Roanoke City leaders say market building renovation won’t be a Victory Stadium

  City leaders promised plans to renovate the market building won’t turn into an issue like Victory Stadium, with its years of debate, studies, political moves, and counter moves.

  It could take up to two years before the renovation actually begins, according to city leaders.

  But several city council members said Tuesday that time frame is due to market building’s complexity and its age.

  “We want to move as expeditiously as possible,“ said Roanoke Vice Mayor, Sherman Lea.

  “But we also need time to look at all options,“ he said.

  An option in which Lea said he referred was help from the federal government.

  Lea said, since the building could be considered a historic landmark, it could qualify for federal government money to help ease the burden on Roanoke City taxpayers.

  The price tag for all the work involving the renovation exceeds $6,000,000.

  Council members all agreed it would take the next two months just to settle in on a designing firm.

  It could take six to eight months of planning after council picks the designing firm.

  Then it could take ten to twelve months to renovate.

  Council directed staff on Monday to make sure all the money for the project is put into its capital improvement plan.