Comments on: Missing The Point On Rockledge http://chrisberryonthe.net/2008/05/07/missing-the-point-on-rockledge/ A Curious Compendium Of Politics, Food and Life Sun, 13 May 2012 20:37:31 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Karen http://chrisberryonthe.net/2008/05/07/missing-the-point-on-rockledge/#comment-1377 Karen Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:42:45 +0000 http://chrisberryonthe.net/?p=28#comment-1377 A public park should not be touched for a restaurant that doesn’t fit into the zoning regulations of Mill Mountain. Nor discriminate against any of the public. Sorry Bookbinder’s definitly isn’t for “everyone.” That alone says no restaurant on the mountain. The time period of the star and zoo are not the same as today when greenspace is more pristine and desired. And I don’t believe Fishburn would want the only picnic area of MM being a side yard to development or open the doors to further development. I understand you come from the business side of this and want and look for Roanoke to prosper economically. As I and everyone else does. This is not the way, nor is it a “small slice of the puzzle.” Finishing the greenways and developing them along the way would be better suited economically and for the ultimate outcome they seek and Roanoke wants. Also, City Council disregarded their 2006 proposal on the mountain to place an easment on it. Much as the fate of The Brugh Tavern. A restaurant is not going to draw visitors off the parkway. Explore Park failed on the parkway. If a zoo and discovery center fail to draw them, than a restaurant certainly isn’t. And a restaurant in a public park with NO VIEW shouldn’t be done as an experiment to “see what happens” nor to assist other mountaintop amenities. Parkway travelers not giving Roanoke a second thought is a failure in marketing and a City issue. Mill Mountain Star, Zoo, Discovery Center have always been there with the parkway, a restaurant is not going to draw the numbers by even more than 10% and put Roanoke on the map for the parkway. GIVE ME A BREAK. Name the restuarants on the parkway.Have you been to them? I have never heard of one to travel to. Again Explore Park was on the Parkway. It failed. Further, the numbers are falling on parkway travelers, the economy is in shambles and gas prices are soaring. Not exactly comfortable circumstances to take risks. Plus those numbers are for the entire parkway, not the Roanoke area. Heavier traffic exists in North Carolina (BRP). Your final statement says it all. “Roanoke…very little effort to encourage visitors to stop and spend their money.” A marketing failure and overlook. Enhancements need to be made on the existing facilities not add more. A restaurant (like Brugh Tavern) is not going to be the saving grace. Nor would people be encouraged to know that a public park was rezoned for a restaurant. That opens up a whole new can of worms! Anyways this money and effort would be much better suited in finishing the greenways. Plus you would still draw people off the parkway and then some. It’s tourism value is endless and touches on all walks of life. You could access 26 miles of greenways and explore all of Roanoke just by stepping foot off the parkway and onto the MM trail. Rent a bike, rent a boat or tie up your laces and explore, restaurants, ice cream parlors, coffee shops,etc. This would have been a done deal with 100% cooperation and backing and bring all of Valley Forward’s objectives to realization. Attracting and retaining young professionals, economic development, tourism, quality of life, green-coolness, and the hip factor. Absolutely NO TO ROCKLEDGE! The efforts should be used on their upcoming cause. A public park should not be touched for a restaurant that doesn’t fit into the zoning regulations of Mill Mountain. Nor discriminate against any of the public. Sorry Bookbinder’s definitly isn’t for “everyone.” That alone says no restaurant on the mountain. The time period of the star and zoo are not the same as today when greenspace is more pristine and desired. And I don’t believe Fishburn would want the only picnic area of MM being a side yard to development or open the doors to further development.
I understand you come from the business side of this and want and look for Roanoke to prosper economically. As I and everyone else does. This is not the way, nor is it a “small slice of the puzzle.” Finishing the greenways and developing them along the way would be better suited economically and for the ultimate outcome they seek and Roanoke wants. Also, City Council disregarded their 2006 proposal on the mountain to place an easment on it.
Much as the fate of The Brugh Tavern. A restaurant is not going to draw visitors off the parkway. Explore Park failed on the parkway. If a zoo and discovery center fail to draw them, than a restaurant certainly isn’t. And a restaurant in a public park with NO VIEW shouldn’t be done as an experiment to “see what happens” nor to assist other mountaintop amenities. Parkway travelers not giving Roanoke a second thought is a failure in marketing and a City issue. Mill Mountain Star, Zoo, Discovery Center have always been there with the parkway, a restaurant is not going to draw the numbers by even more than 10% and put Roanoke on the map for the parkway. GIVE ME A BREAK. Name the restuarants on the parkway.Have you been to them? I have never heard of one to travel to. Again Explore Park was on the Parkway. It failed. Further, the numbers are falling on parkway travelers, the economy is in shambles and gas prices are soaring. Not exactly comfortable circumstances to take risks. Plus those numbers are for the entire parkway, not the Roanoke area. Heavier traffic exists in North Carolina (BRP). Your final statement says it all. “Roanoke…very little effort to encourage visitors to stop and spend their money.” A marketing failure and overlook. Enhancements need to be made on the existing facilities not add more. A restaurant (like Brugh Tavern) is not going to be the saving grace. Nor would people be encouraged to know that a public park was rezoned for a restaurant. That opens up a whole new can of worms! Anyways this money and effort would be much better suited in finishing the greenways. Plus you would still draw people off the parkway and then some. It’s tourism value is endless and touches on all walks of life. You could access 26 miles of greenways and explore all of Roanoke just by stepping foot off the parkway and onto the MM trail. Rent a bike, rent a boat or tie up your laces and explore, restaurants, ice cream parlors, coffee shops,etc. This would have been a done deal with 100% cooperation and backing and bring all of Valley Forward’s objectives to realization. Attracting and retaining young professionals, economic development, tourism, quality of life, green-coolness, and the hip factor. Absolutely NO TO ROCKLEDGE! The efforts should be used on their upcoming cause.

