THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505090120
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
Citizens and neighborhood groups are waiting to see if they will be on the list of ``haves'' or ``have-nots.''
City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on how to allocate $9.4 million in community development funds from the federal government. The monies will be distributed under the city's proposed 1995-96 Consolidated Plan, which will go into effect July 1.
On April 13, the Planning Commission recommended the funding of 33 community projects in the plan. City Council held a public hearing on the plan May 2. The hearing marked the last time citizens had a formal opportunity to make pitches for a piece of the pie.
One project that made the cut is renovating the Chesterfield pool near Chesterfield Elementary School. The Department of Parks and Recreation had suggested closing the outdoor facility due to lack of use and deterioration, but Vice Mayor Paul R. Riddick pressed to include the project. A total of $140,000 in repair costs are needed to keep the pool open.
``We have rescheduled activities to warrant the funding,'' Riddick said. ``The pool had been closing at 5 in the evening. We're going to extend the hours and attract more kids. Without a pool to learn how to swim in, a lot of kids risk drowning. There is a safety factor as well as the activity factor.''
The Tanner's Creek Project, a $250,000 horticultural complex at the zoo that would train and hire the handicapped, also is on the list of recommendations. As in past hearings, supporters were out in large numbers.
``I'm very much in favor of the project,'' said Donald McKeil, a representative of the Norfolk Alliance For Persons With Mental Retardation. McKeil's son works for the Louise W. Eggleston Center, which employs handicapped people and is a co-sponsor of the Tanner's Creek Project.
One backer of a program not among the 33 on the list made a final plea for inclusion.
``We would like you (council) to consider funds for juvenile recreational programs for the Lafayette-Winona and Ballentine neighborhoods,'' said Walter Dickerson, vice president of the Norfolk Neighborhood Crime Coalition.
Dickerson said that the communities all have experienced a rising rate of youth-related crimes and that recreational activities would keep kids off the streets. At prior hearings, Dickerson and other supporters have proposed that a recreational facility be built adjacent to Ballentine School.
``I wanted to try again,'' Dickerson said. ``I've talked to Councilman Herb Collins, and he told me they would try to do something.''
After the Consolidated Plan is approved, it must be submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for final approval. ILLUSTRATION: RECOMMENDED PROJECTS, ESTIMATED COSTS
The proposed Consolidated Plan allocates monies under three
federal programs: the Community Development Block Grant Program, the
Emergency Shelter Grant Program and the Home Investment Partnership
Program. Funds for some of the 33 recommended projects come from
more than one of the three programs.
Ballentine Place...$33,000
Berkley III...$705,654
Berkley IV...$419,982
Central Brambleton...$421,016
South Brambleton...$64,100
Cottage Line...$264,906
Huntersville...$254,226
Lamberts Point...$672,938
Mid-Town Industrial...$115,002
Park Place...$796,740
West Ocean View...$107,051
Demolition/Clearance...$238,123
Disposition/Lease Retention...$408,140
Rehabilitation...$746,080
NRHA Administration ...$1,079,342
Real Estate Services Administration...$115,151
Relocation Services Administration...$313,157
Rehabilitation Services Administration...$830,142
Attucks Theatre...$40,000
City Administration...$321,850
Code Enforcement Demolition...$200,000
Code Enforcement Rehabilitation Grants...$300,000
Code Enforcement Relocation...$25,000
Chesterfield Pool...$140,000
Tanner's Creek Project...$250,000
Olde Huntersville...$177,555
Plumb Line Ministries...$107,790
Park Place Foundation...$47,905
The Dwelling Place...$56,000
The Haven Family Center...$64,340
Homeless Prevention Center...$33,867
St. Columbia (Day Shelter)...$21,500
Women-In-Crisis Shelter (YWCA)...$49,443
TOTAL...$9,420,000
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL FEDERAL FUNDING by CNB