Recycling in Roanoke
Recycling in Roanoke
Recycling in Roanoke
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Fall 2008<br />
citizen<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong>’s Star<br />
is Ris<strong>in</strong>g<br />
The top 10 reasons<br />
for <strong>Roanoke</strong>’s<br />
success<br />
a look<br />
<strong>in</strong>side<br />
4<br />
You’re<br />
Included<br />
6<br />
Orvis Means<br />
(Environmental)<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
11<br />
Old Neighborhood,<br />
New Horizons
green<br />
Assignment:<br />
In September 2007, the City of <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
launched its Clean and Green Campaign<br />
to engage residents, bus<strong>in</strong>esses,<br />
schools, and civic organizations <strong>in</strong><br />
assum<strong>in</strong>g responsibility for improv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and preserv<strong>in</strong>g the natural beauty of our<br />
entire city, and promot<strong>in</strong>g environmental<br />
stewardship. One of the most effective<br />
ways you can participate <strong>in</strong> this<br />
campaign is by recycl<strong>in</strong>g, which helps<br />
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and,<br />
at the same time, makes our city cleaner<br />
and greener.<br />
<strong>Recycl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
it’s easy to get started:<br />
Residents<br />
• Call Skip Decker at 853-6848, or Arthur McCoy at 853-6849 to request the delivery<br />
of two recycl<strong>in</strong>g b<strong>in</strong>s to your home.<br />
• Learn about specific items the city accepts for recycl<strong>in</strong>g by consult<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>side back<br />
page of your Municipal Calendar.<br />
• Check the recycl<strong>in</strong>g schedule <strong>in</strong>dicated by the icon posted on the Sundays of each<br />
month <strong>in</strong> your Municipal Calendar, or onl<strong>in</strong>e. Collections alternate between bottles<br />
and cans one week, and paper the next.<br />
• Set out your recycl<strong>in</strong>g items on the same day of the week as your refuse and bulk<br />
and brush collection.<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>esses<br />
• To participate <strong>in</strong> the city’s bus<strong>in</strong>ess recycl<strong>in</strong>g collection program, contact Solid Waste<br />
Manager Skip Decker at 853-6848, or Arthur McCoy at 853-6849.<br />
No sort<strong>in</strong>g of items is required. Currently, the City of <strong>Roanoke</strong> cannot collect brown or<br />
green glass as part of its bottle and can recycl<strong>in</strong>g collection.<br />
For more <strong>in</strong>formation about recycl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>Roanoke</strong>, visit the city’s Web site at<br />
www.roanokeva.gov/recycl<strong>in</strong>g
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citizen<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> ciTiZen is an official publication of the Office of Communications of the City of <strong>Roanoke</strong>,<br />
Virg<strong>in</strong>ia. This magaz<strong>in</strong>e is not a public forum. It accepts no submissions from the general public and does<br />
not engage <strong>in</strong> issue-oriented discussion or the advocacy of any social, political or religious viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts.<br />
The publication is mailed to every household and bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> the city.<br />
Mel<strong>in</strong>da Mayo<br />
Editor<br />
Christ<strong>in</strong>a Koomen<br />
Manag<strong>in</strong>g Editor<br />
Spotlight on SucceSS<br />
With each pass<strong>in</strong>g year, <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ues to earn recognition for<br />
its achievements<br />
leaderShip profile<br />
Alv<strong>in</strong> Nash believes he’s <strong>in</strong> the<br />
right place at the right time<br />
You’re <strong>in</strong>cluded<br />
Local Colors is about complete<br />
<strong>in</strong>clusiveness of all <strong>Roanoke</strong>’s<br />
residents<br />
heart and Soul<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong>’s beautiful and bustl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
downtown has become its<br />
signature attraction<br />
orviS meanS<br />
(environmental) BuS<strong>in</strong>eSS<br />
Founded by an outdoorsman,<br />
Orvis has never strayed from<br />
its enviromental roots<br />
roanoke wantS You<br />
Efforts to attract and reta<strong>in</strong> young<br />
professionals are generat<strong>in</strong>g results<br />
creat<strong>in</strong>g Young citizenS<br />
City programs for young people help<br />
steer them toward a positive future<br />
Break<strong>in</strong>g old ground<br />
Brownfields redevelopment returns<br />
environmentally challenged sites to<br />
productive use<br />
old neighBorhood,<br />
new horizonS<br />
A revitalization <strong>in</strong>itiative <strong>in</strong> Hurt Park<br />
is breath<strong>in</strong>g new life <strong>in</strong>to a once<br />
neglected area<br />
<strong>in</strong>Side out<br />
The Taubman Museum of Art will<br />
represent art on its <strong>in</strong>terior as<br />
well as its exterior<br />
on the cover:<br />
Downtown <strong>Roanoke</strong> at night<br />
Greg Vaughn<br />
Local Photography<br />
access<br />
Design<br />
From your city Manager<br />
our star is Ris<strong>in</strong>g<br />
The City of <strong>Roanoke</strong> has demonstrated a strong<br />
commitment to mak<strong>in</strong>g our city more livable,<br />
provid<strong>in</strong>g quality services, and creat<strong>in</strong>g an awareness<br />
of <strong>Roanoke</strong> both regionally and nationally. And it’s<br />
pay<strong>in</strong>g off.<br />
In this issue of <strong>Roanoke</strong> Citizen we will look at the<br />
top 10 reasons for the city’s progress. Th<strong>in</strong>gs like the<br />
rejuvenation of downtown, the reuse of contam<strong>in</strong>ated<br />
land for productive economic development, and the<br />
revitalization of the Hurt Park area.<br />
While there is not room <strong>in</strong> this magaz<strong>in</strong>e to recite all<br />
the great th<strong>in</strong>gs happen<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> our city, we’ve tried<br />
to list some that best represent our success as a<br />
progressive city. Of course, the number one reason for our success is you, the citizens.<br />
Without your support and <strong>in</strong>volvement, we could not fulfill the goals and vision of the<br />
city’s leaders.<br />
Our star is ris<strong>in</strong>g, and it’s wonderful to see it happen. I hope you will take time to read<br />
about the ways your city is develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to a more vibrant sett<strong>in</strong>g for life. n<br />
Reason<br />
#1<br />
Our Citizens<br />
Darlene l. Burcham<br />
City Manager<br />
ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008 1
Spotlight on<br />
Reason<br />
#2<br />
Achievements<br />
SUCCESS<br />
The City of <strong>Roanoke</strong> has been recognized<br />
this year for a number of outstand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
achievements <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
Donation of Carv<strong>in</strong>s Cove Easement<br />
