THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 2, 1995 TAG: 9507010120
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 174 lines
CITY OFFICIALS in Norfolk took a lot of flak when they decided to build Harbor Park, a baseball stadium on the waterfront.
As it has turned out, the officials were right on target and the critics have all but shut up.
Wayne Orton, who retired Friday as Portsmouth city manager, says Portsmouth City Council members must be as bold.
``Leadership requires you to step up and make unpopular recommendations,'' Orton said in an interview Tuesday. ``You change reality by risk.''
Vision 2005, a 10-year economic development plan, will require tough decisions, he said.
The two boldest decisions Orton left behind are proposals to buy MidCity shopping center and Fairwood Homes.
``The city must control these properties,'' he said. ``They are vital pieces of the plan.''
Orton said the city has been trying to work with the New York owners of MidCity to stimulate their interest in the Vision 2005 plan and the Midtown Association's determination to re-establish the business area.
``We've been to New York and talked to Sentinel Realty,'' he said. ``We've done everything we can, and I'm now of the opinion those folks are not serious.''
Even when the city tried to make a deal to relocate the Police Department to one of the buildings in the old shopping center, the owners didn't respond, he said.
He said the city should ``take it'' one way or another, by condemnation if necessary.
The property is valued at a little over $4 million, a capital fund investment Orton sees as feasible for the city.
``Redevelopment in the center would service the debt,'' he said.
He believes Fairwood Homes also could pay for itself as the city redeveloped it.
``Bush Construction is ready to sell,'' he said. ``I believe it's in the city's best interest to control that property.''
He said control of Fairwood could enable the city to stem the blighting influence on nearby single-family neighborhoods, including the Bide-A-Wee Golf Course area.
``I think we could stimulate the retail rebirth of Tower Mall,'' Orton said. ``The owners of the mall are willing to work on it - if the city moves now.''
Orton believes the city can find buyers to construct a senior citizen residential complex on the Fairwood property directly behind the mall. The area fronting on Interstate 264, where the city had hoped to build a horse race track, is ``ideal'' for light industrial and office development, Orton said. He noted the direct access via interstates to all of Hampton Roads from that point.
The city could pay for the purchase during the redevelopment by leaving some of the rental housing in place for a short while, he said.
``The present owners make money now,'' he said. ``We could have some income from it and control it too.''
Ultimately, he sees new single-family housing on much of the land in the core of the large development.
There is demand for good new housing, he said, and cited the success of Columbia Commons, a new private-public development on County Street that has sold well, and other new subdivisions in the city.
The acquisition of MidCity and Fairwood Homes are both manageable, he said, and controlling them is vital to the city's future economic health.
Citizen groups have become heavily involved in implementation of Vision 2005.
``The pressure is on to keep that engine running,'' Orton said. ``Citizens have to see results or they lose interest and we don't want to lose them.''
On Tuesday night, City Council approved conceptual design plans for construction of an inlet and ferry docking facility at the foot of High Street. It would be partially funded by federal grants to Tidewater Regional Transit and one of the prime parts of the city's long-range plan.
``This will ignite other projects,'' Orton said.
He added that all action does not ``require huge expenditures.'' He cited as an example his decision to allow left turns in the MidCity area.
``The Midtown people wanted it but some of my more technical people here offered objections,'' he said. ``But I said, `Read my lips and do it.' The Midtown people say it has helped them and it hasn't hurt traffic.''
The Midtown Association is focused, he said, they have included the nearby residents of Mount Hermon to help work on the problems.
``The city must work with them,'' Orton said.
Can the city do all this and still build a $35 million high school next year?
Orton says he believes the city can ``go forward'' with the school and do other projects if the level of income stays the same and the city is careful.
He said he's leaving the city in the best financial shape of recent years.
``This year we're coming out in the real black, not just the adjusted black,'' he said.
However, he added, ``it's possible to postpone the school building for a couple of years.''
``But if they're not going to build it now, council needs to act,'' he said. ``The council needs to establish priorities. It has made a political commitment to build I.C. Norcom.''
Currently, he said, the city staff is ``proceeding to build the school.''
``They told us to do it and we're doing it right now,'' he said. ``The contract (for construction) will be signed this year on the present schedule.''
By readying the school site and proceeding on a schedule, Orton believes the city has ``put to rest political overtones.''
``I don't believe City Council should be bullied by anyone,'' Orton said. ``But the indecision on Norcom has been a problem for a long time.''
The development of Scotts Creek, another project that has been around for a long time, also may require council to make a decision to act aggressively.
``We need to develop Scotts Creek if it requires building a marina with local money,'' he said. ``It must be done.''
Orton also backs the concept of closing part of Crawford Parkway and creating a waterfront park and dinghy dock to attract both residents and transient boaters.
On a smaller, but controversial matter - putting a carousel in the second-floor atrium of the Children's Museum - Orton also is very positive about what he thinks.
``I believe the carousel should go in there because it will serve to stimulate interest and draw people to High Street,'' he said. ``The name of the game is to get people to High Street and I think it would not be unwise to front the money for a carousel.''
Orton says he is leaving some things in place that will help build tomorrow.
In addition to the Children's Museum in the old Leggett department store that was a bold and successful private-public partnership, he cited the Tidewater Community College Visual Arts Center in the former Famous building, a project in which the city also was a participant.
One of Orton's favorite accomplishments is the NSU-ODU Tri-Cities Center in the old Cradock High School, where students may enroll in classes rather than go to the campuses of Norfolk State and Old Dominion universities in Norfolk.
``They thought they wanted to be in Churchland and now they don't want to leave Cradock,'' he said. `They're growing all the time.
What does Orton envision for Churchland?
``I think we need to develop the Churchland High School site (with retail stores) and I think the proposed stores can be compatible to the neighborhood,'' he said.
Aside from the old school site, Orton sees development of the Cox property on the waterfront as very important.
``The property is back on the market and we need to help get something there,'' he said. ``The economic development staff is working on it.''
Orton also ordered some changes in the economic development staff, pushing them to hire an experienced retail development expert.
``We're looking now for somebody with the expertise and contacts in the retail world,'' he said. ``We need someone who is experienced. Whatever it costs, it will be worth it.''
What would Orton do about filling the manager's job?
``If asked, I'd say go outside,'' he said. ``I'd say take the time and find the right person.''
For one thing, he said, the job should be filled by someone with no political ties and no history in the city.
``The city needs a manager the council will support,'' he said.
Orton has been through five years in the job with a bare majority of support on some issues.
``But this city has been good to me,'' he said. ``It educated me, helped me grow up and gave me employment. I'm not moving from here.''
In fact, he said, he'll be ``cheering'' for the city.
``The council needs to come together in a strong team to lead this city,'' he said. MEMO: Related story on page 9.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photo on cover
Wayne Orton...
File staff photo by BETH BERGMAN
``Leadership requires you to step up and make unpopular
recommendations. You change reality by risk,'' Orton says.
File staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Reaching for new heights is nothing new to Orton, who stretches for
a tough return in a tennis match.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY MANAGER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT by CNB