The Roanoke City Council provided tentative support Monday for a proposal that could result in 44 single-family homes targeted at low-income families at the intersection of Shenandoah Avenue and Old Stevens Road.

The nonprofit Total Action Against Poverty is seeking tax credits from the Virginia Housing Development Authority to help fund the $9 million project and needs a letter of support from the city to move forward with its application, according to TAP Housing Director Angela Penn.

The request was granted by a 5-0 vote of the council. Councilman Court Rosen serves as a TAP board member and abstained from the vote.

The council will have to revisit the issue and vote to designate the proposed subdivisions surrounding the Wilmont and Cherry Hill neighborhoods in Northwest Roanoke as a "revitalization area," which according to VHDA guidelines is "blighted, deteriorated, deteriorating or, if not rehabilitated, likely to deteriorate" because of overcrowding, neglect or other reasons.

If the project moves forward, 44 three- and four-bedroom homes would be offered for rental the first 15 years of the project, at which point they'd be offered for sale.

The proposal received support from many of those in attendance at the city council meeting. One nearby resident, however, complained that there was too much low-income housing within a short range to add yet another series of units to the neighborhood.

Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham said that city staff also opposed the project because Roanoke already has a higher-than-average number of low-income housing units. In addition, she cited a letter from Planning, Building and Development Director Tom Carr saying the proposed site does not meet the city's criteria for revitalization.

Still, council members want to at least explore the project a bit further.

"I support the project," said Councilman Alvin Nash, "but I think we need to do some diligence" before giving final approval.

Goodwill Industries looks to build 10-acre job site

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys requested half a million dollars from the Roanoke City Council on Monday to help build a 10-acre job site on Melrose Avenue.

The council referred the request to be looked at during its budget study.

Bruce Phipps, president and chief executive of Goodwill, said the $500,000 contribution would go to a $7.7 million project to renovate its headquarters and create a one-stop Job Development Center on its 10-acre site at the corner of Melrose Avenue and 24th Street Northwest.

Phipps said the request was a one-time deal that would help provide career assessment and job training for displaced workers, ex-offenders and others. He said the center would create 50 new jobs, with at least 40 of those carrying an annual salary of $27,000 or more.

Vice Mayor Sherman Lea said the proposal could provide a "shot in the arm" to the Melrose-Loudon area.

Phipps said $6.4 million of the funding for the center will come from bonds and that Goodwill plans to raise $1.3 million from the community.