New Art Museum Poll

Vote here on whether you think the Art Museum will be a BOOM to downtown bringing tourists and dollars to Roanoke City? Or will it be a BUST and suck money from Roanoke City taxpayers?

Will the Art Museum be named after Taubman as The Roanoke Times article "Couple give $15 million to museum" suggests - "The Taubman Museum of Western Virginia"?

CLICK HERE FOR The New York Times Sunday article on the museum.

Regarding my prior post "Looking Back 25 Year - Countryside Golf Course" - I am waiting for a response from Stephanie Moon, our Roanoke City Clerk for minutes of the December 1982 Council meetings regarding Countryside Golf Course. Belinda Harris, the Roanoke Times Librarian, is sending me clippings from the period as well. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help of good people like our Roanoke City Clerk and Belinda Harris.

Looking Back 25 Years - Countryside Golf Course

"Roanoke City Council has taken an option on Countryside Golf Course as part of a deal for purchase of 14 parcels from the same owners for airport use." - 1982 - The Roanoke Times by Belinda Harris

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This is the same property where homes were purchased and then demolished using "eminent domain" for airport expansion in the mid 1980's. Now the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission wants to swap this same land for other land in order to widen the Runway 6 Runway Protection Zone (see the map above and CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE).

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This property with homes then demolished in 1982 in anticipation of future airport expansion is now available for development. So put houses up where the City once tore them down then - say in another 20-25 years - tear these homes down for Runway 6 extension. This should be a warning to anyone who would purchase a home constructed on that plot of land or any other home built near this runway. The plot of land is located at Lewiston and Ranch in Northwest City and for now it is owned by the Roanoke Airport Commission.

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Tear 'em down - put 'em up ... then tear 'em down again.

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Roanoke City Vision 2020? The City's 20-20 vision is short-sighted to put it kindly.

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Any future prospect for lengthening Runway 6 across I-581 is now too costly per Ms. Shuck, the Director of Roanoke Regional Airport. Mr. Brian Townsend, Roanoke City Assistant Manager for Community Development, concurs and said it will never happen.

This property is the same property being marketed to developers in the recent Request For Proposal (which is still online CLICK HERE) to develop Countryside Golf Course into mixed-use high density housing, including retail and commercial uses. What was unacceptably too noisy and too close to the airport is now acceptable and safe for allowing Roanoke citizens to sink money into homes there.... again.

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Is this what prompted a member of the business community to contact me today regarding adding airport expansion as another reason not to develop Countryside Golf Course ... or was it a coincidence.

Roanoke County Supervisor Takes a Poke at The City

“They [Roanoke City] would not even return our phone calls” said Richard C. Flora, Roanoke County Board of Supervisors - Hollins District.

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At the December 18th Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Meeting, Richard C. Flora, Hollins District, took an overlooked poignant jab at Roanoke City Administration and Government. Mr. Flora inadvertently made it clear that regional cooperation was not shared by Roanoke City. If anyone ever thought that it was the failing of other jurisdictions that Roanoke City could not get any cooperation I am here to tell you this is not the case. Mr. Flora’s comments pulled the cover back on what we don’t get from media coverage.

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The agenda item at the Board meeting was a rezoning of property from “transitional” to C-2 in Roanoke County. The property is located on Hershberger Road at Oakland Boulevard near Friendship Manor. The use was to be for an extended stay hotel. This property adjoins Roanoke City property zoned R-1 residential and if you are familiar with Oakland Boulevard you know it is a very attractive residential community.

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The citizens of this Roanoke City residential community spoke at the Board of Supervisor’s meeting against the hotel and they were treated with the utmost respect. Not only that - their FACE WAS SHOWN AT THE PODIUM FROM THE FRONT ON RVTV.

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The Board of Supervisor’s agreed and voted “NO” unanimously against the extended stay hotel.

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This is exactly what Board Member, Richard Flora, stated in his remarks: “I have been reminded that they [Roanoke City citizens] don’t vote for me but they are our neighbor”.

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Mr. Flora continued, “ the [Roanoke] City matter regarding the bus garage on the airport site … they [Roanoke City Administration] would not even return our phone calls and I don’t want to be put in the same category as that … so for that very reason we want to make sure that we listen to even our neighbors in other jurisdictions.”

