by Todd Jackson
The fate of the much debated, dilapidated, city-owned Washington Park caretaker’s cottage is in question again after a renovation proposal failed to receive sought-for state funding.
Momentum for the Roanoke project was carried into the grant application with the Virginia Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Fund (BIPOC). The Christiansburg Institute – on behalf of the Friends of Washington Park community group and with city council backing the grant application – asked for $800,000.
However, the project received no funding in this BIPOC grant cycle, Caitlin Sylvester, grant coordinator for the state Department of Historic Resources, wrote in an email to The Roanoke Rambler on Monday.
The Christiansburg Institute was informed of the decision Thursday, Sylvester wrote. A total of 58 applications were received during the most recent grant period and seven projects will be funded, she wrote. In the spring, Sylvester told The Rambler that those 58 projects totaled about $28 million in requests – with $2.5 million in funding available for this BIPOC round.
Sylvester did not respond to a question about why the Washington Park project did not receive funding.
Messages left by The Rambler with Christiansburg Institute Director Chris Sanchez and several members of the Friends of Washington Park were not returned Tuesday.
Earlier this year, Sanchez said his group’s involvement with the effort creates a synergy that makes historical sense. Booker T. Washington – the Roanoke park’s namesake – was an advisor at the Christiansburg Institute. Sanchez says he’d heard stories about the African-American ties to Roanoke’s Washington Park and those that traveled there due to its significance in the region.
But, with the BIPOC news this week, the main question is: Now what happens?
Two city council members who favor a cottage renovation – Phazhon Nash and Nick Hagen – said Tuesday that they were unaware the project did not receive any BIPOC funding and would reserve comment until they learn more.
Other council members – Peter Volosin and Vivian Sanchez-Jones – have asked project backers to identify a use and have also raised concerns about the city spending taxpayer money on a run-down building that was at one point slated for demolition.
The cottage remains covered by a tarp next to the new Washington Park pool that opened in June.
Sanchez told city council during a May meeting that an $800,000 grant award would pay for an inside-and-out restoration of the two-story structure, which is a little over 900 square feet. That would bring it to a condition so it would be ready for additional redevelopment for whatever use is chosen.
Sanchez said at the time that $400,000 to $500,000 could potentially cover a focused scope, such as roof repair, window restoration, masonry work, and other critical stabilization needs. Sanchez and others have also emphasized that other grants for the project could be available – and if any money is awarded through the BIPOC program – that could potentially be used to leverage other funding.
The cottage’s potential use is a crux of debate, including questions about why that has yet to be determined. Friends of Washington Park members have said they’ve been approached with ideas from potential entrepreneurs about using the structure for a coffee shop or a bakery.
