THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410210272
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Frequently, what happens down in Elizabeth City reenforces my notions of Portsmouth's potential.
Last weekend, 72 transient pleasure craft - most of them sizable sailboats - were moored around the city wherever there was a place to hang a rope. No telling how many more were anchored out in the river because at several boats, groups of masts were visible between buildings and trees.
Boaters were all over downtown that Saturday, eating in the local cafes, stopping in the stores and window-shopping up and down Main Street. Because Elizabeth City is so small and everybody knows everybody else, it's not hard to spot the boaters.
By Sunday morning, when the wind stopped blowing and the sun started shining, I expected most of the boats to be gone, continuing their trek South. Not so. When I stopped at the newsstand, there were boaters spending money on newspapers, paperbacks, even a quick breakfast.
Chances are the boaters who stayed over an extra day in Elizabeth City also hit the grocery store, the drug store and maybe even the liquor store. Some probably even got local marina folks to do work on their boats.
I have talked to boaters who had no intention of spending extra time in town to get work done. One told me he had planned to stay in another town to get the work done but opted for the hospitality of Elizabeth City, where volunteers stage wine and cheese parties for the visiting boaters.
Late Sunday, another wave of boats hit, again filling the available spaces as they glided down the river from the Dismal Swamp Canal. I bet many of them also spent money with Elizabeth City businesses.
An estimated 6,000 to 7,000 pleasure boats pass by Portsmouth on the semi-annual pilgrimages that take boaters South in the winter and North in the summer.
Only a small portion of them go through the Dismal Swamp to Elizabeth City. However, the number is increasing as more of them learn about the large welcome mat in my hometown.
Elizabeth City gets thousands of words written about it in all sorts of publications because of the relationship with the boaters. In addition, word of mouth among boaters is great public relations.
Portsmouth could capitalize on this captive audience.
That was one premise of the Scotts Creek Plan, promoted by the Northside neighborhoods of Park View, West Park View and Shea Terrace. It is supported by the folks who are creating an economic development plan for Portsmouth.
The city has secured a dredging permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. It has promised $1 million to do the work.
With the dredging would come construction of private marinas and related businesses on the north shore of the creek, an area sheltered from storms but right at the Elizabeth River.
As consultant after consultant has noted, the protected waterfront not only offers a haven from a storm. It also has the potential of becoming the place boaters want to visit.
So far, the city has not been too successful in marketing the north shore land. Maybe the Gindroz economic development plan, emphasizing the use of the waterfront, will spur them to action.
The boating market is out there. It passes us by every day and it is especially large in the spring and fall. Generally speaking, the occupants of these expensive sailing vessels have money in their jeans.
In Elizabeth City, a town of but 15,000 people, the boaters are very visible and the path of the money they bring in is fairly easy to trace.
Here it is more difficult to determine how many gain from transient boaters. But I bet we could have thriving businesses on the north shore and find the volunteers here to make up welcoming parties. MEMO: Whether you agree or disagree, The Currents would like to hear from you.
Write to The Currents, 307 County St., Suite 100, Portsmouth, Va.
23704-3702, or fax us at 446-2607.
by CNB