THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506080423
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
City officials announced Wednesday that two firms are interested in building a privately run state prison in Suffolk.
Under Gov. George F. Allen's initiative to build more state prisons, the state has sought proposals for private business to run state prisons. As a result, Suffolk has heard from two firms.
The City Council on Wednesday passed an ordinance saying they had no objection to an application for a state prison facility.
James G. Vacalis, Suffolk assistant city manager for operations, said Wednesday that the two firms are interested in building one of several options - a 1,500-bed medium-security prison or two 750-bed medium-security prisons; or one 1,000-bed minimum-security prison or two 500-bed minimum-security prisons.
Vacalis said the two private firms must have their proposals to the state by the end of the month.
He refused to say where the two firms want to build, and would only say they will go in an isolated area of the city near sewer and water service.
The Corinthian Group is one of the firms initiating a proposal in Suffolk.
The other firm is a partnership between prison-builder Wackenhut and the architecture firm Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, Vacalis said.
KEYWORDS: PRISON PRIVATE by CNB