The Roanoker March/April 2022 - 84

Homes
The condo has an open,
loft-like feel, with the living
and dining spaces flowing
into each other and bathed in
natural light from the many
windows.
W
hen Leslie and Gregory Coyle
moved towards a shared
retirement and considered
purchasing a second property,
they pondered weather,
mountain views and activities, and, as respective
former work in trust/investment services
and banking taught them, they closely examined
the economic viability of each city they
considered.
" The strength of the banks and credit unions
in an area is a good marker of the financial
health of a community, and Roanoke is underpinned
by strong, well capitalized financial
institutions, " says Gregory, a former federal
banking regulator who made a career with
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
commonly known as the FDIC.
In addition to Roanoke's financial health,
the Coyles were charmed by the lively and
walkable downtown, the friendly people, the
abundance of restaurant choices, and the proximity
of the airport and Amtrak stations for
travel. With no familial ties to Roanoke, they
chose it over eleven other contenders, including
Asheville and Greensboro, North Carolina,
which are popular retirement destinations. The
Coyles recognized some benefits in those cities,
but they see Roanoke as a locale poised for a
blindingly bright future.
" We see the promise and the potential of
this city, and we felt comfortable enough about
it to invest in a home here, " enthuses Leslie,
whose second home is in Vero Beach, Florida,
where she and Gregory will spend at least six
months of the year.
Their Roanoke condo, part of the revitalization
of downtown, is at 204 South Jefferson,
a historic building that was erected in 1927,
and was the tallest building in Roanoke until
1977. In 2006, it was redeveloped into residential
condos by Ed Walker, whose company
has been behind many downtown projects. The
Coyles' condo occupies the entirety of the 10th
floor, consisting of 4,660 square feet, and its
run of 29 windows provide 360-degree views
of the landscape and cityscape. Mountains, lit
by city lights, have captivated the couple since
they purchased the property in July.
" I think when people grow up here, or just
become used to the mountains, they might take
them for granted a little bit...being so used to
it, " notes Gregory. " I can tell you I am just in
awe of the views we have. "
Those views previously belonged to Warner
Dalhouse, one of Roanoke's favorite sons. A
Roanoke College and UVA product, Dalhouse
enjoyed a successful career in banking, and was
the former chairman and CEO of First Union
National Bank in Roanoke. His hand has
touched many of the successful non-profits in
the region, and according to Roanoke College,
has been instrumental in raising more than $35
million for various organizations, such as the
SPCA, Center in the Square and the Jefferson
Center. Dalhouse and his wife Barbara sold the
condo in order to spend more time at Smith
Mountain Lake.
The Coyles have great respect for the
Dalhouses' work in the community, and see
life in the condo, where the Dalhouses held
many fundraisers, as a good luck charm and
a springboard to finding their own footing in
Roanoke. And they'll do it with much of the
Dalhouse's furniture and artwork, which they
purchased separately from the real estate transaction.
The reason was in part a practical one,
as the nature of a historic building can make
moving day a challenge.
" We understand some of the furniture in
the home was brought in by crane, because the
freight elevator is too small for larger furniture, "
explains Gregory. So the baby grand
piano, much of the original art from local and
regional standouts such as Ed Bordett, Betty
Branch, Holly Felice and Geoffrey Johnson,
and many furniture items remain, mingled with
204 South Jefferson
84 MARCH/APRIL 2022
Leslie and Gregory Coyle
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The Roanoker March/April 2022

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