Fact and fiction on Roanoke City Market Building debate

David Estrada is the owner of Chico’s Pizza in the Market Building and he’s the man Mayor David Bowers is looking after.

At Tuesday’s council meeting members debated a proposal to renovate the Market. Bowers opposed the plan saying the vendors like Chico hadn’t been consulted in the design phase.

During the meeting he said, “I don’t care what was in that proposal. When Chico is happy, I’m going to be happy.“

We caught up with Estrada during the lunch hour to get his take on the Market renovations. In the middle of the interview, Bowers walked up.

ESTRADA: “There is still a lot more to be done and gutting this building… look who’s here.“

BOWERS: “This is what you call an ambush.“

WARREN: “You’re the one that said, ‘When Chico’s happy, I’m happy.‘“

BOWERS: “When Chico’s happy, I’m happy.“

WARREN: “So, is Chico happy?“

ESTRADA: “I’m getting a grin on my face.“

WARREN: “As you hear the mayor talk about the plan yesterday and as you hear more about the plan now, might it be good idea?“

ESTRADA: “I feel a lot better than I did day before yesterday.“

But Estrada is afraid that the proposed renovations could close him down permanently

“Nobody tells us what is going on. It’s a big mystery. If we’re out of here so be it. But don’t tell us Feb. 28 that we’re out of here on March 1.“

Bowers was there to reassure Estrada, saying, “That’s not going to happen. We want you to grow old right here on this spot, Chico, okay.“

WARREN: “I notice one of the things you said to him was that we don’t want you out of business for a year, but the proposal actually calls for paying him for what he would earn during that year.“

BOWERS: “You close these people, they’re going to find someplace to go. they have to, they have to make a living just like the rest of us. what are they going to do, take the payment and sit home for a year and smoke cigars? no way.“

That claim that the plan would run off the current vendors in the food court was also made during Tuesday’s council meeting, but where’s the proof of it? The plan calls for saving them and helping them grow.

To that, Bowers says, “People like coming down to this Market. they like coming over to Georgia. They like not only the food and the atmosphere, but they like the people.

WARREN: “But this plan calls for keeping them here.“

BOWERS: “I don’t believe it.“

Bowers then joked, “have you read it [the plan]?“

Tuesday, Bowers admitted that he had not read the plan he voted on and you have to wonder if City Manager Darlene Burcham did either.

During’s the meeting, she told council members, “Given that the entire project is predicated on the use of city funds.“ Later she said it again, “The one proposal you have received required all city dollars to fund.“

That isn’t exactly right. Under the proposal submitted by Downtown Roanoke, Inc. and a coalition of businesses, the city would put up all of the $7 million dollar renovation costs up front, but most likely would receive half of that back in historic tax credits.

We requested an interview with Burcham to ask her about these descrepancies. She initially declined and designated Assistant City Manager Brian Townsend to answer our questions.

WARREN: “Why did she [Burcham] say it that way?“

TOWNSEND: “I think the key factor was that the city was required to risk of of it’s capital funding upfront.“

WARREN: “And then get half of that back in tax credits.“

TOWNSEND: “Maybe, but the design and all the risk for paying for the design and paying for the cap improvements was on the city. Tax credits are risky in terms of now knowing how much you would recover.“

WARREN: “Why wouldn’t she say it that way instead of saying the city is paying for it all?“

TOWNSEND: “I think she chose those words because the council and directed us previously related to wanting to having a partnership that the amount of investment wasn’t solely at the city’s risk at the outset.“

So, it’s now back to the drawing board as the city will put out a second Request for Proposal. In the meantime the Market Building debate will drag on.