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I was stunned - not only were Roanoke City citizens treated with respect and listened to intently while speaking at the Roanoke County Board Meeting but they were shown from the front - yes, their actual face was shown when speaking from the podium. This being in sharp contrast to Roanoke City Council meetings where the City’s own citizens are disrespected … much of the time not even being afforded the courtesy of looking at the speaker at the podium. Sometimes they even get up and leave during “Hearings on Public Matters”. Other times the Mayor and Council members look down at their desk shuffling papers totally ignoring the citizen at the podium - they twirl in their chairs, make side “chuckles“ with other Council members and generally give the impression they could care less about what a Roanoke citizen has to say - Unless you are an attorney, a business representative, or someone who is running for City Council that the majority supports - like at the last City Council meeting on Dec. 17th where Bill Bestpitch appeared after being invisible since he was voted off Council. If that was not the most obvious campaign speech at a Council meeting I have ever heard. He was pictured “full frontal” and had unlimited minutes and went on and on and on - Mayor Harris gushed and Fitzpatrick spoke up to even give the ARB more time (6 months) rather than the 60 days asked for by Bestpitch to save a Marshall Ave. home from condemnation and demolition. They have had many, many, years to address this. Campaigning at City Council is not allowed at Council meetings but of course we know the exceptions … like Valley Forward. If they like you, if you have connections, if you have money, if, if, …. If not then let’s spin in our chairs, shuffle our papers, and look amused.

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I recall a Roanoke City Council meeting some time ago where a County resident addressed City Council on a Commercial Business expansion where their home had been damaged. Their home bordered Roanoke City where the Commercial Business was situated. The County resident was told that there was nothing they could do and advised them to join a neighborhood group, huh? Where was the regional cooperation for this County resident and the same respect that the County showed the City citizens? What a stark contrast and eye-opener this has been for those of us who don’t know better in how your local government respects the citizens that elected them.

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The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors treats Roanoke City residents with more respect then our own Council does…. Gees, how depressing. I ask you Roanoke City citizens who are not represented on City Council, why are you so apathetic?

Ingersoll Rand To Acquire Trane Inc.

INGERSOLL RAND TO ACQUIRE TRANE INC. FOR APPROXIMATELY $10.1 BILLION
Click for Press Release
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What does this mean for the Countryside property that Trane wants to buy at the 2nd and 3rd fairway?
Click for Map

• Transaction Creates a Global Diversified Industrial Company with expected Pro Forma 2008 Revenues of $17 Billion and $2 Billion of DEBIT • Transaction Immediately Accretive to Earnings with Estimated 2008 EPS of $4.00 • Cost and Revenue Synergies are Expected to Exceed $300 million by 2010 • Acquisition Price for Trane of $36.50 Per Share in Cash and 0.23 shares of Ingersoll Rand Common Stock per each Trane Share Equal to Approximately $48.00 in Total Value per Trane Share.

Hamilton, Bermuda and Piscataway, New Jersey, December 17, 2007 – Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (NYSE:IR) announced today that it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire Trane Inc. (NYSE:TT), formerly American Standard Companies Inc., in a transaction valued at approximately $10.1 billion, including transaction fees and the assumption of approximately $150 million of Trane net debt. Trane is a global leader in indoor climate control systems, services and solutions with expected 2007 revenues of $7.4 billion.

Does Trane still want the Countryside Golf Course property for expansion? The "synergies" word should make the Trane employees quiver. The acquired company employees always get the boot! Is this a surprise to the Trane folks in Tuckawana Circle and Newbern Properties? Wouldn't it just be a hoot if they closed them down .. how sweet it would be!

How To Move Roanoke City May Elections To November

Roanoke City has such a poor turnout for May Elections. Yes, it seems like the Commonwealth of Virginia has an election several times a year. In 2008 we have a Presidential Primary, Presidential Elections, and Local Elections. At least we don't have a Primary locally in 2008. A Mass Meeting February 5th for the Democratic Nominees will take care of that.

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Can't keep up with all these dates? There is a solution to at least the local elections. Moving the local Mayor and Council elections to November when General Elections are held will certainly increase the abysmal voter turnout that decides the MOST important election for the citizens of Roanoke City. Remember ... all politics is local and of all the elections held your vote in local elections effects you the most but alas voter participation is the least. Will moving the local elections to November bring more voter interest? I don't know ... most Roanoke City voters don't know what is going on and have never attended nor viewed on RVTV the reruns of Council meetings. The Web casts are also available online for about a month. The best thing about the web casts is you can fast forward through the "formalities" and get to the agenda items in a flash which cuts down on some of those LONG 2 hour Council meetings.

