Apparently, the vote several weeks ago did not drive a stake through the heart of the Elmwood Park amphitheater project, the proposed 5,000-seat venue for major concert events. Roanoke City Council reversed itself yet again Monday, voting 4-3 to authorize .2 million in funds for an engineering study, with the money coming from a bond issue this fall, placing it back on the city’s capital projects to-do list.
Construction on the $13 million amphitheater itself was not authorized, but with council member Anita Price reversing her “no” vote, and David Trinkle, an avid supporter of the project back from vacation, it will move ahead for now.
“Sometimes we as a group cannot make decisions and have conversations until we are all here assembled,“ said Price.
“I think one of the bigger challenges for the amphitheater is going to be coming up with better entertainment than us. I do think we look a little foolish when we go back and forth,” said Trinkle about Council’s recent votes on the project, which they originally approved.
Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce president Joyce Waugh said the Chamber was “caught off guard,” by the no vote the meeting before; she urged that an economic feasibility study be conducted “to determine its viability.” The engineering study could always be stopped at some point if it looked like excessive operating funds would be needed, outweighing any positive economic impact. Construction could be put off, said Waugh, “until the economy improves.”
Downtown Roanoke Inc. interim president Doug Waters supported Waugh and the Chamber, telling council, “the potential for the amphitheater is considerable.” Waters, also a downtown resident, said that analysis first done on a Victory Stadium site needs to be revised for Elmwood Park anyway.
“To me, it’s a logical next step in a process that’s been underway for damn near a decade,” said fellow council member Rupert Cutler, also a supporter.
Court Rosen, who led the effort to turn away funds for the project at the previous meeting, isn’t a fan of the back and forth decision-making that some have likened to the Victory Stadium scenario.
“While it’s not new to the city, it’s new to me,” he said to council members. (Sherman Lea, Rosen and Gwen Mason voted against funding an economic feasibility study and the engineering work).
“Elmwood Park, enhanced by a permanent, sheltered amphitheater would be an even greater attraction to people from the city and around the region,” said Waters, before Council decided to vote yes.
Includes information from media partner WSLS-10.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]