THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190401
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Metro Briefs
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
The School Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to ask the Circuit Court for permission to seize a 6-acre site on First Colonial Road for a new elementary school.
The property's owner, 80-year-old Margaret Johnson, has resisted selling her land. City officials still are negotiating with Johnson, board members said, but they wanted to initiate court proceedings in case no deal is struck.
The board originally offered Johnson $260,000 in October, but reconsidered after Johnson protested. The offer was raised to $1 million in December.
The property, along with an adjoining 9-acre site, would be used for a replacement school for Linkhorn Park Elementary. The board and the City Council decided to move Linkhorn Park and another school because they are in Oceana Naval Air Station's crash zone.
The owners of the 9-acre site, John R. Potter, Gordon B. Potter and Dean S. Potter, also have resisted selling. The board filed in court in October to seize the Potters' property. The suit is pending while city officials negotiate with the Potters over the price. The Potters have been offered $2.7 million.
KEYWORDS: REZONING VIRGINIA BEACH SCHOOLS by CNB