THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 27, 1997 TAG: 9701270050
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 98 lines
Who wouldn't want to be known as the rescuer of the Professional Building - the seven-story high-rise in the heart of downtown that was once one of the city's nicest office spots?
It seems like a great idea. One that would even fit with city plans. Suffolk is in the midst of downtown renewal efforts and has scraped together more than $14 million for a new courthouse that's within the shadow of the Professional Building.
Renovating the building would make the fixer a hero if he had the cash to return it to its once-ritzy state.
Two weeks ago, that's exactly what Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority board members proposed.
For so long, they'd been criticized for not using the ``R'' - Redevelopment - in their authority's name. The Professional Building was the perfect fix-up project - for downtown and the board's image.
And so the board voted unanimously to restore the Professional Building.
And everyone seemed to be thrilled.
But now that yes vote has turned into a maybe.
The agency's executive director isn't sure if the building would be the right project for the housing authority.
``I have mixed emotions,'' said Clarissa E. McAdoo on Friday. ``It's a mucky kind of thing. I`m excited about development possibilities, but I would like to be better prepared to make an assessment and to give a recommendation.''
Two weeks ago, when the board voted to take on the project, there had been no discussion about the Professional Building.
Commissioner Jack E. Vaughn proposed they renovate it - based on a discussion with City Manager Myles E. Standish - and the board agreed.
But McAdoo said the decision should have come after discussion and after giving her the chance to study the possibilities of renovating the building.
The tall, brown structure on the corner of Washington and Main streets - one of only two high-rises in the city - has sat vacant for several years.
It opened in 1917, with marble stairs, crystal chandeliers in a marble lobby and one of the city's first elevators.
When downtown Suffolk was thriving, the building - now owned by the city - housed offices for doctors, lawyers, accountants and insurance agents. But gradually, professionals left the offices and moved from downtown.
Since then, there have been several folks interested in purchasing the building. City officials have hoped it can be used for office space again, but the tab for renovating it for potential developers has always been too expensive. The last study on turning it into medical offices for Western Tidewater Community Services ran close to $1.6 million.
But since that study, the building has been vandalized, and officials say the cost would probably be even higher.
McAdoo said she's gathering information. She plans to give the board a recommendation during their next meeting.
``There are a lot of issues,'' McAdoo said. ``We need information that's crucial to determine if this is even feasible.''
About two months ago, the housing authority committed to redeveloping Orlando, a low-income neighborhood on the outskirts of downtown. They also passed a list of goals for this year that also need funding.
``The fact is, Orlando should be the primary focus of the housing agency,'' McAdoo said. ``We went through the effort of passing goals for 1997, and that (the Professional Building) came after those goals, and they need funding. Orlando was one of them.''
McAdoo said she believes the vote to renovate the Professional Building was really a vote in favor of unity.
``This had not been discussed,'' McAdoo said. ``The board had never been though this before, and no one wanted to put a damper on it. Everyone wanted to exercise some hope - something that had not been there before.''
Bob Chisom, of the Downtown Suffolk Association, said while he's excited about the possibility of working with the housing authority, he, too, was surprised at the announcement.
``I read it in the newspaper without us having any communication on it'' said Chisom, who has been trying to market the building. ``I've been meeting with Clarissa, and I`m glad there's interest.''
The housing authority's involvement could help speed up renovating the building, he said. Since the agency announced that it was interested, calls from developers and architects have flooded both Chisom's and McAdoo's offices, they said.
Chisom said he's also seeking historical classification for the building. If that happens, developers who want to take on the project can receive certain tax incentives and credits from the state to cut the cost of renovation.
``My suggestion is for the housing authority to allocate a small amount of money for the project,'' Chisom said. ``Then, they can free up money for other projects.''
But if the authority can't help at all, Chisom said, it won't be anything new.
``We have gone through this before with developers,'' Chisom said. ``It just means that renovating the building will have to wait a little longer.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
JOHN H. SHEALLY II
The Virginian-Pilot
The Professional Building, on the corner of Washington and Main
streets, opened in 1917 and is one of two high-rises in Suffolk. It
has sat vacant for years.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK HOUSING AUTHORITY RENOVATION