ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 6, 1997 TAG: 9703060065
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: TOM ANGLEBERGER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Town Council wants to hold on to the downtown post office building for museum and other uses.
Christiansburg Town Council voted Tuesday to submit a bid for the purchase of the downtown post office site and building.
After a closed-door session, council members voted unanimously to attempt to buy the 60-year-old building. They have not decided how much they will bid for the building. The U.S. Postal Service, which is opening a new post office on Arbor Drive near the Marketplace shopping center this summer, has set a suggested price of $295,000.
"I'd love to see the town get it, if the price is right," said Mayor Harold Linkous. "I'd like to see it stay the way it is."
"We'll just keep our fingers crossed," said Councilwoman Ann Carter. She said she is very positive about this step and that taxpayers she has heard from have been positive, too.
Council members have said the building would be an ideal site for a museum of cultural, historical and industrial displays, as well as a great location for the Chamber of Commerce.
Councilman Jack Via likened it to a safety deposit box for the town's history. After touring the post office, he said it is in good condition and could be easily renovated for use by the town.
Two residents spoke to council about the importance of preserving the mural located in the post office lobby. The mural, painted in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration program, depicts the history of the town.
"It's part of the history," said resident Jon Halberstadt. "I'm here to really support you taking some action."
Gibson Worsham, who was instrumental in having the building named a historic landmark, said the mural is part of what qualified the building for that status. Moving it would be a tragedy, he said.
According to Town Manager Lance Terpenny, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources will hold a meeting with town officials, Postal Service officials and interested members of the community to determine what should be done with the mural. The Department of Historic Resources is interested in the matter because the post office building is a registered state landmark. No date has been set for that meeting.
In other business, council approved a request by Howard and Donna Sawyers to rezone their property at 3145 Roanoke St. so that an additional dwelling can be built at the site.
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