The Environmental Stewardship Award<br />
(<strong>Roanoke</strong> Valley Preservation Foundation)<br />
Dr. Mart<strong>in</strong> Luther K<strong>in</strong>g Jr. Memorial Bridge<br />
The Adaptive Reuse Award (<strong>Roanoke</strong> Valley<br />
Preservation Foundation)<br />
Emerg<strong>in</strong>g Artists Series<br />
Outstand<strong>in</strong>g Adult Program (Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Public<br />
Library Directors’ Association)<br />
Fire-EMS Department<br />
Outstand<strong>in</strong>g EMS Agency for the Western<br />
Virg<strong>in</strong>ia EMS Region<br />
Governor’s Award for Outstand<strong>in</strong>g Fire<br />
Department Response<br />
Oral History Initiative<br />
Neighborhoods USA Notable Award<br />
Police Department<br />
Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Law Enforcement Challenge, 1st Place<br />
(Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Association of Chiefs of Police)<br />
Operation Heatwave, 2nd Place, Virg<strong>in</strong>ia<br />
State Police<br />
Pr<strong>in</strong>t Publications<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> Citizen<br />
Gold Award (Association of Market<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
Communications Professionals)<br />
Gold Summit Award (Public Relations Society<br />
of America, Blue Ridge Chapter)<br />
Annual Report<br />
Gold Award (Association of Market<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
Communications Professionals)<br />
PLAY<br />
Silver Summit Award (Public Relations Society<br />
of America, Blue Ridge Chapter)<br />
Silver Circle Award (City-County<br />
Communications and Market<strong>in</strong>g Association)<br />
Renovate <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
Outstand<strong>in</strong>g Cooperative Program with Other<br />
Libraries and Agencies (Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Public Library<br />
Directors’ Association)<br />
Valley View E-Branch<br />
Premier Visual Award and a 2008 Visual<br />
Victories Award (CBL Specialty Retail<br />
Conference)<br />
Outstand<strong>in</strong>g Service Innovation (Virg<strong>in</strong>ia<br />
Public Library Directors’ Association)<br />
Web site<br />
Second Place <strong>in</strong> Center for Digital Government<br />
Digital Cities Survey (cities with population<br />
between 75,000 and 125,000). <strong>Roanoke</strong> was<br />
ranked first <strong>in</strong> the survey <strong>in</strong> 2001, 2002,<br />
2003, 2005, and 2006. n<br />
2 ROANOKE CITIZEN Fall 2008 For city services or <strong>in</strong>formation, visit www.roanokeva.gov
“ Local government is about balanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
views, resources, and mak<strong>in</strong>g decisions<br />
that are best for the community.”<br />
leadership Profile<br />
By Christ<strong>in</strong>a Koomen<br />
Alv<strong>in</strong> Nash<br />
Question: What made you<br />
want to serve on City Council?<br />
answer: Like everybody else, I read <strong>in</strong><br />
the paper about the situation with Councilman<br />
Alfred Dowe. I felt terrible and was sad<br />
for all concerned. I received a phone call<br />
from a couple of longtime friends of m<strong>in</strong>e<br />
encourag<strong>in</strong>g me to apply for the open seat,<br />
and then I got a call from a couple of Council<br />
members ask<strong>in</strong>g me to consider apply<strong>in</strong>g. I<br />
have always been <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> Council and<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ce I would not have to run a campaign or<br />
raise a lot of money <strong>in</strong> a short time, I decided<br />
to give it a shot.<br />
Question: What qualities do<br />
you br<strong>in</strong>g to City Council that<br />
benefit its service to citizens?<br />
answer: As a lifelong resident, I am<br />
committed to the progress of <strong>Roanoke</strong>. I<br />
believe that this city rema<strong>in</strong>s a “balanced<br />
option” for an <strong>in</strong>dividual or a family to live<br />
a good quality life. I have a positive attitude<br />
about life and I have always worked well with<br />
a team. I excel <strong>in</strong> cooperation while reta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
my <strong>in</strong>tegrity and responsibility. I have given<br />
back to my community <strong>in</strong> many ways but<br />
the best way to give back is to serve. I have<br />
25 years of experience <strong>in</strong> various forms of<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess management, program development,<br />
and community <strong>in</strong>volvement. I feel confident<br />
that my experience can serve the community<br />
and assist City Council.<br />
Question: In your op<strong>in</strong>ion,<br />
what is the most important<br />
function of City Council?<br />
answer: City Council should provide<br />
leadership for the good of the community.<br />
Local government is about balanc<strong>in</strong>g views,<br />
resources, and mak<strong>in</strong>g decisions that are best<br />
for the community. There are five areas that<br />
reflect my philosophy: Council should be<br />
efficient <strong>in</strong> spend<strong>in</strong>g tax dollars and manag<strong>in</strong>g<br />
assets for which it is responsible; Council<br />
should keep the community <strong>in</strong>formed about<br />
its activities and listen to the concerns of the<br />
community; Council should provide public<br />
services such as roads, water supply, safety,<br />
sewerage, and have appropriate emergency<br />
protection plans; Council should support the<br />
economic and cultural development of its<br />
communities and protect the environment;<br />
and Council should represent its constituents<br />
to other state and federal governments.<br />
Question: What do citizens<br />
need to understand about<br />
City Council?<br />
answer: City Council is a team. Individually<br />
we have no power, but collectively we can<br />
make decisions that will affect people for<br />
decades. I want people to understand that<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g a Democrat, Republican, or Independent<br />
is secondary to be<strong>in</strong>g responsible. On City<br />
Council, there are seven heartbeats and each<br />
represents a diverse <strong>in</strong>dividual who cares<br />
about the people of this city, and who is<br />
try<strong>in</strong>g to be fair and reasonable.<br />
Question: What is leadership?<br />
answer: To me leadership means to act<br />
<strong>in</strong> a manner that is honorable, courageous,<br />
compassionate, and ethical. Leadership<br />
is hav<strong>in</strong>g character, character is hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
responsibility, and responsibility is the one<br />
trait that makes this city function as it should.<br />
Alv<strong>in</strong> Nash says it’s better to be the person<br />
who can settle a fight than the person who<br />
starts one— and this from a former U.S. light<br />
heavyweight kickbox<strong>in</strong>g champion. Over the<br />
years Nash’s life has come to embody the<br />
classic y<strong>in</strong> and yang balance that forms the<br />
foundation of the martial arts he enjoyed as a<br />
young man.<br />
Nash was born and raised <strong>in</strong> <strong>Roanoke</strong>, one<br />
