THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409290031
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 173 lines
ALFRED MORGAN has big dreams for Portsmouth.
He wants to dig up the asphalt along High Street and fill the huge gaping hole with water. Lots of water.
He wants this waterfront town to look more like Venice - the one in Italy, not Florida. Complete with gondolas carrying shoppers from store to store and ships coming in to drop off supplies to downtown merchants.
Philip J. Parker also has huge hopes. He wants to build a theme park next to WAVY-TV, in the commerce park on the Elizabeth River. He wants the park, Navytown U.S.A., to be a celebration of the area's history with the Navy.
Councilman Cameron Pitts' plans include a 180-foot stream of water heading for the skies, a giant Ferris wheel, a tower similar to the Seattle Space Needle and a replica of the tall ship Monitor - before it became an ironclad.
Portsmouth folks are into dreams these days. The bigger the better.
The city is tired of being the region's afterthought - a poor urban area overshadowed by a bigger urban neighbor, Norfolk, and fast growing suburban cities like Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
Now it wants, in the words of the City Council, to be ``respected in the region.'' Getting a chunk of the region's tourist money wouldn't hurt, either.
Portsmouth citizens have long complained about their city's image - that even those living in the city knock it. Folks are still talking about image; these days, it's talk about ways to improve it. And they aren't brooking any complaints from naysayers.
But gondolas plying the waters of High Street?
Alfred Morgan earned the nickname ``Mr. Suggestion'' while working as a mechanic at Fort Eustis. He's retired now, and 64, but the suggestions haven't stopped.
For Morgan, a watery High Street is the only thing the city needs to attract the tourists and the flourishing retail and business base the city once boasted.
``I started thinking about that canal because High Street doesn't have tourists, and it should,'' Morgan said. ``We just need something like a magnet to get people to come here. People traveling down the Intracoastal Waterway will be pulled in off the main water and through Portsmouth.''
Morgan loves Portsmouth. He believes the city has been criticized wrongly. He says the city is cozy, a wonderful place to raise a family.
Morgan remembers when High Street was teeming with people. He remembers the fish house on the waterfront where fishermen sold their catch. He reminisces about a vendor who sold peanuts to commuters getting on and off the ferry to Norfolk.
``There are good things in Portsmouth that I thought I never would see,'' he says. ``But the city has been standing still so long, it's gotten stagnant. It needs something to rejuvenate it.''
By comparison, the city's official vision is practically staid.
Portsmouth officials brought in urban design expert Ray Gindroz and his associates to help build a picture for Portsmouth's future. Those designs include a tall ship on the waterfront; a park, including an amphitheater, near the downtown; and marinas in various parts of the city.
This new vision has begun to crystallize since a small group of citizens came to city officials with an outlandish idea to put a horse racing track in the center of this urban area.
It took the group more than a year to convince city officials it could be done, but the idea took form. Citizens got excited. In a referendum more than 80 percent supported a track. In hearings, citizens overwhelmingly favored the track.
Official types were caught by surprise. They were astounded by the energy poured into the project.
``Whether we get the race track or not - and I'm betting we'll get it - that project showed that this city can come together and work for something it wants,'' said City Councilman James T. Martin. ``It shows the people in this community care about their city.''
City Manager V. Wayne Orton said he hopes the city can capitalize on that same enthusiasm for other projects.
It seems to be happening.
Small groups are coming together to create a new look for the city. A group of business people from the MidCity area has gotten together, in part, to talk about ways to rejuvenate and beautify the once-thriving shopping district. Councilman Pitts and a band of followers convinced the council to add an atrium to the new Children's Museum. The atrium will front High Street and will initially house a lighthouse prism. Pitts hopes to eventually put a ``flying carousel'' in the second story atrium.
Pitts' followers have touted other ideas, such as a 180-foot waterspout at Swimming Point near the Portsmouth Naval Hospital and a tall ship or showboat along the Seawall. Pitts also wants a tall Ferris wheel, an eye-catching icon beckoning visitors from across the water.
Phillip Parker, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, also has supporters for his project to capitalize on the city's rich naval history. About a dozen folks followed him to a City Council meeting this summer where he unveiled his plans.
He has started a fund-raising campaign. He's also trying to get companies such as the Disney Corp. involved.
``There's no financial backing yet,'' Parker said. ``I'm waiting for a Mr. Rockefeller to come along - or one like him.''
Parker believes that if city officials focus on the naval theme park, they will be able to come up with a clear vision of the city's future. He says the $200-million theme park could be the panacea to many problems.
``The city would experience a social and cultural rebirth which would enable it to achieve its rightful standing among the other urban areas in our region,'' Parker told the City Council.
Parker's theme park would be located on 60 acres at the Commerce Park Port Centre, near the downtown waterfront.
Parker envisions a circular pavilion with separate buildings inside. He wants moving sidewalks bringing patrons to each building.
Exhibits would include a theater in the round featuring life aboard a frigate in the War of 1812 and a naval battle between the Chesapeake and the Shannon in 1813. Another exhibit would focus on the battle between the ironclads the Monitor and the Merrimack. There's more: ``Battleships on Parade,'' a ``Sub Chase'' an exhibit devoted to aircraft carriers, an amphitheater, a convention center, a visitor's center, gift shops.
The Gindroz plan builds on the more charming things that already exist in Portsmouth - like Olde Towne and other historic neighborhoods. It calls for city leaders to find ways to clean up some of the older areas and to renovate and showcase the city's historic homes.
A group of citizens, appointed by the mayor, has been working with Gindroz on developing the plan and will have influence over the final version that will go to the council for approval.
Gindroz, the man that helped Norfolk recreate its image over the past 15 years, has suggested that Portsmouth begin adding some privately owned homes amongst some of the city's worst public housing projects, such as Ida Barbour and Jeffrey Wilson Homes. He wants to give some of the tenants more power over their own living environment.
His plan also heavily relies on the city's 75 miles of shoreline. Gindroz and his team have had the time to look at the city with fresh eyes and see its potential without thinking about cost restraints.
The city is left with a wonderful vision of its future - several, in fact. Now it's faced with finding ways to make those dreams come true. Gindroz suggests taking little pieces at a time.
``Keep part of the vision fuzzy,'' he said. ``Set five-year goals and one-year goals at each year. And then have a 10-year goal that allows a little fuzziness.'' MEMO: See the Thursday/Friday Currents for more about Portsmouth's future. ILLUSTRATION: SAM HUNDLEY/Staff
Photos
RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Philip J. Parker shows his plan for building a theme park called
Navytown, U.S.A. in Portsmouth next to WAVY-TV.
Councilman Cameron Pitts plans a 180-foot stream of water heading
for the skies.
Alfred Morgan wants Portsmouth to have its own canal, just like
Venice.
Graphic
IDEAS SOUGHT
The Portsmouth City Council commissioned urban designer Ray
Gindroz and his company, Urban Design Associates, to talk to
citizens and to draw a vision for the city. Gindroz unveiled those
plans to the public on Wednesday.
The drawings will be on display on the third floor of the Central
Fidelity Bank building today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gindroz will meet
with citizens throughout the day to listen to their ideas and
comments. Gindroz will then meet with the Mayor's Policy Advisory
Committee at 2 p.m.
by CNB