“Historic Resources:
The City has three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, which are also protected locally: City Market District, the Warehouse Row, and the Southwest Historic District in the
neighborhoods of Old Southwest, Hurt Park, and Mountain View.
Historic designation has contributed to the City’s revitalization through improved property maintenance and economic incentives for rehabilitation. Roanoke is currently undertaking a survey to identify additional historic structures in the downtown to promote further economic development and historic preservation strategies. The Historic and Cultural Resources map (Map 3.2.2) identifies the three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, National Register structures, and potentially significant archaeological sites.”
(http://tinyurl.com/bf5do)
This paragraph is taken from the City of Roanoke’s “Vision 2020” plan. A plan they willingly adopted for the betterment and protection of Roanoke’s future.
There are sections upon sections of policies and actions, like any government document - everything is stated 3 times over. 2 of these policies in particular deal with the issue in question:
“EC P6. Cultural and historic resources. Roanoke will support, develop, and promote its cultural resources. Roanoke will identify, preserve, and protect its historic districts, landmark features, historic structures, and archaeological sites.
EC A26. Undertake a comprehensive inventory of historic and cultural properties and districts in the City and consider historic districts, where applicable. Solicit neighborhood and stakeholder input in the inventory, where applicable.”
(http://tinyurl.com/7akeh)
“Roanoke will identify, preserve, and protect its historic districts, landmark features, historic structures, and archaeological sites.”
I wanted to pull that out to make sure it was read, clear and understood.
On building downtown, both new and revitalizing old buildings:
“Design principles:
• Downtown should have a recognizable skyline; tall buildings and maximum site
development should be permitted. Buildings should be set close to the street with groundfloor
facades that emphasize pedestrian activity.
• Buildings should be designed to accommodate a mixture of uses. Downtown’s historic
character should be preserved and used to guide new development with the assistance of
the Architectural Review Board guidelines.
• Access to and circulation within the downtown should be efficient, convenient, and
attractive. Streets should be designed to accommodate multiple modes of traffic: pedestrian,
bicycles, transit, automobiles. Encourage two-way streets to the maximum extent feasible.
• On-street parking should be reserved for shoppers and short-term visitors. Long-term
parking should be concentrated in parking structures or to the side or rear of principal
buildings. Surface parking should be minimized.”
(http://tinyurl.com/dx7fy)(emphasis added - kmc)
To preserve and protect downtown, and downtowns history, the ARB needs to hold fast to its principals. It is charged with protecting our history, our heritage. We have lost quite a bit through the years, but we persevered. The Hotel Roanoke was a victory, the Higher Education center was a victory, and now the Culinary School (Gainsboro) and the Dumas Center are victories. The past triumphing in the present to have a place in the future.
Yes, the location of the AMWV is historically protected, as they themselves admit.
“The City has three Virginia and National Register Historic Districts, which are also protected
locally: City Market District, the Warehouse Row, and the Southwest Historic District in the
neighborhoods of Old Southwest, Hurt Park, and Mountain View.”
The city market district is shown in Map 3.2.2 in blue - which indicates a “Sensitive Cultural/Archaeological Resource.”
(http://tinyurl.com/8mwdp)
This is not the first time I have seen the Market Area listed as a “preservation” site. As of 9-16-82 and 4-20-83 the Roanoke City Market area has been listed with both the Virginia and National Register of Historic Places respectively. On the Virginia Register site, there is a map of threatened sites to be protected throughout the state. All of Roanoke City is highlighted on that map.
“Roanoke is fortunate to have at least three architectural gems lying in close proximity: the City Market itself, Hotel Roanoke and St. Andrew's Church. Many would add the old Norfolk and Western general office buildings and the Link Museum to the list. “ (James G. Cosby, “AMWV: Love the design, hate the location.” Roanoke Times, 5-10-05, via. www.architechmag.com)
Randall Stout’s own website, http://tinyurl.com/8fu78, provides images of his vision for the museum, with one image of an interior gallery. Mr. Stout is apparently well known for his skill at laying out gallery space, yet this looks like an after thought. The lobby of Roanoke Regional Airport seems a better space to view artwork than this one example.
“…it represents Roanoke’s metaphorical gateway to the future for a city transforming its industrial and manufacturing based economy to one driven by technology information and services.” (R. Stout’s website, text author unknown.)
No, no it doesn’t - and this metaphorical gateway mantra is repeated by everyone involved in the AMWV at this point. No, its not a metaphor, its not a gateway when its past the exit for Downtown coming south, or beyond the exit if you are going north.
And I really don’t think we need a reminder that the nature of jobs in Roanoke is changing.
Again, back to the Vision 2020 plan: “Historic designation has contributed to the City’s revitalization through improved property maintenance and economic incentives for rehabilitation.”
There is no incentive when the city is willing to hand a $1.046 million dollar lot over to a non-profit group so they can convert it into a void.
I have no doubt the AMWV can run, possibly even turn a profit. But in a $46 million dollar building, not including overhead - you start at a loss and keep digging a hole. It would be more tasteful, appreciated, and possibly supported if they built on the site, with a completely different design. One which compliments the surrounding architecture. I personally would be more impressed with the interior space layout than the exterior “conception moderne.” Show me what you can do with an existing space to make it more future thinking, give me a base to work with. If you renovate and rehabilitate an existing structure to bring it to the 21st century and beyond, and show it works, others will follow the lead. Building a specific-style, site-specific, “La Belle Epoque” building, it will be alone. It will not spur development, it will not broaden horizons. I will stand alone as the sole example of its kind in Roanoke. And it will be to its detriment for that to happen. The Art Museum can survive. The art will always have a home for display. The Museum is a building which can come and go. Stainless Steel stains, concrete crumbles, stone will fail, polycarbonate panels will cloud with time. Brick, concrete, steel, and iron last, and are easily repaired. Easily cleaned.
Build it if you must, but build it appropriately. In an appropriate location. Save the modern-isim for stand-alone sites.
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