Sunday, May 27, 2007
Center loves the market, too
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Jim C. Sears
Sears is president and general manager of Center in the Square.
It seems everybody is talking about the Roanoke City Market. Even though some of the conversations contain criticism leveled at us here at Center in the Square, it is gratifying to hear so much concern, passion and energy in a discussion about our neighborhood. Roanokers clearly treasure their unique, historic downtown.
So do we. On behalf of Center's board of directors, let me assure the community that we believe all facets of the City Market are important to maintaining the foot traffic, atmosphere and vitality required for long-term success. We are committed to working with the city, Downtown Roanoke Inc., farmers, retailers and yes, our retail tenants, including the Weiner Stand, to improve what we have without sacrificing our historic feel and flavor.
Some may ask, why change anything? It's a valid question. We've had great success with our existing facilities. Since helping to launch the revival of the farmers market in the early 1980s, Center has grown to generate $20 million in annual economic impact, attracting 460,000 visitors each year. More than $750 million has been invested in construction and renovation downtown. The market itself has been named one of the nation's top public places.
Perhaps the most important achievement is a community whose citizens and leaders care deeply about downtown and are willing to invest their time and resources to improve and protect it. You can't put a price on that.
But while the passage of time can improve your historic standing, it can wreak havoc on your plumbing. After 25 years of constant usage by hundreds of thousands of visitors, our mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are overworked and outdated. Our lighting, floors and permanent fixtures are aging, and the quality of space we provide our tenants and the public is deteriorating and inadequate.
Also, it is difficult to tell from the outside that the building is a major cultural center. Furthermore, it's unsettling to see long lines of elementary schoolchildren on the sidewalk outside our building waiting for their bus, wedged between high-volume foot and vehicle traffic.
If we don't maintain what we have, we will ultimately lose it -- a hard lesson we all have learned with other prized structures. It also makes sense, financially and operationally, to plan our maintenance upgrades and facility improvements together. We can minimize downtime and inconvenience for tenants and visitors, and get the best value for the generous donors to our capital campaign.
That brings us to where we are: How do we plan a modern makeover for Center, while respecting the history and heritage of the City Market? While there have been informal, enthusiastic discussions of what might be for our building (we hope you understand how excited we are about the possibilities), we do not yet have a workable plan.
The board's renovation planning committee has met twice. At those meetings, the committee discussed that future planning would be guided by three principles:
n A reflection of Center's past commitments to its cultural organizations, the market, educating children, economic development and improving the region's quality of life.
n Further emphasis on Center's commitment to the market area by using part of the vacant Art Museum space to create 11,000 square feet for retailers. This has the potential to increase the number of merchants in the market area and has the added benefit of decreasing Center's dependence on unpredictable state funding.
n A commitment to working with the Little Dipper, Sumdat Market, Thomas' Market and the Weiner Stand to help preserve their presence in the historic farmers market.
There are many discussions yet to come. As you listen to us and others, please remember our history. Since 1981, Center has renovated four historic structures: the McGuire Building and Phelps Armistead Furniture Store, our current home, The Shenandoah Hotel housing part of Mill Mountain Theatre, and the N&W Passenger Station, now housing the exquisite O. Winston Link Museum and Visitors' Bureau.
We view our historic downtown buildings and tenants as cherished assets and wish to protect and support them. We are seeking input from those directly affected by our building enhancements. Every care will be taken to listen to their views and consider them accordingly.
We will participate in the city's study of the Market Square and Market Street. Together, we can develop a joint vision of our future that will support the needs of Center, its tenants, the market, the city, the public and the region.
