ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 25, 1996 TAG: 9604250016
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-12 EDITION: METRO
THE POWER lawn-mower industry needn't fear. There will always be Roanoke Valley residents who want homes with expanses of lawns - not to mention two- or three-car garages - and who'd suffer claustrophobia living amid downtown office buildings, restaurants and shops.
But others - far more, we'd bet, than real-estate developers might guess - would find downtown living delightful. And not just for the convenience of being able to walk a short distance to work, or to the theater or a coffee shop. Some people prefer an urban lifestyle.
Shocked? You shouldn't be. Cities, don't forget, were the cradle of civilization. In Europe, downtown dwelling remains the norm. Indeed, it was popular in America before the middle classes romanced the automobile and attempted a return to nature (defined as a neatly mowed lawn).
With downtown revitalization efforts under way in many U.S. cities, the good news is that urban living has been making a comeback, albeit slow. In Roanoke, it's really slow. But "Downtown Living," a showcase of design ideas for living and working, could prove a trend reflector.
Had it done nothing but save from the wrecking ball four handsome turn-of-the-century buildings on West Campbell Avenue, this project would have been commendable. Eight years ago, razing to make way for a parking lot seemed the buildings' certain fate.
Instead, thanks to the efforts of many, the structures now are on the National Register of Historic Places. Two have been renovated as living and working quarters. The owner, Hill Studio, is moving offices into them. And they are open for tours through May 11, the idea being, in part, to display designers' wares and to raise money for the arts and nonprofit activities - but also to give others ideas.
As architect David Hill points out, similar old buildings in downtown Roanoke could be transformed, with imagination and investment, into comfortable housing. By drawing more residents to the central city, such rehab efforts would help ensure the vitality of the downtown and of the amenities the city offers for a sizable region.
We might even hope to see the return of corner grocery-stores, movie theaters, a sense of community and other goodies largely lost by downtowns amid the post-World War II rush to suburbs that continue to sprawl across the countryside.
LENGTH: Short : 48 linesby CNB