Roanoke's Market Garage hotel site plan filed
Final approval is slated for late August, and construction on the project is scheduled to begin on Sept. 1.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
The hotel proposed for the top of Roanoke’s Market Garage has taken a big step closer to reality now that developer Windsor/Aughtry Co. has filed a site plan with the city.
The plan filed late last month outlines the overall shape of the building, its utility connections and links to city sidewalks and streets.
“It’s a milestone,” Wayne Bowers, the city’s director of economic development, said Monday. “It’s been moving along real well.”
The city and developer also are putting finishing touches on key agreements covering the air rights over the garage that the hotel will occupy, a condominium agreement for the first-floor entrance to the hotel, parking for hotel guests and easements for utility and other access.
The city council has to approve all those. For now, if the council likes the proposals, the aim is to formally close on the agreements in late August, with construction to start Sept. 1, said Charles Reyner, project manager for Windsor/Aughtry.
He hopes to hear from contractors this month to get their thoughts on costs and how to carry out the complex — and rarely attempted — task of putting a new building on the roof of another one, while people continue to use the older building.
City staff have declared the site plan is substantially complete, though they are still in the midst of a detailed review.
Once they formally approve it, the developer can apply for building permits. That process will involve detailed review by city staff of blueprints and specifications.
So far, the fire department and environmental management have said they approve of the site plan.
Planners have asked for more information on windows and lighting and noted that the area set for mechanical equipment crosses the property line. They also want to be sure a handrail would not be in the way of people walking on the sidewalk.
Officials also have asked for more details on drainage and traffic islands, and reminded the developers they will need to maintain two-way traffic on Church Avenue.
Windsor/Aughtry, based in South Carolina, wants to build a 123-room hotel using portions of the ground floor of the six-story parking garage as a lobby and the “air rights” above the building for several additional floors of guest rooms.
The city council approved the idea in August and earlier this year approved spending $350,000 to run water and sewer lines through the Market Garage to the hotel.
The city’s planning commission is to consider this month a request to close an 896-square-foot portion of the right-of-way along Church and Luck avenues next to the garage to avoid any encroachment on public space from proposed balconies.
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THE ROANOKE TIMES
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