of five children whose family was displaced<br />
from their Northeast neighborhood by the<br />
urban renewal movement of the mid-20th<br />
century. They moved to Hurt Park, where they<br />
were among the first families to live <strong>in</strong> the<br />
new hous<strong>in</strong>g project there. Nash attended<br />
local schools, followed by Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Western<br />
Community College, where he studied<br />
architecture, draft<strong>in</strong>g, and bluepr<strong>in</strong>t read<strong>in</strong>g, and<br />
hooked up with Hayes Seay Mattern & Mattern<br />
as part of a state apprenticeship program.<br />
“Hav<strong>in</strong>g come from Northeast to where I am<br />
now proves that there is opportunity, there is<br />
a chance for people to work their way up,”<br />
Nash reflects.<br />
In those days, Nash’s mother was on the board<br />
of Total Action Aga<strong>in</strong>st Poverty (TAP) and got<br />
Alv<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>volved by encourag<strong>in</strong>g him to lead a<br />
karate class for agency participants. By chance,<br />
another employee at TAP mentioned need<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
review the Federal Register for a grantwrit<strong>in</strong>g<br />
project, and because his work at HSMM had<br />
familiarized him with this document, Nash<br />
offered to help— and his career with TAP was<br />
launched. About 10 years ago, Nash spun off<br />
from TAP the Blue Ridge Hous<strong>in</strong>g Development<br />
Corporation, the agency he still heads.<br />
Some of the key issues fac<strong>in</strong>g the city, Nash<br />
believes, are neighborhood revitalization,<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess development, and education.<br />
However, he says he’s not here just to offer<br />
a lot of answers. “What Council needs, and<br />
what the city needs, is the right questions.”<br />
His ma<strong>in</strong> talent, he believes, is try<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
appreciate and understand what people care<br />
about, and mak<strong>in</strong>g them comfortable work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with him on solutions.<br />
Nash jo<strong>in</strong>ed City Council <strong>in</strong> the spr<strong>in</strong>g, and says<br />
he’s look<strong>in</strong>g forward to work<strong>in</strong>g with the new<br />
members, and see<strong>in</strong>g what he can accomplish<br />
<strong>in</strong> the com<strong>in</strong>g year.<br />
“I th<strong>in</strong>k for some reason this is where I should<br />
be,” says Nash, with zen-like <strong>in</strong>sight. “Time<br />
will tell.”<br />
To get city news on your e-mail or pager, visit www.roanokeva.gov/myroanoke<br />
ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008 3
Reason<br />
#3<br />
Diversity<br />
By mel<strong>in</strong>da mayo<br />
You’re Included<br />
Many people th<strong>in</strong>k of Local Colors as an annual festival held <strong>in</strong> Elmwood<br />
Park. But did you know it’s also a year-round program dedicated to cultural<br />
education and awareness?<br />
Local Colors enriches the quality of life for everyone <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Roanoke</strong> Valley.<br />
Through lectures, storytell<strong>in</strong>g, displays, performances, and authentic<br />
cook<strong>in</strong>g demonstrations our community ga<strong>in</strong>s a better understand<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
the cultural groups which reside <strong>in</strong> this area of Southwest Virg<strong>in</strong>ia. Led<br />
by Executive Director Pearl Fu, the program culm<strong>in</strong>ates each May with<br />
the Local Colors festival— a day of shar<strong>in</strong>g and learn<strong>in</strong>g through the<br />
celebration of authentic music, arts, crafts, and food represent<strong>in</strong>g the city’s<br />
diverse cultural community.<br />
“More than 70 countries and 30 cultural groups participate <strong>in</strong> the Local<br />
Colors festival,” says Fu, who is a member of the Mayor’s Multicultural<br />
Affairs Advisory Committee. In 1999, the Library of Congress declared<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong>’s Local Colors festival a “Local Legacy” <strong>in</strong> Southwest Virg<strong>in</strong>ia. In<br />
addition, the event has received <strong>in</strong>ternational recognition <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a World<br />
News, Hispanic News, the Hs<strong>in</strong>g Hua News <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a, Hartford Courant, and<br />
the Independent Tribune.<br />
As part of the yearlong Local Colors program, Fu also serves as an<br />
advocate to resolve cultural misunderstand<strong>in</strong>gs. And she sometimes creates<br />
presentations to promote cultural understand<strong>in</strong>g. For example, she was<br />
asked to present a program about Christmas around the world. So, she<br />
developed a presentation about how other cultures celebrate Christmas<br />
and shared it with community groups.<br />
“It’s not just about ethnicity,” expla<strong>in</strong>s Fu. “Local Colors reaches out to<br />
people who are different. It’s about diversity— race, gender, age, and<br />
socio-economic status. It’s complete <strong>in</strong>clusiveness.” n<br />
multicultural profile<br />
When you say the name<br />
Pearl Fu, people <strong>in</strong> <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
know exactly who you’re<br />
talk<strong>in</strong>g about. A city resident<br />
for more than 21 years,<br />
she has taken the lead <strong>in</strong><br />
promot<strong>in</strong>g cultural diversity<br />
throughout our community.<br />
Fu is a native of Ch<strong>in</strong>a and<br />
a graduate of Peabody<br />
Conservatory of Music <strong>in</strong><br />
Baltimore, Md. “When my three daughters were young,<br />
I started as a volunteer <strong>in</strong> the local school system,”<br />
says Fu. In time, she was hired for after-school<br />
programs and musicals.<br />
Her professional career <strong>in</strong>cludes public relations work<br />
for Marriott Hotels and Holiday Inn. She has also been<br />
a consultant to companies such as General Electric<br />
and Ingersoll Rand, as well as local places like Center<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Square and the <strong>Roanoke</strong> Valley Convention and<br />
Visitors Bureau.<br />
Fu’s public service <strong>in</strong>cludes membership on Governor Mark<br />
Warner’s Hate Crimes Committee, Governor Tim Ka<strong>in</strong>e’s<br />
Asian Advisory Council, and on the board of the<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>ese Association.<br />
She is best known as the founder and organizer of <strong>Roanoke</strong>’s<br />
multicultural program and festival, Local Colors. And she<br />
helped establish <strong>Roanoke</strong>’s Sister City relationship with her<br />
hometown of Lijiang, Ch<strong>in</strong>a. Fu freelances as a writer, lecturer,<br />
performer, special events coord<strong>in</strong>ator, and <strong>in</strong>terpreter.<br />
Her musical background has given her a love for the arts.<br />
“What’s so great about <strong>Roanoke</strong> is the f<strong>in</strong>e arts are so<br />
alive here,” says Fu. “There is so much to enjoy.” A true<br />
