THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410140556
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
While the Virginia Racing Commission was deciding whether Portsmouth would get the state's only horse track, city officials were hedging their bets.
The track was awarded to New Kent County on Wednesday, and Portsmouth, which had staked a large part of its image on getting it, quickly changed directions.
In the weeks before the track announcement, Portsmouth officials, who had combined efforts with Virginia Racing Associates to compete for the license, were meeting in closed-door sessions to explore other possibilities for their proposed track site.
City officials have already begun negotiations with the owners of Fairwood Homes for a possible public and private partnership to bring a new commerce park and housing development to the area where the race track had been planned.
``We do have alternate plans, we
didn't put all our eggs in one basket,'' Councilman Johnny M. Clemons said. ``They say when God closes a door he opens a window.''
That window opened on a proposal that includes a commerce park between Victory Boulevard and McLean Street, and Interstate 264 and Greenwood Drive. Townhouses and apartments would be built near Highland-Biltmore, and homes ranging from $90,000 to $150,000 are planned near the Bide-A-Wee Golf Course. A recreational area would also be included.
``Nothing is set in stone,'' said James H. Epperson, the general manager of Fairwood Homes and a co-owner of the site. ``But we've been negotiating with the city, and we're very close.''
Epperson said the plan by his company, Bush Construction Co., follows the city's comprehensive plan and would take at least 10 years to complete. He said he and his partners never gave up on their dreams for the 312-acre site but did put them on hold for the race track.
``Negotiations have been ongoing even through the race-track days,'' Epperson said. ``It was a big gamble, and we weren't just waiting for something to happen.''
City Manager V. Wayne Orton confirmed that negotiations for a possible public and private partnership were going on in the weeks before the race track announcement. But he said he was reluctant to discuss the details ``until the concept has been fully refined with the best thought possible.''
``We were working with the Bush people before the race track was ever considered for that site,'' Orton said. ``We are continuing those negotiations.''
Epperson said his company had plans for Fairwood Homes long before it began negotiations with the city.
``Our plans, when the place was purchased in 1984, were to completely rebuild Fairwood Homes within 20 years,'' Epperson said. ``The plans are still the same. We're now talking with the city about a joint venture. We're talking very closely with the city manager and other city people.''
Orton said that the city may be ready to unveil the entire plan as early as next week.
Epperson agreed. ``It's just a matter of getting together and making it financially feasible for everyone,'' he said.
But even if plans are announced next week, Epperson said, the folks living in Fairwood Homes have little to worry about. Construction will be in phases and should begin in an area where houses are already vacant, he said.
``I don't think anyone would have to be displaced,'' Epperson said. ``The plan is to build affordable housing in there, and we can relocate anyone who could be inconvenienced.''
Besides, construction isn't likely to begin soon: There are still a few hurdles before the council approves the plan, Councilman Bernard D. Griffin said.
``Until I get more in the way of financing a package, I don't like to talk about it,'' Griffin said. ``Things become tricky when you start talking about financing. There has to be a conglomerate of people working on it. Until somebody really sits down and decides who's going to play what part, I'm going to wait on this.''
The financing could be a problem.
``We'd like to do the entire project with city investment,'' Epperson said. ``We'd like to go in business with the city. What we have planned would help the city to increase its tax base.''
But Epperson said that as a city resident he's as ``interested in Portsmouth as he is in making a few dollars.''
Councilman Cameron C. Pitts said he wants Ray Gindroz, an urban design consultant who was hired to help the city plan its revitalization, to review the Fairwood Homes proposal. Steve Herbert, the city's economic development director, also said he hopes to get Gindroz involved in the designs.
``Any time you have a plan A, you should certainly have a plan B and C on the board,'' Griffin said. ILLUSTRATION: Map
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