Henri Gendreau - The Roanoke Rambler (Page 5)

Republicans Enter Roanoke City Council Races As Priddy Stuns Party Leaders By Bowing Out

Luke Priddy won't seek reelection, while Nick Hagen and Jim Garrett are vying to become the first Republicans on Council in decades.

Neighborhoods

Ownership of Historic Gainsboro Property Fraught with Legal Claims of Fraud, Defamation

Two Roanoke community advocates are asking a judge to decide who’s the proper owner of a building recently eyed by city officials for rehabilitation.

Food Access

Northwest Roanoke Residents See Glimmer of Hope As Grocery Store Plans Take Shape

The Market on Melrose is slated to open in November in the heart of a food desert. The store will create up to 70 jobs in its first year.

Transportation

'A Perfect Storm': Roanoke Bus System Has Major Financial Control Issues, Audits Find

An auditor described one finding that Valley Metro failed to pay contractors who built the new transit center on time as 'a big deal.'

Education

Roanoke Has Long Given 40 Percent of Local Taxes to Schools. That Could Change.

Roanoke City Council members say the city has pressing needs that could benefit from more flexibility with any end-of-year surplus.

Housing

Roanoke Ends Single-Family-Only Zoning in Bid for More Housing, Diversity

Roanoke joins cities in Virginia and across the country that are rolling back single-family-only zoning in favor of more dense housing.

Politics

Roanoke Mayor’s Race Gets Crowded As Moon Reynolds, Bowers Challenge Cobb

A victory for any would be historic — Moon Reynolds as Roanoke's first female mayor, Cobb as its first openly gay mayor and Bowers for the sheer precedent of a fifth term.

Housing

Roanoke Planning Commission Advances End to Single-Family Zoning in Bid for More Housing

City Council is expected to vote Monday on reforms staff say is aimed at increasing housing and decreasing racial and economic inequities.

Education

Roanoke School Board To Gain New Faces As Leaders Step Off

School board members Mark Cathey and Diane Casola are stepping off this June, while incumbent Michael Cherry II is seeking another term.

Education

After Threats Shutter Roanoke Schools, Parents Scrutinize How Officials Respond

Some parents see the school district as changing tack after community members raise concerns, which school officials deny.

City Hall

Roanoke City Treasurer Evelyn Powers To Retire, Setting Up Potential Special Election

City treasurer since 2003, Evelyn Powers will retire with a 43-year career in Roanoke government.

Neighborhoods

Neighbor's Lawsuit Challenging Fishburn Park Cottage Sale Dismissed by Roanoke Judge

Owen McGuire, who lives beside the park, sued the city and a business run by Justin and Keri vanBlaricom in September.

Development

Despite Public Outcry, Roanoke Council Adopts Evans Spring Plan To Guide Development

The plan says Evans Spring should become a mix of big box stores, smaller shops, and hundreds of houses and apartments.

City Hall

‘Extremely Troubled’: Roanoke Leaders Called for Probe into Parks Director’s Leaked Resignation Letter, Emails Show

“I would like to see us investigate how this information was leaked,” the mayor told Roanoke's city manager.

Homelessness

City To Seize Land of Homeless Hangout in Southeast Roanoke

The city’s planned seizure marks the second time Roanoke has taken over properties that owe taxes and where people have set up camp.

Housing

Roanoke Proposes Allowing Multi-Unit Housing Throughout Residential Neighborhoods

Effort to end single-family-only zoning is meant to spur more housing, decrease inequities, city officials say.

Investigation

Roanoke Judge Ware Agrees To Supervision, Suspension Lifted After Claim He Traded Legal Aid for Sex, Agency Letter Says

Virginia's Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission says it will monitor Onzlee Ware's conduct over the next 12 months.

City Hall

Roanoke Leaders, Residents Tangle Over Evans Spring As Activists Ratchet Up Pressure

City Council is nearing a vote on whether to incorporate a development plan into Roanoke's master plan.