Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Friends of Washington Park urge council to commit to saving historic caretaker’s cottage
Summary
Multiple speakers appealed to council during public comment to give a written pledge not to demolish the Booker T. Washington Park caretaker’s cottage while Friends of Washington Park pursue grants for restoration; speakers said Virginia Department of Historic Resources found the cottage eligible for national listing.
A large group of residents and preservation advocates on March 17 urged Roanoke City Council to provide a written commitment that the city will not demolish the historic caretaker’s cottage in Booker T. Washington Park while community groups seek grants and complete rehabilitation plans.
Speakers representing Friends of Washington Park, neighborhood groups, historians and descendants described the building as one of the city’s oldest surviving structures, with multiple speakers dating it to circa 1837. They said the Virginia Department of Historic Resources has determined the cottage is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and that the Friends of Washington Park have contracts with a licensed structural engineer (contract cited at $5,000) and with a consulting firm for project management and…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
