ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602190095
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Guest Column
SOURCE: D. MICHAEL BARBER
I have read with concern about growing criticism of Christiansburg's purchase of the old Lowe's building as the site of the town's new recreation center. This criticism appears to be coming from a small group and contains statements I can no longer ignore.
I was a member of the Recreation Advisory Committee along with two critics of the Lowe's site. I support Town Council's decision to purchase this building 100 percent.
Much ado has been made of the two roof collapses caused by heavy snow. While this is true, the first collapse occurred while the building was owned by Lowe's. The roof was repaired for the purpose of operating a hardware store and warehouse, not a recreation center.
This time, repairs and renovations will be made under the supervision of Town Manager John Lemley; Mills Oliver & Webb, a very reputable local architectural and engineering firm; and the insurance company paying for the repairs. I have total confidence in the town's ability to repair this structure to ensure its safety for public use.
Two letters appearing in the Feb. 11 Current addressed concerns for the safety of players on the proposed basketball courts. They do not present a clear picture of plans for the new building. The first letter from a teen-ager states "he has been playing basketball since he was 6 years old either at the National Guard Armory," or one of the two schools the town uses for youth league games. The armory has a cinder block wall that extends the entire length of the left side of the playing court. This wall is approximately 3 feet from the inbound lane and is not padded in any way.
The new facility will have five support poles spaced equal distances apart along each side of the three courts. Plans call for heavy divider curtains to run between the playing surface and the support poles to help separate the three courts. Also, each pole will be heavily padded for safety and protection. This appears to be much safer than an unprotected cinder block wall.
The second letter, from a resident of less than six months, chastised Town Council for even buying the site. This letter also referred to a building that is too big and has vast, empty spaces to be heated and cooled. I don't know if this person has seen plans for the building. The ones I have seen show very little, if any, wasted space. The only vast, empty spaces were the basketball (multiuse) courts. Is this writer suggesting we not build these courts?
These two writers imply that the town is going to put up a substandard facility. Obviously, these people don't have the confidence in the town that many of the residents do who have lived here their entire lives.
Both letter writers, as well as a writer in the Feb. 4 Current, expressed concerns over the position of bleachers at each end of the courts. These people failed to mention that these are portable bleachers designed to be moved to accommodate more than just basketball - at best a three- or four-month sport in a year-round facility. Should these bleachers pose any hazard, I'm sure they could be moved back a few feet when needed. However, the area behind the courts is designated as a walking track. To move the bleachers into this area would be unfair to the people who use the track.
In purchasing the building and land for $1.4 million, we now have property with a building that can be renovated to suit recreation needs. Water, sewer, electricity and a paved, lighted parking lot are already in place - all of these would have added cost to a building and taken away from funds to equip it. This site also has plenty of acreage for expansion. It also has very good accessibility and a traffic light with advance turn signals to aid vehicles coming from all directions to the property.
The Lowe's building can be made into a facility that we can be proud of for many years to come.
D. Michael Barber was born and raised in Christiansburg and has participated in town recreation for years. He is a member of the Christiansburg Kiwanis Club.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 linesby CNB