THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508180151
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Vision 2005 may still be in the talking stages but the public talk seems to be generating some private action in Portsmouth.
Portsmouth Partners, owners of two major low-rent rental projects, plan to raze River Edge Apartments and construct single-family dwellings in the area. The project awaits City Council's agreement Tuesday to make infrastructure improvements to support the new $14 million development.
Farm Fresh Inc. is moving to use the remainder of the old Williams Court project on the city line in Cradock. In addition to an apartment complex on part of the now vacant land, Beacon Construction Co. will create a new single-family housing development with residents selling for $60,000 to $80,000.
Rite-Aid plans to build a new, free-standing $1 million drug store on London Boulevard.
A developer has agreed to finish Kings Crossing on the waterfront as the originally designed condominiums. The city will retain control of the ground floor commercial space.
A long-vacant former Social Services building at the corner of Green Street and London Boulevard was razed this week to make way for new private housing designed to blend with existing Olde Towne neighborhoods. Thirteen homes will be constructed.
Construction of a hotel at the corner of North and Effingham streets is still on tap. The developer recently cleared the site of the former Social Services headquarters building.
Wynn's Seafood, which lost its old site to the future I.C. Norcom site, will move across the street to a much-enlarged and much snazzier looking location.
Lee's supermarket, also displaced by Norcom, will move in to another long-vacant building at the corner of Elm Avenue and Lincoln Street when renovations are completed.
Most of these projects have been in the works - or at least talked about - in the past. But most of them lagged along until recently. In addition, work in the 600 block of High Street is proceeding. Buildings once scheduled for demolition will be rehabilitated for much-needed small business space and some second-floor residential space. The activity will expand Downtown Portsmouth activity, focusing on arts, antiques and collectibles.
Throughout the area from Downtown to Midtown, citizen groups are meeting and making suggestions for large and small projects to improve both business and residential neighborhoods.
People outside the city as well as many of Portsmouth's own citizens have in the past developed very negative attitudes about the future here. Only by changing those notions can the city look to better days.
The intensity of citizen involvement and the city's inclination to follow through on Vision 2005 certainly sends a positive message. And it may be that private developers as well as some public employees are beginning to understand that somebody means business around here. by CNB