promoter of our city and its cultural diversity, she is best<br />
known as Ambassador of Goodwill for <strong>Roanoke</strong>.<br />
4 ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008<br />
For city services or <strong>in</strong>formation, visit www.roanokeva.gov
By Lynda Ziel<strong>in</strong>ski<br />
Reason<br />
#4<br />
A great Downtown<br />
All<br />
Aboard!<br />
Heart and Soul<br />
Thirty years ago, downtown <strong>Roanoke</strong> was<br />
go<strong>in</strong>g nowhere. Merchants had closed up<br />
shop. Street life had grown a bit seedy.<br />
Locals and tourists alike had little reason<br />
to visit. But today, downtown <strong>Roanoke</strong> is<br />
the place to be.<br />
“Downtown’s revitalization is the<br />
culm<strong>in</strong>ation of 20 years of hard work and<br />
cooperation between the public and private<br />
sectors— people who wanted <strong>Roanoke</strong> to<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ue to grow and thrive,” says Brian<br />
Brown, adm<strong>in</strong>istrator of <strong>Roanoke</strong>’s Office<br />
of Economic Development.<br />
One such public-private partnership<br />
created Center <strong>in</strong> the Square, which<br />
opened to rave reviews <strong>in</strong> 1983. This<br />
cultural center proved a critical first step<br />
<strong>in</strong> downtown’s revival, both for draw<strong>in</strong>g<br />
people downtown aga<strong>in</strong>, and for gett<strong>in</strong>g<br />
people excited about its future.<br />
To get city news on your e-mail or pager, visit www.roanokeva.gov/myroanoke<br />
Downtown got another boost <strong>in</strong> the 1980s<br />
with renovations to the City Market Build<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
The Market Build<strong>in</strong>g is poised for additional<br />
renovations <strong>in</strong> the near future.<br />
Encouraged by low-<strong>in</strong>terest loans, build<strong>in</strong>g<br />
code changes, and f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>centives to<br />
rehabilitate older build<strong>in</strong>gs, <strong>in</strong>dividuals<br />
and developers alike are renovat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
vacant warehouses and the upper levels<br />
of office build<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong>to studio apartments,<br />
condom<strong>in</strong>iums and upscale town homes.<br />
These new spaces are flourish<strong>in</strong>g as more<br />
and more people realize the benefits of<br />
downtown liv<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Bill Carder, director of Downtown <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
Inc., predicts downtown will cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />
to grow as it celebrates the open<strong>in</strong>g of<br />
the Taubman Museum of Art this fall.<br />
Meanwhile, the city cont<strong>in</strong>ues work<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
attract unique retail shops, “those you<br />
won’t f<strong>in</strong>d at the mall.”<br />
Residents and visitors now have plenty of<br />
reasons to love downtown. In addition to<br />
new stores, new restaurants offer d<strong>in</strong>ers<br />
a variety of cuis<strong>in</strong>es, and several of these<br />
offer a lively musical nightlife. Multiple<br />
museums offer a host of year-round exhibits<br />
and programs, and at Mill Mounta<strong>in</strong> Theatre<br />
patrons can enjoy classic musicals as well<br />
as excit<strong>in</strong>g new works. The event calendar<br />
<strong>in</strong>cludes numerous celebrations throughout<br />
the year, such as Festival <strong>in</strong> the Park<br />
and Dickens of a Christmas. Party <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Park, Movies <strong>in</strong> the Park, and Art by Night<br />
provide ongo<strong>in</strong>g opportunities for a night<br />
on the town. And no visit to <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
would be complete without a stroll through<br />
the historic Farmers Market.<br />
With so many offer<strong>in</strong>gs, downtown truly is<br />
rega<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g its status as the heart and soul<br />
of the city. n<br />
The Star L<strong>in</strong>e is com<strong>in</strong>g to the Star City,<br />
l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g the Riverside Center for Research<br />
and Technology to downtown. This<br />
free trolley service will provide a fast<br />
and convenient way for those <strong>in</strong> the<br />
75-acre technology park to shop and eat<br />
downtown. The trolley route runs from<br />
the Carilion Memorial Hospital to the City<br />
Market with stops along Jefferson Street,<br />
Frankl<strong>in</strong> Road and at the Jefferson College<br />
of Health Sciences. Two trolleys will run<br />
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.,<br />
provid<strong>in</strong>g pickup and drop-off every 10<br />
m<strong>in</strong>utes. A third trolley will be added from<br />
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so that service will be<br />
available every 5 m<strong>in</strong>utes dur<strong>in</strong>g peak<br />
lunch hours.<br />
The Star L<strong>in</strong>e was created through a<br />
partnership with the City of <strong>Roanoke</strong>,<br />
the Greater <strong>Roanoke</strong> Transit Company,<br />
Carilion Foundation, and Downtown<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> Inc. The red and gold trolleys<br />
will feature large w<strong>in</strong>dows, air<br />
condition<strong>in</strong>g, and wooden benches,<br />
and are handicap-accessible, meet<strong>in</strong>g all<br />
the requirements of the Americans with<br />
Disabilities Act. The Star L<strong>in</strong>e is expected<br />
to beg<strong>in</strong> operat<strong>in</strong>g this fall.<br />
ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008 5
Good Corporate Citizenship<br />
Reason<br />
#5<br />
strong<br />
Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Leadership<br />
Mike Rigney at Glade Creek<br />
Orvis means (environmental) bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
When you th<strong>in</strong>k of the Orvis Company,<br />
the first th<strong>in</strong>g that comes to m<strong>in</strong>d is fly<br />
fish<strong>in</strong>g. It’s true, Orvis built its bus<strong>in</strong>ess on<br />
sell<strong>in</strong>g fish<strong>in</strong>g tackle. Even though it has<br />
expanded to sell<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs like cloth<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
gifts, luggage, and art, it has never strayed<br />
from its environmental roots. Instead,<br />
those roots have cont<strong>in</strong>ued to be part of<br />
the culture of the company Charles Orvis<br />
founded <strong>in</strong> 1856. In fact, Orvis himself was<br />
a conservationist and served on what today<br />
we would recognize as nonprofit boards.<br />
Orvis’ <strong>Roanoke</strong> office opened <strong>in</strong> August<br />
1987, and is very much a supporter of the<br />
company’s legacy. “We believe conservation<br />
is important to our lifestyle and our<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess,” says Mike Rigney, Vice President<br />
of Operations. “Orvis measures what we’re<br />
consum<strong>in</strong>g and identifies how we impact<br />