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HOW TO MOVE LOCAL ELECTIONS FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER:

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§ 24.2-222.1. Alternative election of mayor and council at November general election in cities and towns.

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A. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-222, the council of a city or town may provide by ordinance that the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and council shall be elected at the November general election date of any cycle as designated in the ordinance, for terms to commence January 1. No such ordinance shall be adopted between January 1 and the May general election date of the year in which city or town elections regularly are scheduled to be held therein.

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B. Alternatively, the registered voters of a city or town may file a petition with the circuit court of the city or of the county within which the town is located asking that a referendum be held on the question of whether the city or town should elect the mayor, if an elected mayor is provided for by charter, and council members at the November general election date of any cycle as designated in the petition. The petition shall be signed by registered voters equal in number to at least ten percent of the number registered in the city or town on the January 1 preceding the filing.

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(Roanoke City Total Number of Registered Voters as of 8/31/2007 are 56,433 X 10% = 5,643 signatures).

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The court, pursuant to § 24.2-684, shall order the election officials on a day fixed in the order to conduct a referendum on the question, provided that no such referendum shall be scheduled between January 1 and the May general election date of the year in which city or town elections regularly are scheduled to be held therein. The clerk of the court shall publish notice of the referendum once a week for the three consecutive weeks prior to the referendum in a newspaper having general circulation in the city or town, and shall post a copy of the notice at the door of the courthouse of the city or county within which the town is located.

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The question on the ballot shall be:

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"Shall the (city or town) change the election date of the mayor (if so provided by charter) and members of council from the May general election to the November general election (in even-numbered or odd-numbered years or as otherwise designated in the petition)?"

Countryside Property - Loan Interest 1/2 Million and Rising

Your taxes are financing the mortgage on a golf course and the interest only is now at $500K on this bank loan passed off as part of a bond package at a public hearing on June 20, 2005:

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Art Museum....................................$3,700,000.00

Downtown West Parking Garage...... $2,600,000.00

Financial Application Integration........$2,600,000.00

Countryside Golf Course.............$3,975,000.00

TOTAL...........................................$12,875,000.00

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The Director of Finance recommended that Council adopt a resolution authorizing issuance of $12,875,000.00 in General Obligation Bonds under the Virginia Public Finance Act.

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It was passed as part of the General Obligation Bonds however after pressed Mr. Jesse Hall, Director of Finance for the City of Roanoke, confirmed it was an ordinary bank loan like my mortgage on my house except my interest rate is better then 6.25%. These debt obligation bonds are counted against outstanding debt when weighed by bond rating agencies. Roanoke City has a "AA" rating that allows the City to get a very good rate on debt obligations. The City's debt is reaching a precarious point and in summary it can issue little or no more debt obligations without risking their bond rating. However, that is another topic entirely.

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Why do I bring this up again? The last time I posted this amortization schedule development of the golf course was still on the table with "Foti Fantasy, LLC".

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Today's Roanoke Times Editorial blasts Councilman Wishneff for recommending that the parking garage be funded from the General Fund rather than through an increase in the downtown parking fees. Councilman Wishneff is concerned that the fragile downtown businesses will suffer as people avoid downtown to eat and shop - opting instead to eat and shop where there are no parking fees. He views parking garages as a part of downtown economic development that should come from the General Fund. The Roanoke Times Editor argues that this would take money from neighborhoods (like we see anything here) and economic development initiatives (like granting money to the private developer of the old Grand Piano building being transformed into apartments). BUT THEY CAN BORROW TO BUY A GOLF COURSE that they can't market to any "reputable" developer. So do you hear that "sucking sound" out of the coffers holding your charitable tax contributions?

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Before Roanoke City purchased the golf course they were receiving $54,0000 in real estate and property taxes from Meadowbrook, the former owners and now operators of Countryside Golf Course. Now the City only gets $17,500 a year - you do the math on - Interest Paid To Date - Loss of Real Estate Taxes - Paying Roanoke Regional Airport to Lease their Property and .... Countryside Neighbors being a pain in their arsses PRICELESS!

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How ironic that the Countryside Neighborhood pays real estate taxes so our City can destroy what makes our neighborhood special.

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Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 2:03 PM
Subject: Countryside Financing
Relative to the Countryside financing, we obtained a loan from a local bank [Carter Bank] for $3,975,000. Although it is a bank loan, it is commonly referred to as a bond. It was set up with a 15 year amortization, but can be paid in part or in whole at any time. We did this to provide flexibility because we are not sure how much of our investment in this property will be recovered from the potential future developer of the property, assuming that the current overall goal of development doesn't change. Thus, the loan might be repaid in part or in whole, depending on the circumstances.

