Historic Southern Cities Teach Lessons in Perseverance and Determination


Oftentimes, it was a particular industry that established certain cities and made them thriving centers of culture in their heyday. Eventually that industry either disappeared entirely or became significantly less relevant to the local economy. These cities had to make choices. Taking no action would mean a dwindling population left with melancholy memories of previous times and the likely demise of many historic buildings. On the other hand, cities that choose to take action to diversify and redefine their economic purpose not only retain the residency of descendents that can trace their roots back to the founding families, but they also generate relocation activity that attracts new job and population growth. The new residents bring even more diversity and opportunity. Cities fortunate enough to be steeped with interesting history must also take effort to preserve and promote that history; then, when they play their cards right, they sustain another important industry—the tourist trade.


Achieving this balance between preserving the old and ushering in the new isn't easy. It takes perseverance, determination, foresight and usually a lot of money. Investors, planners, developers, preservationists and historians must all demonstrate flexibility balanced with responsibility to dodge points of impasse. Anyone involved in such a process on either side can tell you stories of how important their fight was in achieving an outcome that could please all parties.


Your SAVVY publishers recently had the opportunity to travel to several areas of the country that prove that such visions and the fight to see them through are worth pursuing.


Roanoke's Star is a Symbol of Progress


The famous 100-foot-tall star that hovers over the Roanoke Valley in western Virginia is fittingly called a “symbol of progress.” It also illustrates just how far Southern folk are willing to go to draw attention to their city. The star was built in 1949 by the Roanoke Merchants Association and Chamber of Commerce as a gimmick to attract people into their valley for holiday shopping!


Kimball combined two of his railroads into the Norfolk and Western Railroad, he built his vision of a comprehensive community (perhaps the first master-planned community!). The Hotel Roanoke was its grand centerpiece, a haven for travelers coming to the city or breaking a tiring rail journey. It underwent numerous expansions and architectural transitions, hosted many famous guests, and became Roanoke's social and cultural center where meetings, bridge parties, dances, weddings, teas and luncheons were held.


There was once a time that little effort was needed to bring people to the valley. In 1882, enterprising railroad magnate Roanoke Frederick J. Kimball chose the little town originally known as Big Lick, as the site of a railroad juncture and a major city. After


So, the effort to draw people to the valley became a cause that Roanokers have consistently seen the need to attend to for some time. But they've done much more than just make it a worthwhile stopover along “America's Favorite Drive.” Besides the tourists and the businesses that support them, Roanoke also needed to attract more full time residents. Long before other cities had even heard of the concept of “downtown rejuvenation,” Downtown Roanoke Incorporated (DRI) was created in 1960. The continuous efforts of this organization have helped the city progress and grow as a thriving center for industry, education, arts, culture, and recreation. It is an often observed and envied example of adaptive reuse. The defining element is its Historic Farmers' Market—the oldest such market in continuous operation in Virginia. The market dates back to 1882 when licenses were issued to 25 hucksters around the same time the city was chartered. Today, Market Street upholds its name, with its open air stalls open 363 days a year, offering a shopper's paradise of locally grown produce, enticing homemade goods, hand-crafted jewelry and other artistic treasures. The market lines the sidewalks of historic buildings housing unique shops, art galleries, country stores, and restaurants.


All seemed to be going well for Roanoke until 1989. The fight to save Hotel Roanoke came against the backdrop of the S&L collapse and became a pivotal point in Roanoke's future. By the late 1980s it had fallen into disrepair. In 1989, with occupancy rates on the decline, and facing costly renovations, its owner, Norfolk Southern Corp., concluded that its transportation business meant rail service, not room service, and closed the Hotel it had owned and operated for 107 years. Sadly, many of the hotel's furnishings and fixtures were sold off and the Grand Lady was shut down…but not for long.


Attention Restoration Contractors:


The advent of the automobile eventually meant that the trains arriving in Roanoke were delivering fewer and fewer train travelers to the valley, but thankfully, in 1935, construction began on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway was envisioned as the first elongated national park providing the recently enamored automobile traveler of the time with some of the most spectacular natural scenery in the country. As the largest metropolitan area along the Parkway in Virginia, the Roanoke Valley became known as the “Capital of the Blue Ridge.”


<< Hotel Roanoke 18 GREATER DFW METROPLEX BUILDING SAVVY MAGAZINE IXII


Black Dog Salvage was created in 1999 to provide a home for Southwestern Virginia's architectural past. The brainchild of entrepreneurs Mike Whiteside and Robert Kulp, the company found its beginnings with the salvage of some of Roanoke Virginia's most notable architectural details. Since that time, Black Dog has become the temporary resting place for architectural antiques, commercial salvage, and modern society's other cast offs. In 2005, Black Dog Salvage expanded to include


The Memorial Bridge Marketplace, an interior design marketplace and gallery featuring a wide range of merchants and artists. If you ever get the chance to visit this area, be sure not to miss it. And if you're ever in need of anything relevant to Southern architecture, check out www.blackdogsalvage.com; Black Dog ships anywhere in the U.S.


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