THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 3, 1995 TAG: 9512010137
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 30 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Black and white prints of a bustling downtown Suffolk decorate the walls of The Gavel Restaurant.
Jeannie Conyers, manager of the West Washington Street restaurant that serves New York style bagels and hot or cold deli sandwiches, says the photos symbolize what Suffolk used to be.
Now she's counting on a $14 million Suffolk Courts Complex to usher in a new era to a struggling downtown. About 12 other business owners and a developer are hoping for the same.
``They're trying to rebuild Suffolk,'' said Conyers. ``We named it the Gavel because we knew about the courts.''
``We came down here anticipating the courts, and we hope it makes a positive impact,'' Conyers added. ``We're going to stick it out until it gets here.''
The courts complex is slated for construction next spring at North Main and Bank streets. Construction should take 20 months. Demolition for the complex has begun.
According to the Suffolk Downtown Association, the following businesses have opened or are opening: Bargain Bonanza, 104 N. Saratoga; Total Eye Care, 140 W. Washington; Eastern Virginia Eye Center, 140 W. Washington; DJ's Variety Shoppe, 106 N. Saratoga; Changin Faces, 108 N. Saratoga; T.S. Steele Group, 101 S. Saratoga; Heritage Lamps, 127 E. Washington; Basement Bargains, 136 S. Main; and Mane Street Styling at 173 N. Main.
Holland's Produce, a grocery, moved one block to 100 Commerce Street. It also expanded to include daily meal specials that may be eaten there or carried out.
A retail clothing store is planned at the former Francesca Unique Touch Building at 129 West Washington.
Ethel and Eva's Beauty Shop on North Main also is trying to broaden its clientele to include younger customers. In addition, the Western Tidewater Community Services Board at 157 N. Main and the Virginia Corrections Administrative office, at the same address, have located downtown.
City officials are working with a developer to rehabilitate the Professional Building at Main and East Washington streets. The city acquired the multistory property at no cost from the Western Tidewater Community Services Board last year. City officials won't disclose the name of the developer.
Yet plans for a courts complex haven't come without growing pains.
Some Main Street merchants opposed plans last month to do away with on-street parking to ready for construction. And William Beamon is fighting the city from condemning his store, Hot Spot Records and Tapes. The East Washington businessman is the lone holdout of a string of condemned businesses that were taken by the city to make way for parking.
And some longtime downtown business owners, like Andrew B. Damiani, say the city could do a better job promoting Suffolk as well as the Professional Building.
Damiani, a member of the Downtown Suffolk Association and owner of Washington Square Mall, said the city should offer more incentives to potential buyers. After all, Damiani stresses, downtown offers more attractive rental rates than suburban sites.
``It's not that they're leaving because they don't like downtown, it's that they don't have a choice. You have to recreate the confidence,'' said Damiani.
Jeffrey Robertson, an optometrist with Total Eye Care, said that although many businesses have fled downtown, he wanted to remain to provide service to the community.
``We felt there was a need downtown,'' said Robertson. ``One of the problems is that even though businesses leave, it makes it harder for people to access services.''
City officials say they're working to provide incentives.
Bob Chisom, executive director of the Downtown Suffolk Association, said there are plans to actively buy downtown buildings, rehabilitate them and sell them. Part of the challenge, he says, is locating the property owners.
Chisom said the Nansemond-Suffolk Historical Society recently created a separate arm through a 501 c 3 corporation to purchase and rehabilitate old houses along North Main.
Chisom hopes to get funding soon to rehabilitate the buildings because potential businesses would be more prone to locate if there was a ready building.
Chisom said he hopes to create a similar subcorporation within the DSA. ``Frankly, people don't want to wait nine months for a building.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Jeannie Conyers is counting on the courts complex to draw business.
by CNB