Friday, May 22, 2009
Group recognizes preservation efforts in Roanoke Valley
Several renovation projects in downtown Roanoke's west end have drawn praise.
The latest from The Ticker blog
Preservation efforts abound in the Roanoke Valley, and this year, a local foundation is lauding many projects in the city's downtown district as worthy examples.
The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation is recognizing some local buildings, publications and individuals as stellar examples of reuse and preservation efforts.
Some of these noteworthy projects are located near Jefferson Center in the west end of downtown.
Mike Kennedy, president of the foundation, called this area an "up-and-coming neighborhood," in a news release. Many developers are taking advantage of historic tax credits to help fund renovation costs in this district.
The projects include Fork in the City, a new restaurant at the corner of Sixth Street and Marshall Avenue. David and Ann Trinkle own the restaurant, and developer Ed Walker owns the structure, the former home of Gary's Bar & Grill.
Walker also owns the Cotton Mill Lofts, a 106,000-square-foot building on Sixth Street, across the street from the eatery. This structure, formerly the Virginia Mills Cotton Products plant, also landed on the foundation's preservation list.
Extensive renovations are going on inside the Virginia Mills building to make way for 108 apartments.
The other structures, individuals and publications on the foundation's preservation list are:
n Access Advertising's renovation of the former Blue Ridge Motors Buick dealership at 701 Patterson Ave.
n Nehi Bottling Lofts, condominium spaces at 302 Fifth St.
n Antique Blue, a renovated antique shop at 12 E. Campbell Ave.
n Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea renovation at 117 E. Campbell Ave.
n Jim and Ann Haynes for renovation of several old houses in Old Southwest.
n StageSound for renovation of a former Kroger warehouse on Shenandoah Avenue for office space, a showroom and workshops.
n Roanoke Residential Pattern Book, a publication developed by Hill Studio and the city of Roanoke about the city's historic neighborhoods. It's meant to encourage renovation and restoration of properties.
n Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare for renovation of the 19th century Fellers House on Hollins Road.
n Ron Crawford, a retired architect, who created and leads the Read Mountain Alliance, an organization seeking conservation easements to preserve the top of Read Mountain from Roanoke to Botetourt counties.
