Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 31, 1995 TAG: 9507310143
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TONYA WOODS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If it can get 400 charter family members in three weeks, the proposed private sports club at the Cherry Hill Mansion may be able to open around this time next year.
At an informational meeting on the lawn of the Cherry Hill mansion Sunday, nearly 250 people came to hear more detailed plans about what a private sports club would offer and how much it would cost.
The club would include a swimming pool, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, terraced dining areas, a nursery, an aerobics fitness center, a billiard room and a library.
Under a charter membership fee schedule, the initiation fee would be $2,900 for the first 100 families, $3,000 for the second 100 families, $3,100 for the third 100 families and $3,200 for the fourth 100 families. The first 50 single people who join would pay $2,000. With the charter plan, families would pay $200 in monthly dues with $90 quarterly dining minimum, and singles would pay $150 in monthly dues with a $75 quarterly dining minimum. Regular monthly dues for families would be $210 with a $105 quarterly dining minimum and $160 with a $90 dining minimum for singles.
All those who become charter members will have their family name engraved on a commemorative plot at Cherry Hill.
"It would be nice to have a club so close to home," said Marilyn Harriman, who has lived in South Roanoke for 10 years. She said she was surprised to see that the completed club would preserve the original mansion.
"The initiation fees are in line with the other clubs, and this is so close we could walk," she said.
Wilner opened the doors for membership during the meeting, and all those who attended got a chance to see a completed design of the club, meet the architect and designer Bill Tunnell, and find out who is interested in the sports club.
Wilner mailed letters explaining the conversion of Cherry Hill to 2,516 residents in South Roanoke on May 31. He said in five days there were 500 "very interested" responses, and by the end of July, 637 people showed an interest.
"It's time to fish or cut bait," Wilner said, urging participants to put aside their apprehensions and take the first steps to convert Cherry Hill into the private sports club that has been talked about for years.
Cherry Hill is owned by Carilion Health Systems, which plans to sell the property for $1 million. The option for a sports club expires Sept. 1.
Wilner said it will take $3 million to $4 million to complete the project.
"So far it's been a "what if" kind of thing," said Logan Forsyth, who also lives in South Roanoke. He said the idea of having a neighborhood facility for outdoor and indoor recreation was the point that caught his attention.
"Anything to have that's good for families and for real estate" is a good idea, he said, and he would consider joining such a sports club.
by CNB