THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409150142
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 194 lines
Georgene and Frederick Olsen are a new kind of urban pioneers, taking a chance on the future of downtown by moving into a new $140,000 home at Columbia Commons.
The Olsens are the first residents of the small city-fostered subdivision surrounded by Washington, County and Effingham streets.
Although some people cautioned them against moving south of High Street, the Olsens did it anyway.
``It's a very nice area,'' Gene Olsen said. ``I've met some wonderful people.''
The development is the last large open space in the area dubbed by former City Manager George Hanbury as Olde Towne South. In the 1980s, several townhouse and condominium developments were sandwiched in next to older homes that were refurbished. A number of churches are scattered through the area, adding to the look of community created by tree-lined streets and the mixed ages of the homes there.
Who are these people who made the first move to Columbia Commons, where three additional houses now are under construction?
During Fred Olsen's 20 years in the Navy, the couple lived in a dozen places, including Chicago, Honolulu, Midway Island, San Diego, Newport, R.I., New York City and Charleston, S.C.
When the Olsens first arrived here, she ``hated it.'' Now she has decided ``this is it,'' Brooklyn-born Gene Olsen said.
``You couldn't get me out of Portsmouth,'' she said.
Fred Olsen, a Pennsylvania native, works for Marine Management Inc.
``We retired in Charleston and he was captain of the Fort Sumter Tours for 10 years and then we moved to Maryland, where he was employed by the Defense Mapping Agency at Camp David,'' she said. ``When he decided to go back to sea, we moved here so I could be nearby when the ship came in.''
As a matter of fact, he picked Portsmouth.
``I came on a weekend from Maryland and I thought, `No way,' until I saw Court Street, Woolworth's and The Famous,'' she said. The couple leased a condo overlooking Crawford Bay.
Soon thereafter The Famous and Woolworth's closed, but by then Gene Olsen was really hooked on Portsmouth.
Over a four-year period of leasing the condo, the Olsens searched for a place with enough yard for a dog.
``We looked at everything in Olde Towne, but all of the houses were either too big or too little, or they didn't have a yard, and none of them have garages,'' she said.
When Columbia Commons was announced, they immediately contracted for the first house. As a result, they designed the interior to their needs and have a house with an attached garage.
Their Afghan, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, also known as Gus, now is able to run outside in his own fenced yard.
``We've been here a month and it's very quiet,'' Gene Olsen said. ``Sometimes on Sunday morning, we've heard the music from the churches around us.''
A caterer, Gene Olsen proudly displays letters from high-ranking officials (such as former President Bush and senatorial candidate Oliver North) who have hired her to stage parties. Her own home, as she designed it, reflects her career. Open spaces around the stairway in the core on the first floor make it an ideal place for a party.
``We like things open and we changed the contractor's plans to suit us,'' she said.
Although she still is waiting for some minor construction problems to be remedied, Olsen said she loves her house.
Olsen said she was amazed to learn that the black contractors, BHS Construction of Chesapeake, never had built a house for whites.
``They said they had worked for other contractors but never done one on their own for white people until they did this one,'' she said. ``These guys shouldn't be limited.''
The general feeling around town was that the area would develop into an all-black upscale community. The move by the Olsens might have changed the course that will create an integrated neighborhood.
BHS and Goode Construction Inc., also of Chesapeake, have first dibs on the 19 lots in Columbia Commons, said Gordon Wheatley, assistant director of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
``If they start lagging, then we'll open it up,'' he said.
But Wilson Goode said he doesn't expect to be lagging.
``Response has been good but we expect our greatest activity in the spring, when people usually want to build houses,'' Goode said Tuesday. ``The price (at Columbia Commons) is right.''
The house he is building now contains 2,200 square feet for $129,900, he said.
The authority, Wheatley said, is pleased that in addition to the Olsen house, another is almost ready for the owners to move into and a third is under contract.
Two other houses already completed were built as ``models,'' one by each contractor.
Columbia Commons is the last piece of the Priority Action Plan initiated 12 years ago to rebuild the area between Interstate 264 and the Olde Towne historic district.
To make the lots more attractive to developers and prospective homeowners, the city spent $400,000 to install underground utility lines, street and drainage improvements, a brick wall on County Street and a brick and iron fence around the development to create one entrance off Columbia Street.
