Demolition approved for Roanoke buildings

A cluster of dilapidated buildings on the corner of Chestnut Street and West Point Street in Roanoke have received their last rites from the City of Roanoke and will be demolished.

The Roanoke City Council accepted a bid Monday from CH Hauling to demolish four crumbling structures, including Roanoke’s original City Hall building.

The clock has been ticking for the eyesore corner since the former City Hall building was declared a nuisance property and scheduled for abatement just over a year ago. Since then the city purchased the other structures on the corner with the intent of clearing that whole section.

The cost to the city for the project will be $12,900 and the work should begin within the coming weeks.

Not included in the demolition bid, however, was the old Masonic building a little further up Chestnut Street from the corner. That building, owned by Jimmy Allen, has received a stay of execution at the owner’s request. Allen has done some work to the structure in an effort to alleviate the nuisance caused by the building and has received more time from the city after it originally sought to level that building as well.

PD renovation budget passed

Also at Monday’s meeting the council agreed to the renovation budget for the new Roanoke Police Department headquarters on Main Street. The price tag for that work was set for just over $345,000, with renovations set to begin sometime later this year.

The measure passed by a 5-1 vote of the council, with council member Tammi Holley voting no.