THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409300518
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
An emerging master plan for Portsmouth promotes stronger connections between its neighborhoods and waterways.
Proposals call for small inlets for marinas along the downtown waterfront, a riverfront park near the entrance of the Downtown Tunnel and opening Scotts Creek inland toward High Street.
``We're pretty much in agreement, as far as the City Council is concerned,'' Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons said Thursday.
Consultant Ray Gindroz has briefed the City Council and will update members in a few weeks. He expects to make a formal presentation by early December.
Gindroz, based in Pittsburgh, said Portsmouth's best assets - its waterfronts - are not used to fullest advantage. For example, Portsmouth's downtown waterfront could be made more enticing to tourists looking across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. The waterfront, he said, could promote the historical flavor of nearby Olde Towne.
A park by the Downtown Tunnel could be an inviting gateway to downtown. Improvements to Scotts Creek would make a more attractive route from the Midtown Tunnel.
The creek improvements also could be linked with the planned location for the new I.C. Norcom High School, between London Boulevard and High Street near the Frank D. Lawrence Stadium.
Gindroz recommends that previous plans for dredging Scotts Creek be revived and that the waterway be restored as far as London Boulevard. His design also suggests development of two reflecting pools between London Boulevard and High Street, in effect creating a waterfront location for the adjacent high school.
The idea excited many civic leaders briefed on the proposals this week, including Schools Superintendent Richard Trumble.
Throughout his presentations, Gindroz emphasized that the proposals should be considered only as a framework for establishing planning concepts and priorities, not as firm plans.
Gindroz acknowledged that many proposals would be expensive, although he offered no price tags. But he said that the ideas could be funded through public-private partnerships or by making better use of programs already in the city's capital improvement budget. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JIM WALKER, Staff
Consultant Ray Gindroz, who has helped Norfolk create similar
planning visions, presents his ideas to a study panel Thursday.
KEYWORDS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT by CNB