ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 11, 1997 TAG: 9704110056
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MAG POFF THE ROANOKE TIMES
The structure isn't in a historic district, so it isn't protected from demolition. Still, Roanoke needs more paperwork from the building's owner.
The man who bought the former downtown Heironimus building last month with stated plans to develop it for new uses now might demolish it.
Ron Miller, the city's building commissioner, said Thursday that an application for a demolition permit was filed Wednesday on behalf of Blue Eagle Partnership. That company is owned by Calvin Powers, who in March purchased the vacant Jefferson Street building for $412,000.
Powers could not be reached for comment Thursday.
But Phil Sparks, the city's director of economic development, said Thursday that he spoke to Powers after the application was filed.
Sparks said his impression from their conversation was that the demolition "is not a done deal." He said the application stemmed from Powers' attempt to study all of his options for use of the property, including a parking lot. He said Powers is still studying all of his options, including adaptive reuse of the 102,000-square-foot structure.
The demolition permit was not granted, MIller said, because the city lacked some of the necessary information.
He said the city's records still show the owner of the building as Crestar Bank in its capacity as trustee of the Edgar A. Thurman Foundation for Children, a private charitable organization that supports programs for needy children.
Even though he has heard that the building was sold, the records have not been updated, Miller said.
The city also requires a site plan to keep the streets open and to protect the public during a demolition, Miller said, but none was submitted. Nor did the city receive the proper documents related to asbestos removal while the building is being razed.
But Miller said the Heironimus building is not in a historic district and thus is not protected from demolition. He said the owner can qualify for a demolition permit if the proper papers are filed with the city, but "a lot would have to be done" to clear up the paperwork.
Powers has had "for lease" signs up at the building since he purchased it. He said through a spokesman at the time of the purchase that he was studying plans to develop the property, probably in a combination of office, retail and residential uses.
Powers is already involved in a dispute with the city over his razing of houses on North Jefferson Street in the Gainsboro historic district. The city issued a demolition permit for those homes, allegedly in error. Owners cannot demolish or substantially alter buildings in historic districts.
Powers and the city have sued each other over that dispute.
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