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Equity Empowerment Advisory Board urges 'statement of harm' and reparative actions for urban renewal's legacy

Roanoke City Council (City of Roanoke) · December 16, 2025

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Summary

The Equity Empowerment Advisory Board presented an annual report documenting harms from historic urban-renewal projects (Commonwealth Project, Gainesborough, Civic Center construction), urged adoption of a statement of harm, memorials for displaced residents (Old Lick Cemetery/Corner Springs), and recommended housing reinvestment and a reparative funding mechanism.

Angela Penn, chair of Roanoke’s Equity Empowerment Advisory Board, told council on Dec. 15 that the board’s community listening sessions documented lasting trauma from mid‑20th‑century urban‑renewal projects that cleared neighborhoods, moved residents and businesses and, in some cases, relocated graves.

The EAB’s report summarized historical projects — including the 1955 ordinance (documented as ordinance number 12381) that approved the Commonwealth Project and later projects in Gainsborough and Downtown East — and said those programs led to displacement, loss of generational wealth, and broken promises. The board recommended a formal acknowledgment of harm and a set of reparative actions, such as historical markers at sites where whole neighborhoods were demolished, a permanent memorial and improved stewardship for Old Lick Cemetery (where the board said remains were moved to a mass grave at Corner Springs), expanded housing-repair and down-payment assistance, and exploring a dedicated reparative fund (one suggestion was a Berglund Center ticket tax) to pay for long-term community investments.

Why it matters: The board framed its work as both historical accounting and a call for tangible, funded action rather than symbolism alone. Council members responded with questions about implementation, data on post‑displacement migration and requests to work with the EAB on strengthening a draft resolution. Council also suggested adding services such as targeted mental-health support for aging residents of affected communities.

Next steps: The EAB asked council to review and refine a draft resolution and work with staff to add measurable commitments. The board said it will continue community outreach and suggested returning to council in January and to any relevant work sessions.