the environment through our use of water,<br />
electricity, propane gas, paper, trash taken<br />
to the landfill— every consumable product.”<br />
To demonstrate it means bus<strong>in</strong>ess, Orvis<br />
has set some specific goals for itself as<br />
a company. For example, they donate<br />
5 percent of pretax profits each year to<br />
conservation efforts around the area, and<br />
are committed to becom<strong>in</strong>g carbon neutral<br />
by the year 2020.<br />
Like many other companies who have<br />
committed to environmental stewardship,<br />
Orvis’ <strong>Roanoke</strong> facility has replaced all<br />
its old light fixtures with T-8s and added<br />
motion sensors. The company made a<br />
$350,000 capital <strong>in</strong>vestment to replace<br />
the lights <strong>in</strong> its <strong>Roanoke</strong> facility. “By us<strong>in</strong>g<br />
more efficient light<strong>in</strong>g and less energy,<br />
we are not only sav<strong>in</strong>g the planet, we are<br />
sav<strong>in</strong>g money,” says Rigney. As a result,<br />
they are sav<strong>in</strong>g 39 percent on electricity<br />
bills, allow<strong>in</strong>g them to save between<br />
$8,000 and $10,000 per month.<br />
Another reason Rigney believes Orvis’<br />
conservation emphasis is beneficial from<br />
both an environmental and a bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
standpo<strong>in</strong>t is because it gives the company<br />
a competitive advantage <strong>in</strong> attract<strong>in</strong>g<br />
employees with like values. “We lead by<br />
example and demonstrate to our associates<br />
and the community how important<br />
environmental stewardship is,” says Rigney.<br />
“Conservation is part of our core values,”<br />
adds Rigney. “We encourage our associates<br />
to <strong>in</strong>still these values <strong>in</strong>to the workplace<br />
as well as their daily lives. We are always<br />
seek<strong>in</strong>g ideas to impact the community<br />
through conservation.”<br />
For example, the <strong>Roanoke</strong> facility will be<br />
implement<strong>in</strong>g new warehouse systems <strong>in</strong><br />
2009 with less dependency on paper. They<br />
are also encourag<strong>in</strong>g customers to use<br />
their Web site for service, as well as their<br />
Live Chat feature. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Rigney, this<br />
will provide better service for customers<br />
without impact<strong>in</strong>g the environment.<br />
“We lead by example<br />
and demonstrate to<br />
our associates and<br />
the community how<br />
important environmental<br />
stewardship is.”<br />
By mel<strong>in</strong>da mayo<br />
— Mike Rigney<br />
6 ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008<br />
For city services or <strong>in</strong>formation, visit www.roanokeva.gov
One of the projects the Orvis <strong>Roanoke</strong> office staff is work<strong>in</strong>g on is the restoration of<br />
Glade Creek. With the assistance of Trout Unlimited, they hope to approach bus<strong>in</strong>esses<br />
near the creek’s location that would be will<strong>in</strong>g to partner with them on this project. The<br />
stream runs alongside U.S. Route 460 for a short distance and passes with<strong>in</strong> 3 miles of<br />
the Orvis distribution facility. Glade Creek has potential to offer excellent habitat for trout<br />
and would be an important restoration <strong>in</strong> an urban sett<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Another way Orvis demonstrates<br />
it is serious about protect<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
environment is through the company’s<br />
decision to hire a Senior Facility<br />
Manager to look at the life of the facility<br />
and its susta<strong>in</strong>ability. Other Orvis offices<br />
are do<strong>in</strong>g this as well to re<strong>in</strong>force the<br />
focus on susta<strong>in</strong>ability and conservation.<br />
Orvis ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s its environmental<br />
philosophy by model<strong>in</strong>g its values<br />
to employees and encourag<strong>in</strong>g them<br />
to look for opportunities to conserve<br />
energy, such as carpool<strong>in</strong>g. Another<br />
opportunity the <strong>Roanoke</strong> facility offers<br />
is for employees who live <strong>in</strong> areas<br />
that don’t recycle to br<strong>in</strong>g their items<br />
to work for recycl<strong>in</strong>g. Orvis’ staff has<br />
also established a Social Concerns<br />
group, comprised of employees who<br />
want to volunteer their time to help<br />
promote special <strong>in</strong>itiatives, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
conservation efforts.<br />
“It’s worth the <strong>in</strong>vestment of time and<br />
energy for our company to be a good<br />
environmental steward,” says Rigney.<br />
“It comes down to this: We are walk<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the talk when it comes to putt<strong>in</strong>g our<br />
values <strong>in</strong>to action.” n<br />
To get city news on your e-mail or pager, visit www.roanokeva.gov/myroanoke<br />
ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008 7
<strong>Roanoke</strong> wants<br />
YOU<br />
Reason<br />
#6<br />
Focus on<br />
Young Professionals<br />
By Bobbi A. Hoffman<br />
The exodus of the city’s best and<br />
brightest young people is a hot topic <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong>. Young professionals represent<br />
growth, an <strong>in</strong>creased tax base, new<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>esses, and future leaders. But many<br />
students who leave the area for college<br />
move on to bigger urban areas and<br />
don’t look back. That’s where <strong>Roanoke</strong>’s<br />
Office of Economic Development comes<br />
<strong>in</strong>. Us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>novative programs, special<br />
events, and social-media strategies, staff<br />
aims to reverse this trend.<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Special Projects Coord<strong>in</strong>ator<br />
Stuart Mease, young professionals look<br />
for two th<strong>in</strong>gs: jobs and th<strong>in</strong>gs to do.<br />
He recalls a conversation with a Virg<strong>in</strong>ia<br />
Tech student who said she was familiar<br />
with <strong>Roanoke</strong> because she had shopped<br />
at Valley View Mall.<br />
“We had to do someth<strong>in</strong>g to show<br />
students that <strong>Roanoke</strong> has someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
different to offer,” says Mease. Br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g<br />
students downtown became a primary<br />
objective, spawn<strong>in</strong>g “<strong>Roanoke</strong> Wants U.”<br />
This <strong>in</strong>ventive program hosts fieldtrips<br />
to show college students that <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
offers jobs and many activities for young<br />
people. <strong>Roanoke</strong> Wants U visitors receive<br />
free transportation on the SmartWay bus,<br />
a downtown walk<strong>in</strong>g tour, and lunch at<br />
a restaurant popular for its nightlife. The<br />
day <strong>in</strong>cludes an <strong>in</strong>formation session with<br />
local bus<strong>in</strong>ess representatives, chosen<br />
