The state and city have worked out concerns on the Henry Street revitalization project.
Roanoke Rapids Planning and Development Director Kelly Lasky told council at its work session tonight the matter was discussed between city officials and the State Historic Preservation Office, which had determined the Rosemary Mill Village would incur adverse impacts by demolition and removal of a row of houses. The state also determined the same impact would occur by reducing density through recombination of lots.
Through the discussions, the city and historic preservation finalized a memorandum of understanding, which council, with one member absent, approved on 4-0 vote.
The four key stipulations of the agreement are:
Photographic record of the houses within the target area, which Lasky said was completed.
Development standards for future construction in the district will require that construction to be subject to historic preservation review and comment.
It also requires that new construction be permanent, single family residential structures compatible in size, scale, design and material to the existing structures within the neighborhood. Modular or mobile housing units will not be permitted.
The agreement says that any new structure has to be a two-story, gable front, single family home frame dwelling with a shed or hipped-roof front porch.
That section also states that no existing parcels be combined or refigured and no driveways shall be provided from Henry Street. The alley will be used.
A homeowner or resident workshop covering maintenance, repair and energy efficiency in historic homes must be held.
Documentation of the larger Rosemary Mill Village areas must be provided.
In another matter tonight Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon presented Jo Story Senior Center Supervisor Rose Massey with a plaque recognizing the center on Jackson Street was named a Center of Excellence.
The designation came from the Council on Aging. The designation means the center is entitled to three shares of grants instead of the one it currently receives, Simeon said this evening. That equals $8,000 to $9,000 a year over the five-year certification.
Simeon said the money would be used to offset marketing program expenses. “They’re considered one of the top senior centers in the state,” he said.
“It was really a team award,” Massey said. “We’ve got an awesome staff with the parks and recreation administration. We only achieved this as a result of the team.”
Mayor Emery Doughtie thanked Massey for the work leading to the certification. “Thank you for all the work you do for the senior center. It takes a lot of hard work and diligence.”
