To: City Planning Commission and City Administration:
I was stunned to see the notice in The Roanoke Times of the Planning Commission Meeting where they will be considering a rezoning application to allow construction of a building for “urban design self -storage units” on what is currently the site of a vacant former auto parts warehouse on Williamson Road one block south of Elm Avenue, near Albemarle Avenue.
Is or was anyone notified that this was coming up?
Here are my grave concerns over this proposal:
This is a short distance from Albemarle Ave, the prime gateway entrance to Southeast. I know this has always been an industrial like stretch of road, but should it remain such into the near future with the huge advancement coming forth from Carilion expansion so close to our main front door?
There is the very attractive, modern medical office of Ecel located right on the corner of Albemarle and Wm. Rd. A very nice positive image toward a newer, revised business like appearance for this stretch of road that should be continued into the future. After all, consider that on the other end of this long block is Community Hospital and Jefferson College of Health and Science.
There has been much talk about the tremendous outgrowth potential of new business that can spring fourth from Carilion expansion. Why would we not want to look forward and see the potential value and asset of this land for such medical business between Community and Jefferson College on the North and Carilion’s expansion just to the South with a Mecial facility already on the Corner of Albemare and THREE medical buildings and doctors offices one short block up Albemarle at Jefferson.
Saving and using this land for business that will have employees walking distance to our neighborhood is the asset the city should be looking forward to in providing housing for the over thousand people that has been touted to be coming to Carilion and the future business that could fill this stretch along Williamson Rd. Why would you consider another Storage facility in S.E.? We already have storage facilities along the entire block of 4th St. off Elm Avenue within a block of Albemarle.
I implore the city to stop and think before allowing such a negative change in rezoning as opposed to looking forward to the the great potential of medical office and facilities along this valuable stretch of real estate.
Consider the new, just completed Amtrak parking facility on Williamson and Albemarle. What great advertising for new businesses to see Amtrak across and down the Street from this valuable real estate and would make them aware that the train station is just minutes, even walking distance from their business if located here on this real estate that you would consider allowing for a mini storage facility.
Respectfully,
E. Duane Howard
Roanoke
