said, and are important in the selection of new industry.
The city is expected to fund $75,000 of the cost of the planning effort, with the remainder coming from the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority - one of the largest owners of downtown property - and private sources.
Bev Fitzpatrick, a vice president of Downtown Roanoke Inc., will serve as chairman for Outlook.
He said the entire community would participate in the planning process.
"One reason for the success of our previous efforts has been the input of those who work downtown," Fitzpatrick said. A consultant is to be hired this summer, and planning is to begin in the fall.
by CNB