Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, October 13, 1995                   TAG: 9510130071
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

2 HISTORIC HOUSES WON'T BE RAZED - YET

A pair of aging houses in Old Southwest are historically important and should not be torn down to make way for expanded church offices, the Roanoke Architectural Review Board ruled on Thursday.

The board's 4-0 vote rebuffs, for the time being, attempts by the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia to demolish two large houses on First Street Southwest, in the historic district.

But church officials say they'll probably appeal that ruling to City Council, an action that could move the question from a historic preservation arena into politics.

"With City Council, you can have more discussion about the relative merits of trying to work within the historic district," said Alan Boyce, the diocese's deputy director for administration.

The board's vote came after a lengthy public hearing at which residents of Old Southwest argued that demolition would be contrary to the city's recently published guidelines governing renovation of properties in the historic district.

The two houses in question are the Moore House, at 1014 First St., and the turreted Bishop Marmion Resource Center at 1010 First St., which houses Christian education materials for churches and the Conflict Resolution Center, an independent organization.

Both are owned by the diocese, and they are adjacent to Evans House, the organization's headquarters since 1947.

The diocese wants them moved or torn down to make way for a single building housing expanded offices, space for conferences, a new resource center, additional parking and a guest suite. The estimated cost of the project is $800,000.

"Your approval today [would be] paramount to us remaining in this neighborhood," Boyce told the board.

Half of the diocese's staff have no offices, and the resource center and Moore House are in disrepair, Boyce said.

The church has offered to donate the buildings to Old Southwest Inc. and pay up to $36,000 for their removal. But members of the civic group, which estimates relocation costs could approach $230,000, have said they don't have the additional money that's required.

The board's action appeared based on city regulations regarding demolition in the historic district. The guidelines allow tearing down structures only when rehabilitation is not feasible and if the loss of a building will not affect the neighborhood's historic character.

"These are not a hazard; they're not falling down," Old Southwest Inc. President Dick Willis told the board.

"The guidelines say this should not be happening. [Demolition is] a last-resort situation, and this is clearly not a last resort," Old Southwest Vice President Jan Wilkins said.

While the board prohibited demolition, its vote allows the diocese to move forward on expansion plans if the houses are moved to another location in Old Southwest. Church officials said that was tantamount to denying their application altogether.