specifically to match the students’<br />
majors. To date, more than 300 students<br />
have visited.<br />
Another successful endeavor was<br />
a “reverse job fair,” sponsored <strong>in</strong><br />
conjunction with a Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Tech bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
fraternity. In this clever twist, Tech<br />
students set up booths to promote<br />
themselves while employers made the<br />
rounds to meet— and possibly recruit—<br />
them. Mease plans more of these events.<br />
The city’s dedicated site,<br />
www.roanokeva.gov/connect, is an<br />
example of social-media outreach.<br />
The onl<strong>in</strong>e database allows people<br />
<strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> mov<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>Roanoke</strong> to<br />
post resumes that employers can view.<br />
More than 3,000 people from around<br />
the country have registered, and nearly<br />
80 report f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g jobs.<br />
What’s next on the agenda? Believ<strong>in</strong>g it’s<br />
never too early to conv<strong>in</strong>ce people that<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> is a great place to live, the Office<br />
of Economic Development will reach out<br />
to an even younger crowd: <strong>Roanoke</strong>’s<br />
K-12 students. n<br />
Help For<br />
Entreprenuers<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong>’s Office of Economic Development<br />
seeks to create a positive bus<strong>in</strong>ess climate<br />
for the success of the city’s entrepreneurs.<br />
To encourage this success, the office has a<br />
program designed specifically to assess smallbus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
owners’ needs and po<strong>in</strong>t them <strong>in</strong> the<br />
right direction for help.<br />
Assistance takes the form of tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and<br />
network<strong>in</strong>g opportunities, referrals to local<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess groups, and f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>centives,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g up to $1,000 for tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g at Virg<strong>in</strong>ia<br />
Western Community College and Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Tech,<br />
among others; and $5,000 back<strong>in</strong>g for bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
loans.<br />
To qualify, bus<strong>in</strong>esses must have a written<br />
bus<strong>in</strong>ess plan and be located— or plan to<br />
locate— <strong>in</strong> the city’s Entrepreneurial Zone,<br />
cover<strong>in</strong>g 1,800 acres around Norfolk Southern’s<br />
east-west tracks.<br />
The program has already assisted one startup,<br />
and works with local bus<strong>in</strong>ess and college<br />
groups to encourage more participation. Future<br />
plans <strong>in</strong>clude establish<strong>in</strong>g a board of local<br />
entrepreneurs to discuss ways the office can<br />
help small bus<strong>in</strong>esses.<br />
For more <strong>in</strong>formation, call 853-2715.<br />
8 ROANOKE CITIZEN Fall 2008<br />
For city services or <strong>in</strong>formation, visit www.roanokeva.gov
Reason<br />
#7<br />
support for Youth<br />
creat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
young citizens<br />
By<br />
Christ<strong>in</strong>a Koomen<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> youth enjoy spend<strong>in</strong>g time at the Ma<strong>in</strong> Library’s Teen Center<br />
One th<strong>in</strong>g that makes <strong>Roanoke</strong> a<br />
progressive community is the city’s<br />
many programs and <strong>in</strong>itiatives targeted<br />
specifically toward young people, to help<br />
them prepare for their roles as citizens.<br />
Last December, <strong>Roanoke</strong> Public Libraries<br />
created a Teen Center featur<strong>in</strong>g enhanced<br />
collections, new computers, music listen<strong>in</strong>g<br />
stations, and TVs with gam<strong>in</strong>g equipment.<br />
“It gives them a community place where<br />
they can hang out, socialize, and learn,”<br />
says Teen Librarian Alicia Gladwell. “Also,<br />
teens are our future patrons, so we want<br />
them to come back.” With a nationwide<br />
trend toward more services for teens,<br />
renovations to the Ga<strong>in</strong>sboro and Jackson<br />
Park branches will add teen centers at<br />
those locations as well.<br />
Parks and Recreation’s Youth Services<br />
Division focuses on improv<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
quality of life for all young people. Youth<br />
Services has been beh<strong>in</strong>d such <strong>in</strong>itiatives<br />
as V.O.Y.C.E. (Valu<strong>in</strong>g Our Youth Through<br />
Community Engagement), which held its<br />
first statewide conference <strong>in</strong> August. The<br />
division has helped coord<strong>in</strong>ate efforts<br />
such as the highly successful year-old<br />
program that allows city school students<br />
to ride Valley Metro buses for free. And<br />
Youth Services hosted this spr<strong>in</strong>g’s “Night<br />
of Champions” banquet to recognize<br />
and encourage young people who have<br />
demonstrated positive efforts toward be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
good students and mak<strong>in</strong>g the most of<br />
their school experience.<br />
The city has also partnered with its<br />
public schools, Virg<strong>in</strong>ia Tech, and other<br />
organizations and volunteers on a new<br />
program called “Promise of <strong>Roanoke</strong>.”<br />
Launched <strong>in</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>g 2007, “Promise<br />
of <strong>Roanoke</strong>” has offered a forum for<br />
discuss<strong>in</strong>g issues affect<strong>in</strong>g youth, and<br />
creat<strong>in</strong>g ways to <strong>in</strong>volve the community <strong>in</strong><br />
help<strong>in</strong>g young people succeed <strong>in</strong> school<br />
and <strong>in</strong> life.<br />
These recent <strong>in</strong>itiatives complement<br />
other efforts such as the popular D.A.R.E.<br />
program and its summer camps; Fire-EMS’s<br />
<strong>in</strong>-school safety presentations and Fire<br />
Safety Week art contest for school children;<br />
and Social Services’ Kids N Krisis program<br />
which helps send children back to school<br />
with the supplies they need.<br />
The City of <strong>Roanoke</strong> is committed to<br />
creat<strong>in</strong>g a positive environment for its<br />
young people, and the importance of<br />
this commitment is hard to overstate. As<br />
Super<strong>in</strong>tendent for Youth Services Marion<br />
Vaughn-Howard puts it, “We’re talk<strong>in</strong>g<br />
about creat<strong>in</strong>g young citizens, so if we<br />
don’t start early we’re go<strong>in</strong>g to lose.” n<br />
To get city news on your e-mail or pager, visit www.roanokeva.gov/myroanoke<br />
ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008 9
Reason<br />
#8<br />
Progressive Plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Break<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Construction at Carilion’s Riverside Center<br />
