ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605170050
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER
About 100 business, civic and government leaders from Greensboro, N.C., will be in Roanoke June 7-8 to try to find out what makes our downtown tick.
The group wants to see downtown Roanoke at night and Saturday morning to determine which elements bring people back to the district after work, said R. Matthew Kennell, executive director of Downtown Roanoke Inc.
The core of Greensboro, like downtowns of many U.S. cities, consists largely of offices that are occupied in the daytime. He said there are few shops, restaurants or night spots, and downtown Greensboro is deserted after dark and on weekends.
But the exchange will not be all one-way. Kennell said Greensboro is ahead of Roanoke in providing housing for downtown living, and he is hoping for ideas to push that idea in Roanoke.
The trip will be sponsored by the Greensboro Merchants Association and the Council on Center City.
They will spend Friday afternoon meeting with city and downtown representatives who have been active in revitalizing downtown Roanoke.
Friday evening, the delegation will be guests at a reception at the Jefferson Center and attend the First Friday at Five and Art By Night events.
The group will visit the Roanoke City Market Saturday morning between breakfast and luncheon meetings at Hotel Roanoke.
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