Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 28, 1995 TAG: 9508280106
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A restaurant owner providing free roof space for the sign planned to block a crane from removing it this morning on grounds that the work may damage his building and disturb patrons.
Roland "Spanky" Macher, owner of Star City Diner, said he won't allow a removal crew on his property without a promised damage-repair guarantee.
Plus, Macher said he had plans to be in Lynchburg, where he owns another restaurant, and wasn't notified far enough in advance of the 7 a.m. removal time, which coincides with when the restaurant opens.
"I'm not able to coordinate the removal," Macher said Sunday.
Neal Kinsey, owner of Kinsey Crane & Sign Co. in Roanoke, said Friday the sign's days were numbered. Erected in 1993 by longtime civic leaders George Cartledge and the late John Hancock, the sign recently was pegged for removal by an attorney handling Hancock's estate. Kinsey unplugged it Tuesday and arranged last week for a crane to hoist it down this morning.
When the sign went up, the building was empty. Macher now owns it and is finding that his power as landowner and his wish to keep the sign dovetail nicely. Macher, who believes people generally like the sign, said he offered to pay to keep it on his restaurant.
There is evidence that the mood of residents tilts in favor of the sign. Those who answered an unscientific InfoLine poll by The Roanoke Times voted 273-109 Saturday in favor of keeping it where it is.
The sign's future may be a matter of taste as well as money.
Kinsey said he believes the sign is for sale, but that Hancock estate attorney T.L. Plunkett does not want it at its present location. Plunkett has said three reataurant-related statues also on the rooftop detract from the sign.
But there also are substantial costs involved. In addition to the purchase price for the sign, which he said could be as high as $4,000, there are electricity and maintenance costs, each an estimated $600 per year, Kinsey said.
In explaining his decision, Plunkett said last week that there no longer will be a source of funds to pay the ongoing costs after Hancock's estate is closed out within a month, so the sign has to go.
After The Roanoke Times reported the story, the area chapter of a national organization opposed to excessive federal spending said it would buy the device and pay to run and maintain it. Neither Jim Olin, president of the Southwest Virginia chapter of The Concord Coalition, or Doug Strickland of Roanoke, point man on the sign issue, could be reached Sunday.
Cartledge, who said he had been splitting ongoing sign costs with the Hancock estate, expressed a willingness last week to keep the sign up if somebody else pays Hancock's share.
by CNB