Coffee and Chat on Gentrification highlights community concerns Gene Marrano January 2, 2018 1 minute read John Garland Roanoke City Councilman John Garland drew perhaps his biggest crowd of citizens ever for the latest “Coffee and Chat with John” last week – when the topic was gentrification. Its a touchy subject in Northwest Roanoke as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports: Share: Post navigation Previous: 2018 gas prices: at first, anyway, they should trend lowerNext: “Taste of Naples” being offered at Roanoke’s only traditional Italian kitchen Related Stories Update on Melrose Plaza from Goodwill Industries of the Valleys Gene Marrano April 8, 2026 Film focusing on the Black and Jewish alliance is a conversation starter Denise Membreno April 8, 2026 Walk & Roll safety event is about showing kids how to be safe when walking or biking along busy roadways Gene Marrano April 8, 2026