THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603140001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Three years ago, said Hampton Mayor James L. Eason, the leaders of the 15 Hampton Roads localities would not have had a long, serious discussion on building a major-league indoor arena to serve the whole area - with costs and benefits shared.
But they did Friday in Portsmouth, at the regular meeting of the Hampton Roads Mayors and Chairs. It's enough to make you believe regionalism is an idea whose time has come when the 10 cities and five counties of Hampton Roads seek ways to improve the entire area.
At Friday's meeting, Peninsula leaders supported the proposed arena, even though it is likely to be located in South Hampton Roads. ``Hampton will be an enthusiastic supporter,'' said Robert J. O'Neill Jr., the city manager there.
The city and county leaders agreed to hire a consultant to study whether the area could support a major-league team and, if so, where the arena should be built and how it would be financed.
On April 26, at the next meeting of Hampton Roads Mayors and Chairs, an executive committee of four to six members probably will be selected to hire a consultant and oversee the work.
One sour note at Friday's meeting was a letter from Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf, who did not attend. ``In our case,'' it said, ``local support of a regional project that would materially damage our convention or hospitality industries will not be possible. We reserve the right to independently analyze and determine those interrelationships and impacts.''
But Oberndorf was not nixing the idea of an arena; she was stating her city's concerns. She favored efforts to obtain a major-league arena and other ``region-wide quality of life projects,'' if everybody wins.
We think everybody would, especially if the arena is one of a number of regional projects.
Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim called the meeting ``very positive'' and said, ``This is going to be difficult at times, but we're going to move ahead with it.''
Other regions are becoming huge economic engines. Hampton Roads cities and counties cannot afford to go their separate ways. On some matters, like attracting a major-league team, the 15 localities must work together. by CNB