Over recent decades, Roanoke Rapids has trended towards commercial development of outlying land, each located further from the current established and developed areas.

(This letter serves as a followup to offer clarification on comments the author made during Tuesday's citizens advisory committee meeting on the city's comprehensive land use plan)

The result is an excessive supply of commercial buildings, most of them struggling to retain and attract tenants.

The consecutive relocations of commercial activity have not so much expanded the city’s commercial base as they have relocated the economic activity to the latest or newest location.

This leaves behind an even larger number of underutilized commercial sites that then begin to deteriorate as tenancies and rents decline.

Each subsequent relocation simply transfers exiting economic activity to a new location – with that location owing its temporary vibrancy to the hollowing out of a formerly vibrant commercial district. The vitality lasts only until the next new location is created leaving behind an even larger stock of buildings and sites that are underutilized.

With declines in population and current per capita income, it is sometimes challenging to attract buyers and tenants to fill many of the vacant properties; hence the empty buildings can give an unfavorable opinion of the community.

We face difficult choices about where to invest very limited resources.

By focusing on the city’s strengths – unique places, historic resources, social capital and strong neighborhoods could serve as a guide in making these choices.

Sherry Hux

Roanoke Rapids Main Street program