THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 12, 1995 TAG: 9501100134
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Granby Street near the zoo could emerge as an international restaurant district while a section of nearby 35th Street is envisioned as a center for African-American commerce.
Those are some preliminary concepts in Norfolk's commercial-district revitalization pilot program.
The pilot program is aimed initially at helping the retail districts of several neighborhoods. But the results later will be analyzed in hopes of applying the lessons city wide.
The efforts also are being organized to help the city's older retail areas survive after the MacArthur Center shopping mall opens downtown in October 1996.
The program, headed by the Planning Commission and the city's planning staff, will include market studies, redevelopment, streetscape, security, traffic and parking programs.
For example, the central Granby Street area - from the Virginia Zoological Park north to the Granby Street Bridge - has been christened Riverview Village.
The planners, working with businesses and nearby residents, hope to turn the aging commercial strip into a vibrant international restaurant and entertainment district that will complement plans to expand and improve the city's zoo.
The preliminary concept also envisions turning the old Riverview Theater into a children's theater.
A major concern among planners, merchants and residents is the future of the vacant and dilapidated Lafayette Yacht Club, recently purchased by lawyer Peter Decker.
Decker said it is too early to determine what can be done with the property. He has hired an engineering consultant to study the building and site, including wetlands. A report on conditions is expected in two months.
But, he said, ``I don't want to be a part of something that makes people unhappy. That would make me unhappy. All the money in the world wouldn't make me make people unhappy.''
Merchants along nearby 35th Street also would like to make stronger connections between the zoo and their commercial district. The African exhibit area will be among the first areas improved at the zoo.
Carlos A. Howard, president of the 35th Street Merchants Association, said retail development in his district can build upon the African theme.
The merchants, he said, would like to see development of an ``Africa Town,'' modeled after China Town and Little Italy ethnic shopping districts in other cities. Proposals call for an tall archway to welcome shoppers.
The 35th Street district already has one of Hampton Roads' largest collections of businesses owned by African Americans.
The planners and the merchants have urged city improvements to the district's streetscape, traffic patterns and building facades.
Yet to be resolved, however, is how far the improvements will be carried along 35th Street.
For example, Howard said all of 35th Street - from Granby Street to Hampton Boulevard - must be improved in order to increase traffic flow.
Planners say they may recommend major commercial improvements only between Colonial and Gosnold avenues with some street improvements in other segments of 35th Street. by CNB