]]> By: Chris Berry http://chrisberryonthe.net/2008/05/07/missing-the-point-on-rockledge/#comment-1376 Chris Berry Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:40:25 +0000 http://chrisberryonthe.net/?p=28#comment-1376 The two closest restaurants on the parkway are at Mabry Mill and the Peaks of Otter. The two closest restaurants on the parkway are at Mabry Mill and the Peaks of Otter.

]]> By: Karen http://chrisberryonthe.net/2008/05/07/missing-the-point-on-rockledge/#comment-1375 Karen Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:39:40 +0000 http://chrisberryonthe.net/?p=28#comment-1375 Wonderful. I bet those are sold out every night of the week, thriving like no other with the areas around them also thriving. So which in your opinion would be more beneficial to the area. A 26 mile connected greenway system or a restaurant on Mill Mountain (that isn’t zoned for a public park)? And do you really believe that a restaurant is going to draw visitors off the parkway by the hundreds? A zoo and discovery center are much more interesting to visit than a restaurant.I am just baffled the more I read over this entry. The opponents issues aren’t about economic viability or more restaurants coming to Roanoke. There are much more to it than that, including Valley Forward’s tactics, presentation and respect and the fact that it’s not zoned for a public park. Wonderful. I bet those are sold out every night of the week, thriving like no other with the areas around them also thriving. So which in your opinion would be more beneficial to the area. A 26 mile connected greenway system or a restaurant on Mill Mountain (that isn’t zoned for a public park)? And do you really believe that a restaurant is going to draw visitors off the parkway by the hundreds? A zoo and discovery center are much more interesting to visit than a restaurant.I am just baffled the more I read over this entry. The opponents issues aren’t about economic viability or more restaurants coming to Roanoke. There are much more to it than that, including Valley Forward’s tactics, presentation and respect and the fact that it’s not zoned for a public park.

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