for Research and Technology<br />
old ground<br />
By Christ<strong>in</strong>a Koomen<br />
It’s the ultimate before-and-after story:<br />
a languish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustrial site gets a new<br />
lease on life as a shopp<strong>in</strong>g square or a<br />
residential subdivision or an office complex<br />
or an urban park. Such is the story of<br />
brownfields redevelopment, one of the<br />
most important recent trends <strong>in</strong> land use<br />
management and city plann<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Brownfields are properties suspected of<br />
harbor<strong>in</strong>g environmental contam<strong>in</strong>ants<br />
because of the k<strong>in</strong>ds of operations<br />
which took place on them. In addition to<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustrial properties, they can also be old<br />
gas stations, dry cleaners, or build<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
with lots of asbestos. The Environmental<br />
Protection Agency made the def<strong>in</strong>ition of<br />
a brownfield <strong>in</strong>tentionally broad <strong>in</strong> order<br />
to maximize the opportunities for people<br />
to purchase these sites and turn them<br />
around, tak<strong>in</strong>g advantage of the f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />
and advisory assistance available through<br />
brownfields programs.<br />
There are brownfields corridors and<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual sites all over the City of <strong>Roanoke</strong>.<br />
Perhaps the best known local example of a<br />
reclaimed brownfield is the Riverside Center<br />
for Research and Technology, where several<br />
former <strong>in</strong>dustrial bus<strong>in</strong>esses are be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
replaced by the Carilion Biomedical Institute<br />
and other structures.<br />
“The possibilities are wide open,” says<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> Senior Planner Ian Shaw. “With<br />
a little creativity, you can really do a lot<br />
of th<strong>in</strong>gs.”<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> has become a leader <strong>in</strong> reus<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and convert<strong>in</strong>g brownfields sites. The<br />
city has received six EPA grants total<strong>in</strong>g<br />
approximately $2.1 million, cover<strong>in</strong>g all<br />
four grant categories: assessment, cleanup,<br />
revolv<strong>in</strong>g loan, and job tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. In fact,<br />
because of <strong>Roanoke</strong>’s success, the EPA<br />
visited the city <strong>in</strong> August to conduct an<br />
outreach and orientation session for other<br />
Virg<strong>in</strong>ia localities.<br />
Brownfields redevelopment is critical to a<br />
city like <strong>Roanoke</strong>, where some 94 percent<br />
of buildable land has been used, and<br />
much of the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g open land is <strong>in</strong> the<br />
floodpla<strong>in</strong> or on slopes. But redevelop<strong>in</strong>g<br />
brownfields goes beyond matters of<br />
acreage. As Brian Brown, adm<strong>in</strong>istrator of<br />
the city’s Office of Economic Development,<br />
says, “It’s the opportunity to take sites <strong>in</strong><br />
your community that are blighted, that are<br />
hurt<strong>in</strong>g property values, that are hurt<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
redevelopment of your neighborhood, and<br />
br<strong>in</strong>g them back to a vibrant use that will<br />
benefit the community by provid<strong>in</strong>g jobs,<br />
<strong>in</strong>vestment, and community pride.” n<br />
10 ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008 For city services or <strong>in</strong>formation, visit www.roanokeva.gov
Reason<br />
Invest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />
Neighborhoods<br />
#9<br />
K<strong>in</strong>g Harvey and Jimmy Cook at Hurt Park’s<br />
new townhouse development<br />
Old Neighborhood<br />
By Angie Williamson and Frederick Gusler<br />
New Horizons<br />
Take a stroll down Salem Avenue near Hurt Park Elementary School<br />
and you’ll notice th<strong>in</strong>gs are chang<strong>in</strong>g. Hurt Park, or “West End” as it<br />
was named orig<strong>in</strong>ally, was once one of the city’s f<strong>in</strong>est early suburban<br />
neighborhoods. As with many older city neighborhoods, homeowners<br />
moved to newer suburbs after World War II. But now, after years of<br />
dis<strong>in</strong>vestment, Hurt Park’s time has come aga<strong>in</strong>. After <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the<br />
“Southeast…By Design” and Ga<strong>in</strong>sboro neighborhood improvement<br />
projects, the city is focus<strong>in</strong>g federal funds and city staff time on the<br />
revitalization of Hurt Park.<br />
For the first time ever, the major hous<strong>in</strong>g agencies <strong>in</strong> <strong>Roanoke</strong> – the<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong> Redevelopment and Hous<strong>in</strong>g Authority, Habitat for Humanity,<br />
Rebuild<strong>in</strong>g Together <strong>Roanoke</strong>, Total Action Aga<strong>in</strong>st Poverty, and<br />
Blue Ridge Hous<strong>in</strong>g Development Corp.— have teamed up to work<br />
cooperatively and share grant funds. The Hurt Park public hous<strong>in</strong>g<br />
complex is be<strong>in</strong>g redeveloped with new homes and an improved street<br />
pattern. In the next few years older houses will be restored, new homes<br />
will be built on vacant lots, and repairs will be made for low-<strong>in</strong>come and<br />
elderly homeowners.<br />
To guide the Hurt Park Revitalization Initiative, which officially kicked<br />
off <strong>in</strong> May, city staff from various departments meet regularly, along with<br />
representatives from the hous<strong>in</strong>g agencies, the Hurt Park Neighborhood<br />
Alliance, and the newly formed Hurt Park Advisory Council.<br />
“With so many agencies and city departments out to do good <strong>in</strong><br />
this neighborhood, I’m excited about our prospects for a brighter<br />
future <strong>in</strong> Hurt Park,” says Frank Baratta, HUD coord<strong>in</strong>ator <strong>in</strong> the city’s<br />
Neighborhood Services Division.<br />
But this revitalization is more than just bricks and mortar. A<br />
comprehensive array of programs is be<strong>in</strong>g carried out as part of the<br />
<strong>in</strong>itiative, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>frastructure improvements, tutor<strong>in</strong>g, job tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g,<br />
and bus<strong>in</strong>ess assistance.<br />
To get city news on your e-mail or pager, visit www.roanokeva.gov/myroanoke<br />
Renovate <strong>Roanoke</strong>:<br />
Education. Preservation. Celebration.<br />
Mark your calendars for this fall’s Renovate <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
home improvement fair.<br />
• Friday Oct. 10, 7 p.m.: Keynote speaker Brent Hull,<br />
author of The Death of Craftsmanship<br />
• Saturday Oct. 11, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.: Workshops and<br />
