Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 19, 1995 TAG: 9507190062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``We're not going to open July 25,'' said Salem Assistant City Manager Forest Jones, the public official who has been closest to the project. ``We're not going to open it until it's safe.''
Railings on stairwells and elsewhere in the stadium are not expected to be installed in time.
Jones will meet with representatives from general contractor J.M. Turner & Co. Inc., the city building inspector's office and architectural firm Kinsey Shane and Associates to determine a new timetable for the opening.
``We're going to go through and develop a checklist of what needs to be done in order for the facility to open,'' Jones said. ``We'll then present that to the general contractor and ask when they expect for those things can be done.''
Such a meeting is expected for this week or early next week, Jones said.
The latest delay follows those after previously announced opening dates of April 14, June 16 and July 25.
``I assume they'll be able to get in there and play before the end of the season,'' Jones said. ``But let's put this in perspective. We tried hard to do something in less than a year that we should have taken more time with. Just look at Durham [construction delays postponed the opening of the Durham, N.C., Athletic Park an entire year]. We've had some surprises.''
The latest unpleasant jolt has come because of tardy shipments of railing to the job site.
``It's coming in sporadically,'' Jones said.
Installation of the concession stands also has taken longer than anticipated.
Assuming the July 25-30 Salem Avalanche minor-league baseball home stand is a washout, there will be 20 home dates left in August and September. The last of those is Sept. 2. The Avalanche is determined to get into the new facility this year, primarily because advertisers, season ticket holders and the parent Colorado Rockies have been promised that would happen.
Avalanche owner Kelvin Bowles, reached in Lynchburg where he was visiting for tonight's Carolina League All Star game, had no comment on the latest developments. Bowles was informed by a reporter of the new delay.
``I know that there is nobody in the world who wants to get this job done any more than J.M. Turner & Co.,'' Salem Mayor Jim Taliaferro said. ``I know myself from 30 years in the contracting business that the quickest way to get yourself in trouble is to say that this store will open on this date. The store will open when the building inspector says it will open.''
The construction of Salem Memorial began in early autumn 1994 amid assurances that it would be ready for the Avalanche's Carolina League home opener. A referendum last summer approved $5 million in financing for the new facility, but it appears that it will cost more than that.
``We are still going to finance $5 million,'' Taliaferro said. ``The rest comes out of cash.''
Salem voters have voiced little public disapproval of the delays.
``If we have the chance to move in there and have the Avalanche play at the new ballpark this season, that's all well and good, and we will,'' Jones said. ``But what we're hearing from the public on the stadium is that we shouldn't open it until it's ready.''
by CNB