The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, January 29, 1995               TAG: 9501270206
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

CITIZENS SUPPORT BOLD PLAN JUST DO IT!

The message at Tuesday night's public hearing on the proposed economic development plan was clear: Do it!

Now known as Vision 2005, the plan encompasses everything from Downtown to Midtown, revitalizing and shoring up areas that have been allowed to wallow in official neglect.

At the public hearing, representatives from Olde Towne, Park View and Midtown wholeheartedly endorsed the plan. In addition, they all specifically indicated they would do more than talk about it and that they expect the city to act as well.

``Time is of the essence,'' Midtown Association president Mary Curran said. ``Bring us back alive.''

Curran exhorted council members to ``take risks necessary for success.''

``Dim vision has been chipping away our image,'' Curran said.

Calling the plan ``spectacular vision for Portsmouth's future,'' Park View Civic League president Carleen Smith said her community is ``serious in our endeavors.''

``We wish to work in partnership with the city,'' Smith said.

Noting that the planning process has involved many citizens, Olde Towne Civic League president Les French said his neighbors also approved of the concepts set forth in the plan.

``We see this as a dynamic plan for the entire city,'' French said.

Portsmouth's small land area, coupled with the large amount of land used up by the Navy, Coast Guard and State Ports, decrees that whatever happens in one part of town is going to have an effect on every other part of town. For that reason, it is imperative that the city deal with the part of the city encompassed by the plan.

Citizens who own businesses or homes in the affected areas are enthusiastic about the proposed plan. Many of them have been telling the city for years what the experts have reiterated in the plan.

City Council should move quickly to tap into the energy these residents have for a plan many of them see as a sort of last ditch chance for the city. It can't afford to lose the faith of citizens who believe in Portsmouth.

The message was there Tuesday night: Just do it!

KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

by CNB