THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502210113
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
It was a lively exchange of ideas, but hardly a consensus.
At a recent property owners information meeting held by the city planning department, landlords, merchants and residents debated the merits of the proposed Pedestrian Commercial Overlay district for Ghent.
The plan would tighten zoning along sections of Colley Avenue and 21st Street to make the corridors more pedestrian friendly and visually upscale. Guidelines would keep storefronts close to the sidewalk to lend a big-city, window-shopping appeal. Great retail window space would be mandated. Parking and sign ordinances would be changed.
In a departure from the usual decorum, citizens argued more with one another than with the planners.
``It's a small group of merchants who spearheaded this,'' said Ted Baker, owner of Baker's Fine Jewelry and Gifts on 22nd Street. ``The restrictions proposed here are not market driven. Let the market take care of itself. Those are the forces that made Colley Avenue what it is.''
Doug Blankenship, a past president of the Ghent Business Association, agreed.
``This reminds me of what the city did with Granby Mall,'' Blankenship said. ``Those who don't remember history are condemned to repeat it.''
But Chris Cook, a past resident and frequent shopper in Ghent, took exception to the concept ``that the market knows best.''
``The belief that the marketplace will take care of itself has proven to be sadly unsuccessful on a local and national level,'' he said. ``If we want Ghent to thrive, we have to take steps to maintain its ambiance and genteel nature.''
Richard Levin, owner of Levin's Brass Beds on 21st Street, shared Cook's perspective.
``We need a vision for Ghent,'' he said. ``The change in zoning would be a step to get the look we want and draw the specialty shops we need.''
Properties from Maury Avenue to 21st Street along the Colley corridor, and from Core Avenue to Monticello Avenue along the 21st Street corridor would be affected.
The zoning proposal is related to the Colley Avenue-21st Street Streetscape Project, a long-range scheme to sustain economic growth through site refurbishments such as new street and traffic signs, street lights, and paving and planting areas.
The meeting, held Feb. 13 at the First Presbyterian Church, had some citizens expressing concerns that if Ghent isn't upgraded, it will lose shoppers and restaurant-goers to the proposed MacArthur Center downtown shopping mall.
``We must do something to keep Ghent viable and competitive or it will die when the downtown mall opens,'' one citizen said.
``I heard some concerns, but I think most people are excited about the proposal,'' said Planning Commissioner Barbara Zoby, who attended the meeting. ``I think it's a step that may help make Ghent the Georgetown of Norfolk. But I don't know if it will happen.''
Bill Miner, assistant planning director, delivered much of the staff's presentation.
``We put something on the table, listen to the reaction and make changes accordingly,'' he said.
The debate was scheduled to be part of today's planning commission's public hearing at 2:30 p.m. in City Hall. by CNB