Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509070042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The state will choose a limited number of applicants for such zones, which offer tax breaks and other incentives to industries that would locate in them.
Barry Matherly, executive director of the town's Economic Development Board, explained to council Tuesday that a proposed zone must meet certain criteria besides covering up to 320 contiguous acres.
Other conditions include certain levels of unemployment and income, the presence of vacant buildings and open, usable land, and inclusion of both commercial and residential properties.
An area which meets or exceeds all these conditions includes the Jefferson Mills and Nehi Bottling Co. area and residences behind them, vacant land south of the railroad tracks along Dora Highway, and residences around the highway, Matherly said.
The state criteria are somewhat complicated. For example, if the borders of the proposed area are changed so they touch on a block with higher employment or income, the entire statistics would have to be revised.
"One disadvantage is there's no way we can explain this to the public," Councilman John Johnston said. He was concerned that there would be people asking why their segment of town was not included, and the complicated nature of the conditions would be hard to get across.
Council delayed acting on a request from Robert Henderson, representing Virginia Kelly MacNeal, that the town seek a $10,000 grant from the C.E. Richardson Foundation to fund the publication of a history of the town's train station from its construction up to the present.
Norfolk Southern Corp. gave the vacant depot to the town some years ago and, through a series of grants and hours of volunteer labor, the former station has been transformed into a landmark housing the Raymond E. Ratcliffe Museum and Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce offices. It is also the center of an annual summer festival in Pulaski.
Mayor Andy Graham pointed out that a committee is being formed to expand facilities around the depot. It will have its first meeting today.
Graham said he thought that a project like this should come through the committee. "Once they get under way, I think the book would be a super idea," he said.
The deadline for applying for Richardson fund grants this year is Monday. Henderson said the group planning the book has worked for two years gathering material on the station for such a publication. "We're ready to roll," he said.
Johnston suggested that a delay might be advisable, because the town hopes to put still more developments at that complex. "I'm just wondering, are we writing the history too soon?" he asked.
by CNB