Significant changes are coming to the Roanoke City Market in addition to a Center in the Square renovation plan that turned heads when it was unveiled this month.

Center, a nonprofit arts organization housed in a prominent market-area building facing Campbell Avenue, is proposing a top-to-bottom overhaul that could substantially alter the building's look while reducing the existing market vending space.

Other unrelated changes, however, have already been set in motion by the city that it hopes will enhance the ambience and functionality of the market, a tourist draw that is on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. The city has agreed to spend more than $700,000 in upcoming months to either complete or begin the changes. The first will be the replacement of the market awnings, some of which are so weathered that they're patched with duct tape.

"Hopefully over time all of these efforts will produce recurring positive results that keep our market area commercially and culturally dynamic," Mayor Nelson Harris said.

The other changes include:

• A large plaza of steps to be built next to the Wachovia Tower building at the end of the pedestrian bridge. The plaza, under a plan developed by the city, would provide a grander and more visually appealing entrance into the market, as well as a place for people to congregate and enjoy downtown. The steps won't be built for two to three years at the earliest.
• A transformation of the Market Garage on Church Avenue. The city wants to partner with a developer to create an anchor for the southern end of market. The garage would still have parking spaces, but it would also include a mixed use of apartments and potential retail or commercial business space.
• The prominent City Market Building will also get some overdue upkeep, including new interior lighting, fresh paint and new exterior doors, among other improvements.

The buzz on the market is mixed on the changes.

Gary Crowder, owner of Wertz's Restaurant & Wine Bar, said many market businesspeople are suspicious of all ideas about the market these days. They wonder if Center in the Square's plans merely coincide with the city's plans, or if city officials were aware of Center's ideas all along.

Ken Rattenbury, owner of the Fret Mill music store on Salem Avenue, wonders if Roanoke could accomplish more if it took care of little things in the market area. "It seems like we're always talking about some grand scheme, and we're not doing what's within reach," he said.

Conversely, Sands Woody, owner of Trio Bistro at the south end of the market area, thinks the big picture needs to be taken more into account. At the same time, the city needs to move faster to make the market a place visitors to the new art museum will want to see more than once.

"I just want things to move quicker than I believe that they will," he said. He said he doesn't have much faith in the ability of city officials to really help. "I don't think the city of Roanoke has a clue about what it takes to improve the businesses downtown in Roanoke," he said. "I don't see them [city leaders] down here."

Harris said the council and the city administration have spent considerable time reviewing the market's future and determining certain municipal improvements necessary to keep the market area maintained and improved.

"All of us realize that a vibrant downtown core is critical to an urban area and is, in many ways, fragile," he said. "Thus, all involved need to move forward in a thoughtful, strategic manner."

matt.chittum@roanoke.com 981-3331 todd.jackson@roanoke.com 981-3253