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Papa: 'Proud of inclusive culture built' in planning department

Jillian Papa acknowledged her tenure as Roanoke’s planning department director is over, while not addressing any circumstances.

Papa did not respond to initial messages left for her by The Roanoke Rambler, which published a March 4 story about her departure. But in a statement that day, she wrote in a text that her time as director “is indeed coming to an end.”

“I place a high value on modeling integrity and professionalism in my work and I am so proud of the inclusive culture we built” in the Planning, Building and Development Department, she wrote. 

Papa said she has “full confidence in the department staff to keep things moving forward, and I wish the entire City Team nothing but the best.”

Before sending the statement, Papa said it was in the process of being “cleared.” When asked other questions about her departure, including potential litigation, she said she could not comment further. 

Papa was with the department for about 15 years, working her way through the ranks from a start as a historic preservation planner.

The city said Papa resigned from her position. That’s according to a Feb. 27 email sent to The Rambler by spokeswoman Jenel Few, who also wrote that Deputy City Manager Angie O’Brien “will provide leadership and oversight for the division.”

Papa’s departure comes as the planning department struggles with turnover and job vacancies. One-third of the department's 56 positions are currently unfilled, according to information released to The Rambler through an open records request. Those jobs include several managers and planners and numerous inspectors, among others, one being a historic planner.

The city Planning Commission met Friday and Monday — and the department’s leadership was not discussed. 

Fishburn cottage renovation extended to 2027, citizen steps forward to save Roanoke College house

There are new developments with several old properties in the Roanoke Valley.

A completion date for the renovation of Roanoke’s Fishburn Park cottage is extended again. And a historic house owned by Roanoke College on Market Street in Salem may be saved after the school received a proposal to move it.

Roanoke City Council, on a 6-0 vote March 2 with Nick Hagen absent, approved a request by developers Keri and Justin vanBlaricom to push the Fishburn cottage completion date from March 30 of this year to March 30, 2027. It is the fifth extension of contract responsibilities since council approved the proposal for the vanBlaricoms to buy and renovate the dilapidated structure for a cafe in 2022.

Owen McGuire, who lives near the park and unsuccessfully sued the vanBlaricoms to try to stop the project, asked council during the March 2 meeting to either hold off on its vote or to deny the request. He said he doesn’t believe the developers are upholding their agreement with the city. He also questioned the legality of a food truck that’s operating on the Fishburn property owned by the vanBlaricoms.

City Attorney Laura Carini told council that the food truck is an acceptable temporary use.

The vanBlaricoms faced setbacks last year when a fire destroyed their business Noke Van Co. in the Riverdale development. 

The company reopened, but Justin vanBlaricom told council the couple lost “$3 million overnight” due to the fire and is still in a battle over an insurance settlement. The couple worked to make sure their 20 employees were able remain in their jobs, and that took priority over the cottage, Justin vanBlaricom said.

“People matter more than property,” he said.

Keri vanBlaricom said an application to get historic tax credits for the renovation is in process, and the vanBlaricoms are seeking a national historic designation for the cottage.

It’s been a “journey of perseverance and patience,” Keri vanBlaricom said.

Meanwhile, in Salem, Roanoke College was planning to tear down the historic house it owns, citing costs to renovate and maintain it. After reaction to that, the college then agreed last month to pause the demolition for two weeks to give the community a chance to save it. A citizen stepped forward to offer a plan to move the house, a college spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

The person was not immediately identified by the college.

“In this preliminary stage, it is too early to discuss the proposal, but we will be happy to provide more information if an agreement is finalized,” the spokeswoman wrote.

Roanoke gets a goose egg from state on numerous requests

With a Democratic-controlled state legislature, the Democratic Roanoke City Council majority was hoping that party synergy would return some needed cash.

That didn’t happen.

Roanoke is getting not a penny from numerous requests, including $40 million for an airport terminal renovation, $10 million for an Amtrak station or $600,000 for a downtown economic study. The state also turned down a $7 million request for an airport runway expansion and economic study.

The city’s lobbyist, former Republican state Del. Preston Bryant, told council during a recent meeting that the legislature is taking a conservative approach based on concerns about federal policies that could cost the state.

After that meeting, Roanoke Vice Mayor Terry McGuire told The Rambler he’s disappointed – and somewhat surprised the city didn’t get any money for the airport initiative, but he understands the reality.

“We’ve heard over and over again, they’re having to pick up the slack because the Big Beautiful Bill is causing us to incur a lot of expenses like Medicaid and stuff like that,” he said.

Mayor Joe Cobb said, “it’s the ongoing struggle of getting Richmond to pay attention to Southwest Virginia — and Roanoke.”

The downtown study money, requested by Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, was pitched as a way to help forge a plan out of several moving pieces, from a proposed entertainment district with a potential casino on the Berglund Center property to vacant space at Center in the Square, including the coming relocation of the Science Museum of Western Virginia. A Ferris wheel on the roof of Center in the Square or the adjacent city-owned parking garage is an idea being considered.

Asked his thoughts on the fate of the downtown study money, Rasoul wrote: “No luck on it this year.”

Moving forward, Cobb said private investment is a key – downtown study or not.