Williams is former owner of Gallery 3 and lives in Roanoke County.

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the revitalization of the Roanoke City Market. As we deliberate the merits of committing time and resources to developing the vision and implementation of Valley Forward’s Rockledge Center, it would be helpful to consider another “crown jewel” that almost slipped away.

In the summer of 1977, another vision was under consideration by a host of Roanokers. Let’s rewind the tape to that summer.\

When Tanglewood Mall opened in 1974, the migration out of downtown had accelerated. To counter this exodus, Downtown Roanoke Inc. hired Mike Waldvogel to approach businesses who had migrated out of the downtown to reconsider and move back into the area. Mike approached my wife and me to see if we would consider opening a third gallery downtown.

At that time we had two galleries in Tanglewood’s French Quarter and we were considering relocating our workshop. We took a look at the area and liked its potential, although at that time there were no signs of revitalization.

Nevertheless, it did have its positive features: a historic open air farmer’s market bustling with people, Sam’s clothing was still in business selling blue jeans and red bandanas, and you could order an old fashion limeaid from Humphries and Webber’s authentic turn-of-the-century soda bar.

Even the Boiler Room was still grilling burgers “for men only.”

Unfortunately, much of the market had been decaying and the number of farmers selling produce was diminishing,

Worse, Market Street had become the home of three porno shops. The only hotel was really a flop house.

Saturday nights, the corner of Market and Campbell was the hangout for transvestites on roller skates and Sunday mornings the farmers’ stalls had become the sleeping quarters for the area’s increasing wino population. The evenings were not conducive for family shopping and/or dining.

The market did have enormous foot traffic. The allure of fresh fruits and vegetables brought thousands to the area.

We envisioned the market’s transformation similar to Shockoe Slip in Richmond or Boston’s Fanueill Hall.

However, as we began to develop our business plan, it was obvious we’d need new financing. The first two banks we met with promptly turned us down. One banker looked at our balance sheet and was not encouraging. The other banker emphatically announced that he felt the market area would never be a viable location for retail. (Fifteen years later, Downtown Roanoke Inc. reported that the market district had the highest retail sales per square foot in Virginia.)

We did find one bank willing to advance us a line of credit and work began. Gallery 3 opened in October 1977.

The transformation of the Roanoke City Market became the project of many people: farmers, businessman and then Roanoke Mayor Bern Ewert.

The Roanoke Area Market Association was formed and people began to collaborate toward a common goal: cleaning up the Farmer’s Market and making it a safe place for families to shop, dine and mingle.

In 1982, Center in the Square opened and the effort to restore the market received a welcomed shot in the arm. Before the decade (1977-1987) was over, nearly $350 million in restoration and new business had occurred.

My point: The comparisons between the rebirth of the city market and the visionary completion of the Rockledge Center are compelling.

Just as a group of farmers/business people teamed up to make a difference in 1977, a determined group of young professionals, Valley Forward, are gathering their resources behind the development of the Rockledge Center.

Transforming a small part of Mill Mountain into a restaurant/social gathering place is just as viable an idea as the restoration of the Farmer’s Market. Both have and will bring many benefits to the citizens of the Roanoke Valley as well as those thousands who travel the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I have no investment in nor would I gain monetarily if the Rockledge Center becomes a reality. In fact, I have not spoken with any of the people involved in Valley Forward. I would even be hard pressed to name two of their members.

One thing I do know, as it says in Proverbs, “where there is no vision, the people perish.” In today’s application, “where there is no vision, opportunities are lost.”

Just like the market’s revitalization, the Rockledge Center is a great opportunity whose time has come. We need to go forward with this vision with a sense of passion and excitement.