demonstrations on home repair issues; vendor<br />
booths; tours of historic homes<br />
Location: Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
Price: Free<br />
F<strong>in</strong>d out more: www.roanokeva.gov/renovate<br />
“The agencies and community groups participat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> this collaborative<br />
effort share a strong commitment to <strong>in</strong>vest resources to not only<br />
improve hous<strong>in</strong>g options, but also to build a sense of community<br />
among its residents,” says RRHA Executive Director Glenda Edwards.<br />
The city’s commitment to <strong>in</strong>vest HUD funds <strong>in</strong> the Hurt Park<br />
neighborhood over the next two years will hopefully spur private<br />
<strong>in</strong>vestment and long-term susta<strong>in</strong>ability. Thanks to a committed group<br />
of citizens, city staff, and local agencies, the revitalization of Hurt Park<br />
is already well underway. n<br />
ROANOKE CITIZEN Fall 2008 11
<strong>in</strong>side out<br />
By Bobbi A. Hoffman<br />
Reason<br />
By Bobbi A. Hoffman<br />
great#10<br />
Cultural Amenities<br />
The Taubman Museum of Art<br />
Eight years after the City of <strong>Roanoke</strong> donated an empty lot on Salem Avenue, the<br />
new Taubman Museum of Art rises dramatically from the spot, creat<strong>in</strong>g a modern<br />
gateway to the city. The museum’s award-w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g design— with its peaked and<br />
curved roofl<strong>in</strong>e— confirms the city’s commitment to the arts and its desire to<br />
become a more popular dest<strong>in</strong>ation for cultural tourism.<br />
“We are thrilled to be at the end of construction for this stunn<strong>in</strong>g facility, and we<br />
look forward to open<strong>in</strong>g our doors on Nov. 8 to provide our community with a<br />
spectacular sett<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> which to enjoy and explore art,” says Georganne B<strong>in</strong>gham,<br />
executive director of the museum.<br />
The Nov. 8 grand-open<strong>in</strong>g celebration beg<strong>in</strong>s at 10 a.m. with a ribbon-cutt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
ceremony, followed by tours, enterta<strong>in</strong>ment, and activities— both <strong>in</strong>side and<br />
out— from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dance and musical performances, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
William Flem<strong>in</strong>g Drum Corps, and children’s crafts and puppet shows are on tap.<br />
The day’s events are free and open to the public.<br />
“It’s a time for the community to celebrate the open<strong>in</strong>g of the Taubman Museum,”<br />
says Kimberly Templeton, the museum’s director of external affairs. She expects as<br />
many as 12,000 visitors on open<strong>in</strong>g day. Visitors who want to enter the museum at<br />
a predeterm<strong>in</strong>ed time can obta<strong>in</strong> free “time tickets” from the museum’s Web site.<br />
Architect Randall Stout and benefactors Ambassador Nicholas and Jenny Taubman<br />
will be on hand for a week of festivities, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a black-tie gala, a d<strong>in</strong>ner for<br />
donors, and a members’ preview.<br />
At 81,000 square feet, the Taubman Museum nearly quadruples the size of the<br />
museum it replaces. New spaces <strong>in</strong>clude a café, auditorium, theater, library,<br />
and terrace.<br />
Gallery space triples, which Templeton says “will allow us to br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the k<strong>in</strong>d of<br />
temporary exhibits we’ve never had the opportunity to have before. It will make<br />
a huge difference <strong>in</strong> the quantity and quality of exhibits.”<br />
Visit www.TaubmanMuseum.org for more <strong>in</strong>formation about the grand open<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and upcom<strong>in</strong>g events. n<br />
Center <strong>in</strong> the square<br />
When Center <strong>in</strong> the Square opened to much<br />
fanfare <strong>in</strong> 1983, the Art Museum of Western<br />
Virg<strong>in</strong>ia was one of the orig<strong>in</strong>al organizations<br />
housed <strong>in</strong> this groundbreak<strong>in</strong>g facility. But the<br />
museum’s departure this fall is not so much<br />
a problem as an opportunity for Center to<br />
re<strong>in</strong>vent itself for the future.<br />
Center’s plans <strong>in</strong>clude updates to and<br />
remodel<strong>in</strong>g of the spaces occupied by the<br />
History Museum of Western Virg<strong>in</strong>ia, the Science<br />
Museum of Western Virg<strong>in</strong>ia, and Mill Mounta<strong>in</strong><br />
Theatre. Center has also extended an <strong>in</strong>vitation<br />
to the Harrison Museum of African American<br />
Culture to move <strong>in</strong>to the complex, which could<br />
happen as early as spr<strong>in</strong>g 2009. The atrium and<br />
the build<strong>in</strong>g’s entrances will be revamped to<br />
make them more visible and <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Center <strong>in</strong> the Square’s overhaul will also <strong>in</strong>clude<br />
more “programmable” public space, us<strong>in</strong>g about<br />
10,000 square feet carved out of the former Art<br />
Museum area. Possible uses <strong>in</strong>clude a cyber<br />
café, retails shops, and other venues to appeal<br />
to younger audiences. This k<strong>in</strong>d of space is<br />
an important component for many museums,<br />
because the <strong>in</strong>come it generates can help offset<br />
operat<strong>in</strong>g expenses.<br />
All told, Center <strong>in</strong> the Square’s improvements<br />
promise to make it an even more dynamic<br />
presence <strong>in</strong> downtown’s cultural scene.<br />
12 ROAnOKe CitiZen Fall 2008 For city services or <strong>in</strong>formation, visit www.roanokeva.gov
The Arts are back for an encore.<br />
THE 2 ND ANNUAL ROANOKE ARTS FESTIVAL<br />
NOVEMBER 8 - 9, 2008<br />
ROANOKEARTSFEST.ORG
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A new opportunity for advertisers<br />
target<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Roanoke</strong>.<br />
Beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 2009, the City of <strong>Roanoke</strong> will offer a<br />
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• High-value <strong>in</strong>formation that citizens read<br />
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• Long shelf life<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
City Council<br />
The Honorable<br />
David a. Bowers<br />
Mayor<br />
The Honorable<br />
Sherman P. lea<br />
Vice Mayor<br />
The Honorable<br />
Gwendolyn W. Mason<br />
The Honorable<br />
alv<strong>in</strong> l. Nash<br />
The Honorable<br />
anita J. Price<br />
The Honorable<br />
Court G. Rosen<br />
For more <strong>in</strong>formation, visit<br />
www.roanokeva.gov/communications<br />
The Honorable<br />
David B. Tr<strong>in</strong>kle<br />
the city of <strong>Roanoke</strong><br />
215 Church Avenue<br />
<strong>Roanoke</strong>, Virg<strong>in</strong>ia 24011<br />
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PERMIT #220<br />
ROANOKE, VA<br />
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