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Ms. Garner, the City will receive $35,000 [$17,500 for 2007 and 2008] for leasing the property back to Meadowbrook for the 2006 "golf season". The City will also pay the Airport $4,731 annually for lease of the Airport owned property. Lastly, the City borrowed $3,975,000 at 6.25% for the purchase of the property. These are basically the facts surrounding the transaction, but I'm sure you know the City's intent for redeveloping the property is to develop additional market rate or higher housing and through perhaps a range of mixed uses arranged in a manner that will add to the tax base while protecting and enhancing the tax base already in place surrounding the site. Please contact me if you have additional questions. Sincerely,Jesse Hall, Director of Finance.

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End of 2008 the amortization schedule shows "interest only" at $704,000.00. The Principle plus Interest will approach $1 million.

Amortization Schedule:
Principal borrowed: $3975000.00 Annual Payments: 12 Total Payments: 180 Annual interest rate: 6.25%
Payment amount: $34296.91 Total Repaid: $6173445.19
Total Interest Paid: $2,173,445.19
Interest as percentage of Principal: 54.336%
TOTAL INTEREST PAID FIRST YEAR is over $240,000
By end of 2007 it will be approaching 1/2 million in Interest Only

Councilman Lea Announces - Mentions Countryside

Today at 1:00 PM Councilman Sherman Lea, Sr., announced he will be seeking the Democratic nomination for City Council again this election cycle.

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The announcement was well attended and included several of our neighbors. Councilman Lea spoke to the heart of the issues facing our City - the least of which for us is Countryside Golf Course. Yes, he actual mentioned Countryside as one of the upcoming major issues that will come before Council this year. Also mentioned was another hot button for me, "closed sessions". Whenever I see a "closed session" on the Council's agenda announcing a discussion in regard to the disposition of public property I think - are they talking about Countryside? Our neighborhood has been in limbo for 2 1/2 years. By the May elections it will be 3 years. No neighborhood should have to live in such anxiety wondering what is going on behind the "closed door". City Administration is in a holding pattern but we know they want to develop this property desperately. Mrs. Burcham has worked to get this property many years before we ever knew about it. Many years while we were moving in to be adjacent to this open green space we call our "Park".

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Several other points Councilman Lea mentioned were - televising the morning briefings (9:00 AM before the regular 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM Council sessions). Councilman Lea stated "we have too many closed sessions". There are presentations we the citizens never get to see because we are working. Councilman Lea spoke of moving the local elections to November so turnout would be more representative of the population. We have such poor turnout for local elections in May.

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Still another issue Councilman Lea mentioned was that the citizens of Roanoke City want to see is the ability to have referendums which requires legislative action in Richmond. This was scuttled by our current legislator at the urging of several on Council though publicly they voted in the affirmative to put in the legislative package to take to Richmond last year.

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Another interesting point was that the citizens of Charlottesville get to see the annual budget online before it is adopted. Charlottesville citizens are given the opportunity to submit how they want their taxes to be spent. All I can say to that is - IN OUR DREAMS would the citizens of Roanoke City have such input here. I think we have become so accustomed to not having access to our local government that we can't even phantom what something like Charlottesville offers it's citizens.

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Another topic was crime and Councilman Lea made it clear that the current pockets of crime will spread if not checked. He said the pockets of crime now prevalent will slowly reach out into other areas. Have we not read about the rash of break ins and home invasions recently. Just here in our neighborhood we have experienced two thefts - one of which was quite serious. We rarely had anything happening in our neighborhood prior to these two incidents.

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Councilman Lea also referenced a report presented to City Council yesterday on youth at risk which pulled no punches. Roanoke City youth at risk is higher than the National Average in regards to drug involvement and early sexual activity. The report went on to say that over the last 7 years no progress has been made and has actually slid back a few notches. Councilman Lea also supports elected school boards. He had been Chair of the School Board for 5 years and said "don't think the school board is not political -it is". If you get a chance listen to the web cast of yesterday's City Council Meeting and the presentation concerning our youth by CLICKING HERE. Then click on the Roanoke City Logo to the right. Councilman Lea's website is HERE. Under "News" and "Updates" is posted the July 17th Roanoke Times article regarding keeping Countryside an 18-hole golf course and naming it after Roy Stanley.