Dear Editor,
Twenty-four years ago in 1998, a big “done deal” converted Salem’s historic Elizabeth Campus’ 52 acres (“Lizzy”) from “Agricultural” to “Business” zoning –undervaluing its panoramic views and fulfilling then Councilman Alex Brown’s vision to “chop it up and sell it off.” This stunning property is transformed into an architectural business mishmash with trees cut and a chain-link fence to surround its stormwater holding pond. Where is the vision, citizen consultation and esthetic design enhancement for what Salem citizens clearly expressed by their intense preservation efforts? Placing business on improved redeveloped spaces would instead allow Salem to preserve its “family jewels” property.
In 1998, the Roanoke Times quoted my husband: “That property is too good for business.” Council’s short-term gain replaced maximizing Lizzy’s potential as an attraction historic “Gateway to the Roanoke Valley.” Citizens had the vision. Council had short-term dollar signs.
Council grossly underutilized this rare, central property and its decision to subdivide Lizzy still haunts Salemites. Its current businesses fail to appreciate and use Lizzy’s outstanding mountain views. Council’s action fractured citizens’ trust that city leaders would or could properly value city assets in their true “highest and best use.”
Lizzy had everything – a land grant to founding father, Andrew Lewis. Subsequently, “Sister” to Roanoke [men’s] College that ended when Lizzy’s main building burned. Then Lutheran orphans’ working farm. The next owner, Roanoke College, subsequently sold it behind the scenes to Salem. My Roanoke College professor husband learned of Lizzy’s sale in a post-sale email announcement.
Salem initiated a “Charrette” (visioning meeting). Overwhelmingly, citizens rejected the business model and the oversized water tower. Council ignored its own sponsored visioning.
Next: hearings. Three prominent citizens – George Logan (Valley Bank), Cabell Brand (visionary philanthropist) and businessman Tim Kelly – together funded a Roanoke College Citizens’ poll. Fifty-seven percent of 407 respondents disagreed with Council’s “Agriculture” to “Business” rezoning intention. Eighty-five percent wanted Council to submit a referendum to voters.
Councilman Howard Packett’s promise of a 17-acre park attempted to appease disgruntled citizens. Today – still no park.
Empowered Council did what they wanted – disregarding citizens thus reinforcing Salem’s “done-deal” reputation. For three years, Salemites loved and intensely fought for Lizzy’s preservation but were overruled by a block-voting, tunnel-visioned 1998 Salem Council.
Twenty years later, a new Council majority-initiated change to Council’s unresponsive culture by granting citizens five-minute comments opening council meetings. Thank you Mayor Turk, Vice-Mayor Jim Wallace and Councilman John Sanders! But follow-up is needed.
As a last resort, unhappy citizens asserted their opposition to Council’s vision by legally challenging Council’s rezoning. That gave citizens three years – insufficient to change Salem Council’s entrenched done-deal culture.
New city manager Forest Jones tried to quiet things down, but soon Salem began subdividing Lizzie. Citizens attended the hearing which painfully pitted Council against citizens’ vision.
Now needed are citizen committees to reflect Salemites’ concerns and good ideas to brighten Salem and widen council’s citizen-buy-in. Salem Assistant Manager Taliaferro’s downtown revisioning tried that model – hugely successful – but allowed Main Street’s historical “quirky” body shop building to be “chopped up and sold off” without consulting citizens – obliterating its unique, massive upstairs crisscross beams now permanently hidden by a boutique hotel that fails to fulfill the body shop’s true value to attract the millennials that Salem’s downtown plan aspired to.
Subsequently, attending and bringing ideas to Council was emotionally draining and challenging. Now, Mayor Turk and the new welcoming majority of three are initiating a long-overdue opening for five-minute citizen comments. Mayor Turk warmly welcomed my six-year-old granddaughter, Tessa, to speak again which she will.
Stop undervaluing Salem’s properties – either by selling them cheap or failing to consider highest potential. Cities employ professional planners whose insights pay off multifold with quality business following quality planning. Salem’s planning still reflects a piecemeal approach or sometimes sets goals that are ignored.
About Salem promises – where is our 17-acre park and/or running trails 24 years later? Councilmembers are different but should still honor that promise.
Let’s not forget this history that offers insight into forging a better path forward.
– Cynthia Munley, Former leader of “Concerned Citizens to Preserve the Elizabeth Campus”