ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605170034
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
A ROANOKE city businessman, Bob Zimmerman, is threatening to move his electrical-supply operation to Roanoke County if Habitat for Humanity is allowed to put up 20 homes near his business.
With a couple of general reservations, we support Habitat's proposal. If Zimmerman decides to move, so be it.
Our reservations, to be sure, are not mild:
In the first place, the city is right to seek more revenue-enhancing industry and less revenue-draining poverty. It needs to develop better strategies for achieving both.
The property where Habitat wants to build - between Norfolk and Jackson avenues and 10th and 11th streets - is now zoned for light manufacturing use. It will have to be rezoned for residential use before Habitat homes can go up.
In general, we agree with Zimmerman that property zoned for industry in Roanoke ought to be kept as such where it's feasible. The city has practically run out of room for industrial development - and jobs are as important as housing.
Our second reservation has to do with Habitat's agenda.
We have nothing but admiration for the organization and its volunteers. It's one of the best philanthropic community-development groups in the country. It does fantastic work.
We also understand there are good reasons why Habitat doesn't build more homes in suburbs, and why it doesn't do more rehab work on existing homes, in addition to erecting new houses for the working poor. Cost is a big part of the equation. And rehab, especially with volunteers, is more complicated and iffy than putting up houses according to a formula.
Even so, it would be nice if Habitat could do more to focus on the Roanoke Valley's critical housing needs, which are not only to promote home ownership, but also to help disperse affordable housing around the region and to renovate deteriorating stock.
So why, you ask, given these reservations, do we nonetheless support Habitat's proposal?
Because the reservations are general, while the project's benefits are specific.
The Habitat's plan to build, with volunteer labor, affordable housing in what used to be one of Southwest Roanoke's worst-looking areas is good both for the West End neighborhood and for the city.
The city's planning staff concluded, after several years' study, that this area isn't especially valuable for industrial use. Yet, because housing already located there does not conform with the light-manufacturing zoning designated in the 1960s, home-owners are restricted in what they can do to improve their houses. Rezoning for residential use would help.
Indeed, as John Marlles, Roanoke's head of community planning, has observed, the razing of properties on the site formerly owned by renovator Ren Heard already has made a positive impact - they were a terrible eyesore.
The city, albeit with federal funds, paid too much for the property to give to Habitat for Humanity. But 20 new owner-occupied homes, however modest, would be a shot in the arm for the troubled neighborhood.
And neighborhood stabilization is compatible, not in conflict, with economic development.
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