Roanoke City Council members will be reconsidering a request for sale of a city-owned vacant lot at 801 Franklin Road S.W. at their public hearing Monday night, after tabling the issue at their last hearing. Crandall Providence Building, owned by Daniel Crandall, has offered the city $53,100 for the property, which is its current tax assessed value.
Crandall and Katt, a law firm also owned by Crandall, is located adjacent to the property at 366 Elm Ave., and the buyer intends to use the land on Franklin Road for a future expansion to the Crandall Providence Building company.
This sale was on the agenda for the council’s last regular public hearing on Oct. 21, but council members chose to delay a vote due to some concerns they raised.
No citizens showed up to speak on the sale. Peter Volosin said he’d like to make a motion to table the item until the next hearing because he had questions about the use of the corner lot and wanted further clarity before a decision was made. Patricia White-Boyd seconded the motion.
Richard Huff, firm administrator with Crandall and Katt, approached the council to answer some questions. When Volosin asked what the proposed use was for the lot, Huff said the firm did not have a specific plan yet, but that they’ve taken care of the lot for years and plan to continue to do so on the 1/10 acre lot.
“To say we’re going to do x, y and z, we’re not in a position to do so right now,” Huff said. Volosin said it’s a very prominent corner in the city, and “wouldn’t want to just see it paved over.” He said he could see himself voting for this motion if the firm could promise that.
Volosin also mentioned this lot was at one point a gas station, and the representative said they’ve asked for a 60-day right of inspection to ensure there are no environmental concerns.
“We want to partner with the city with all of this,” Huff said. “If you know anything about Mr. Crandall, he’s a perfectionist.” The council voted to table the item, referring to the motion as a “two-week delay” to get some more questions answered and further clarity on the plans for the lot.
Also on the agenda …
The council will also be hearing five new items on Monday night, including two requests to repeal conditions proffered as part of a previous rezoning, two tax exemptions, and Enterprise Zone Boundary Amendments.
The council will then recess to meet in closed session at an undisclosed location, sometime within 15 days following the end of this hearing, to interview prospective candidates for the position of city manager.
The public hearing at 7 p.m. will follow a 2 p.m. city council meeting. The agenda for the 2 p.m. meeting can be viewed here. Both will be held at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, City Council Chamber, Fourth Floor, Room 450. Meetings can be viewed live on Facebook here. Those looking to address the council Monday night must sign up using this form on the city’s website.