While Gene Olsen is enthusiastic about the new community and the city as a whole, she isn't wearing blinders when it comes to the city's problems.
But she doesn't just complain. She offers suggestions and solutions.
From her living room window she looks over the brick wall to an empty former Signet Bank building, a contemporary structure on Washington Street at the corner of County Street.
``I wish somebody would do something with that building,'' she said. ``It would make a wonderful banquet hall and meeting place. It has wonderful parking and it's part of downtown. I think we need more places for people to gather and I think a nice place would be used.''
As for the former Trailways bus station on Washington Street, also visible from her windows, Olsen wonders why TRT doesn't make it the central meeting place for all buses.
``Instead of standing in the rain or the cold or the heat, people waiting for the next bus could be inside enjoying a cup of coffee or a soda,'' she said. ``It could become a thriving restaurant as well as a comfortable, convenient place for bus riders.''
Because she ``loves the Commodore'' theater, Olsen would like to see the entire block perked up.
Olsen's years of catering in Charleston make her wonder why Portsmouth doesn't encourage local homeowners to open their homes for tourist groups.
``I've done some beautiful luncheons in private homes for tour groups,'' she said. ``It's a wonderful way to attract people and the owners are paid for the use of their rooms.''
In lieu of private homes, Olsen wonders why the Portsmouth Historical Association doesn't help pay its bills by opening the Hill House for tourist luncheons and dinners.
(The Hill House at 221 North St. was a bequest to the association from the Hill family and is maintained as a museum. It is open to tourists on a limited basis.)
``It makes sense to me,'' she said.
``They do it in Charleston. Why not in Portsmouth?''
Olsen was upset that The Famous building will become the Tidewater Community College art school.
``Why didn't we use the school (Portsmouth Catholic) on London Boulevard?'' she asked. ``They could have used the classrooms and offices as they are and the gym for galleries. They even could have had outdoor shows on the grounds.''
The Famous and the former Leggett building, now becoming the Children's Museum of Virginia, could have attracted new businesses, Olsen believes.
``I believe people would be interested if they were given the right information,'' Olsen said. ``We didn't need to use these buildings for public institutions that don't pay taxes.''
The outspoken Olsen also has a few comments on the care of Olde Towne.
``I've seen rats running around on Court Street and only sick rats come out by day,'' she said. ``What do tourists think when they see that?''
In addition, she said, the city needs to ``get rid of the garbage on London Boulevard.''
``They just don't seem to be able to get control of landlords,'' she said. ``There's so much history here, it can compete with any other place and a lot of people never have been here.''
The unfinished Kings Crossing on the waterfront ``should be a hotel with shops on the ground,'' Gene Olsen said.
``That would pay off for the businesses,'' she said.
An old building that looks like a fire station, now a storage building for Virginia Power, on Middle Street would make a wonderful ``Firehouse Cafe,'' Olsen said.
``They could serve burgers and ice cream and things kids would like,'' she said. ``They could have a Dalmatian and some fire equipment around and that would be a wonderful tourist attraction, especially for people with kids.''
The city must position itself to take advantage of the expansion of the Naval Hospital and also the movement of ships from bases, such as Charleston, that are being closed, Olsen said.
``We need to do things to attract those people to live here,'' she said. ``It doesn't happen unless we make it happen.''
For one thing, she noted the need for a first-class grocery store downtown. ``They have them in Charleston,'' she said.
``I just think they could do much more to attract businesses we need,'' she said.
Olsen believes the city doesn't seem to be going anywhere because of a lack of leadership.
``Portsmouth is not going to move forward until we change leadership,'' she said. ``We need some new people.''
Despite her skepticism, however, Gene and Frederick Olsen aren't going anywhere.
Their investment in Columbia Commons speaks louder than her words. ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
URBAN PIONEERS
Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Georgene Olsen takes her dog, Gus, for a walk in front of her house
in Columbia Commons.
Staff photos by MARK MITCHELL
Georgene and Frederick Olsen bought the first home in the Columbia
Commons after leasing a condo over Crawford Bay for four years. A
garage and room for their dog to roam in the back yard were part of
the lure.
Above, the master bedroom of the Olsens' $140,000 home. Below,
Georgene Olsen relaxes in the breakfast nook.
by CNB