Consultants unveil plans for Roanoke City Market building renovations

After seeing a computer animation, city council and some of the vendors were impressed

By: | WSLS
Published: April 21, 2009

There’s new information about the future of one of downtown Roanoke’s main draws. Back in February, council members presented ideas to the Washington, D.C. architecture firm hired to work on renovating the market building. Council members said they want the building to be more than a food court but also a community destination. After a month delay, the firm brought back their plans on Monday evening.

Consultants showed off a computer animation of their new vision for the building. It included a more open first floor with colorful produce sold in the center. The second floor included a mezzanine with more room for seats. The third floor would be an assembly hall with a stage.

It’s a hit for some market vendors like Louis Wilson with Burger in the Square.

"It gives an opportunity to give the building what it deserves, a redesign, make it workable. Make the kitchens more by design than by happenstance,” he said.

Consultants went over the biggest renovation goals: upgrade the plumbing which hasn’t been touched since the 1930s, give the inside a sense of openness, rebrand it as “vibrant,” – all while keeping it as Roanoke’s historical resource.

The plan also extends the sidewalks for outdoor dining.

City council is impressed with the plans, but Rupert Cutler reminded them, "We all know we have a difficult current financial situation."

This project comes with a hefty price tag - $6 million.

"We'll be discussing capital plans. This will fall into our capital improvement plan which is money set aside for building projects,” said council member, Court Rosen.

Even if the city goes for it, the building would close for about a year during the renovations.

"We would have to establish another location at that time,” said Anita Wilson, also with Burger in the Square.

Vendors still look ahead and what all this could mean for business.

"I think it is a beautiful plan. Whether they can come up with it and fund it, that's to be seen,” Anita said.

It’s a preliminary plan which means more meetings, planning and time for city council, the consultants and the vendors.

Rosen also went on to say there has not been any planning for this renovation within the capital improvement plan, therefore no money has been set aside for this particular project. That means the money would have to be borrowed or maybe even shift resources from other capital projects to the market building renovations.