THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 12, 1996 TAG: 9603120264
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
The City Council Monday postponed action for six months on the Portsmouth Community Development Group's application to build duplexes adjacent to the upscale Columbia Commons development in Olde Towne South.
Despite the community development group's offer of a $100,000 assurance bond for any work in Columbia Commons, several council members still questioned the ability of the nonprofit agency to produce good-quality housing.
Council members said they based their concerns on complaints about houses the agency worked on in the Prentiss Place neighborhood.
``The issue before us tonight is their track record,'' said Vice Mayor Johnny M. Clemons. ``I cannot support efforts of this organization . . . to move into new areas, particularly the Columbia Commons. We've invested too much into that area to make it a viable part of our city.''
Mayor Gloria O. Webb echoed Clemons' sentiment, adding that she preferred to see all problems with the Prentiss Place housing rectified before approving work in a new neighborhood.
Council members said the Columbia Commons development was too important to the image of a revived downtown and an important part of the Vision 2005 revitalization plan.
Some members said they weren't sure they wanted duplexes, priced from $85,000 to $110,000, within the vicinity of single-family houses costing $130,000 to $170,000.
Maury Cooke, president of the community development group, said the agency wants to build lower-priced houses near Columbia Commons to spread affordable housing through Portsmouth.
Cooke and other advocates for the community development group acknowledged mistakes in Prentiss Place housing, but they insisted the problems were only cosmetic and would be corrected over the next four months. Cooke said only four houses remained to be repaired.
As assurance, Cooke reiterated a ``100 percent'' buyback guarantee in Prentiss Place. He also offered to step aside if his involvement was jeopardizing the program's performance.
Cooke and his colleagues contended that the problems resulted from trying to renovate older homes with novice contractors. Brian Hicks, the agency's executive director, said there were relatively few problems in new houses constructed by Class A and Class B builders.
But critics such as the Rev. James R. Griffin demanded that all problems be corrected before the community development group was allowed to build elsewhere. by CNB