ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702100024
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
THE MAPLE AVENUE house is located on one of Old Southwest's few blocks on which all of the original structures remain.
A property owner stymied from tearing down a house in the Old Southwest historic district is now willing to sell the real estate - for $100,000.
Ernest Baker, owner of 1422 Maple Ave. S.W., has listed the property for sale with Waldvogel Poe & Cronk, a major Roanoke Valley real estate broker.
Ed Natt, an attorney for Baker, notified the city this week that the house is officially on the market. The price was set by a certified real estate appraiser.
The city's Architectural Review Board twice last year denied Baker a demolition permit for the wood frame house, decisions that were upheld by City Council after residents of the neighborhood objected to tearing the house down.
The property is located on one of the historic district's few blocks on which all of the original structures are still standing. Preservationists argued that demolishing the house was equivalent to dentist pulling a tooth from "a perfect smile."
Joel Richert, a neighborhood activist, said she thinks the quoted price is a little high. Richert, who lives in Old Southwest and owns two rental properties there, said she guesses that $87,000 to $88,000 "would be about right."
The city office of Real Estate Valuation has assessed the house and land at $70,400 for real estate tax purposes. The assessments are supposed to reflect a property's market value.
Under city law, Baker has to list the property for one year without receiving an offer on it equal to its market value.
If he is unable to sell it during that time, he may tear it down. The law is designed to protect structures in historic districts from demolition and encourage rehabilitation of those in poor condition.
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