Downtown Roanoke Inc. has released a proposal to renovate the entrance of Center in the Square, which would alter the area, which is now used for parking and by vendors at the downtown farmers market.

What do you think about the idea? What other changes to the area would you suggest?

  Downtown Roanoke is made up from too many out of towners...thats why their ideas are always wrong..Theres nothing wrong with the Market that a little sprucing up wouldnt handle...

bluesguy62154:

  Downtown Roanoke is made up from too many out of towners...thats why their ideas are always wrong..Theres nothing wrong with the Market that a little sprucing up wouldnt handle...

No actually, just the opposite.  Roanoke is made up of too many folks that have never been outside the city limits consequently have no vision of what "could be".  Their limited perceptions are whats causing the issues.  A pedestrrian mall would be a good thing.  For folks that want free parking, you can always find a spot you just may need to drive around the block once or twice.

Stop talking changes when the public expresses a desire not to change it.

Stop the planning for the market building and fix what we have.

This endless wishy washy, we swear we're going to do something as soon as we figure out what is killing the place.

Also to Mr. David Bowers Mayor and DRI board member

Chico's quitting now

are you still happy?

I really feel for the market and food court vendors, whose business and livelyhood DRI and the City Council had seen fit to take into their hands and juggle in the air while pondering once again their fate.

Perhaps if they felt the actions were in good faith....

 There is always a misconnect when anyone suggests "change" around the market. I am sure most Roanokers were against "change" after the disastrous flood in the 80's to give new life to the downtown area. I am glad there are still people in Roanoke who aren't stuck in the past that can plan for the future. I don't personally like the idea of creating more public space around Center in the Square simply because of the homeless problem around the hot dog stand. Despite my objections I have an open mind on these new ideas and welcome new perspectives.

 I thiink that City Council is trying to fix what isn't broken.  The charm of both the market vegetable/plant/flower vendors and the unique shops are what tourists and Roanokers love about the market.  Don't fix what isn't broken.  Mill Mountain Theatre closing was a disaster.The closing of the Market Building for a mouse was a disaster to not just the food vendors, but the other building vendors as well as the market vendors as a whole.  Now they're thinking about closing the market building again as well as making changes where the outside vendors are located.  It seems to me that the focus needs to be on maintaining the charm of the market and leaving the outside market vendors alone and leaving the Market Building alone.  How are the Market Building Vendors suppose to make any plans and survive when the City announces that it is considering closing the building again in March 2009 for an undetermined amount of time?  Now that Mill Mountain Theatre is closed, access to the Center in the Square Building is limited at least later in the day.  I as well as others I am sure do not feel safe parking in the garage and not being able to access the Center in the Square Building rather than utilize the elevators or stairs to do business in the remainder of the market area.  There really isn't much left in Center of the Square Building.  When we attended the Mill Mountain Theatre's last production, "Driving Miss Daisy", many of the employees were skeptical that Mill Mountain Theatre would ever return.  Why isn't more interest as well as more funds which are being used to analyze the market being used to help this theatre survive.  I have attended the last three productions there and all have been full.  The outside vendors have receive attention in the Virginia is for Lovers Tourism Guide, the Washington Post, and Southern Living Magazine to mention a few.  Why mess with what is broken?  The Director of the Art Museum has announced her resignation at the end of the year.  While a plausible explanation was provided, is the art museum going to be able to survive and where are people to park.  I drove around for 30 minutes today trying to find a parking space in order to do business with Art on Gold Creations located in the City Market Building.  There is a large amount of monies being expended for renovating buildings for loft apartments and condos.  There is a trolley going down Jefferson Street. Yet, most of the buildings on that street such as the old Heironimus building is vacant.  It seems to me that the focus is in the wrong place.  Rather than dealing with what is broken and is desperately needs attention, the City seems to focus on fixing what isn't broken.  I just don't understand.  I am saddened by the entire thing...

 I am not from Roanoke but did visit downtown this past weekend.What is wrong with it? I like the lay out,the people are friendly,the vendors will actually take time to talk to you whether you are buying or not.The only thing I would change is the vendors parking at their stands and the traffic allowed to drive up the street the vendors are on with all the foot traffic.I dont recall the street name.we put our money in the slot when we parked and we were gone longer than we intended.When we got back to the lot we didnt have the correct change to put in the slot for our over run.The nicest guy in the world{the attendant} said thats ok you were only onehalf hour over ,smiled and said just come again.To the attendant,we will but with the correct change the next time.We enjoyed it very much.