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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 grant-writing (cited at $2,500).
Speakers asked council for a short-term written pledge – specifically, a letter from the city that it will not demolish the cottage during the grant-application and review period. Friends representatives said many grant programs require a municipal commitment avoiding demolition while applications are under consideration. Susan Evans Brown, speaking for Friends of Washington Park, provided contact information and said donors can give through the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation for tax-deductible contributions. Multiple speakers described plans to use the restored cottage for history programming, environmental education tied to Evans Spring and the Lick Run Greenway, and community gatherings.
Why it matters: The cottage and park were described by speakers as culturally and historically significant to Roanoke’s Black community and as potential anchors for neighborhood revitalization and heritage tourism. Community organizers said written assurances from the city are required to access some preservation funding and to move forward with restoration plans.
What speakers told council: - Lynette Lewis, Friends of Washington Park member, asked the council for committed support for restoration and a written pledge not to demolish the cottage while grant work proceeds. - Multiple speakers, including local historians and artists, testified to the cottage’s architectural and cultural history and urged preservation and reuse as an educational and community asset. - Steven E. Stewart, who said he was raised in the house, described personal and family memories tied to the structure and urged council to save it.
Council response: The mayor asked for details on how citizens can donate; Susan Evans Brown said donations should be routed through the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation and provided an email (cecarter758@gmail.com) and a phone number (540-728-8063). No formal council action or vote on the cottage was taken at the meeting; multiple speakers said they will seek grants and requested the council’s written commitment so applications can move forward.
Additional details called out by speakers included approximate interior dimensions the community cited for programming (main room about 13 by 17.5 feet; secondary room about 12 by 18.5 feet) and a statement that the cottage is eligible for national listing per the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Friends of Washington Park said they have paid for engineering and consulting contracts and are actively fundraising.
