Money for Roanoke City Market building renovation not set aside yet

Every day around noon, hungry Roanokers fill the city market building. It’s the topic of discussion for Roanoke’s City Council after they listened to consultants make their pitch on the building’s renovations.

“Some renovation needed for sure,” said Cindy Dickerson.

Ten On Your Side showed some preliminary plans to several people.

“I like the fresh produce in the middle. It’s a fresh, new appeal that you’re going to be having for the market,” said Dave Purdy.

Dickerson added, “And the outside really nice summer days like today would be nice to eat outside.“

It’s a “go” for some but with a price tag of six to seven million dollars. It’s money that would be used from capital improvement plans which includes the amphitheater among other things.

“Road improvements, sewer improvements - I mean we’re a municipal government so a lot of the things that we consider to be capital improvements are not glitzy projects. They’re just meat and potato projects,” said Mayor David Bowers.

Bowers says the money for neither the market building nor the amphitheater has been gathered or set aside yet. Although he isn’t sure where the money will come from for this project he did say the city could apply for a 45% state and federal tax credit, so that would be about 3 million dollars.
 
“I want to handle things very conservatively and balanced for the next little while until we get a real sure idea of how the economy is going to respond,” Bowers said.

As for what project should be top priority, Bowers says it’s all up to the people of Roanoke. For now, they seem to like it.

“I would come here more often. I really would,” said Purdy.

Bowers says some money is available to get a head start.

“But I think we’re gonna go forward with the engineering process and move forward with the renovation of the city market building,” he said.

It’s what’s next on the table after city council puts the final touches on the city’s operational budget.