THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603150187
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
City Council wisely delayed action on a proposal to build duplexes on Washington Street in Olde Towne South, but not because of criticism of those who want to build them.
Rather they need to know what else is going to happen in the Effingham Corridor area before they decide to permit valuable vacant land to be used for smaller dwellings such as those proposed by the Portsmouth Community Development Group.
There is no guarantee that the proposed 1,100-square-foot units could not turn into rental property. Portsmouth already is 40 percent rented and the percentage in Olde Towne South is greater than that.
One of the reasons Olde Towne South property values have been sagging is the disproportionate number of rental units in the area. Many are owned by absentee landlords who care very little about the community and who do not carefully screen their tenants.
The vacant land in question is adjacent to the Effingham Corridor and across from Columbia Commons, where new single-family houses, selling from $130,000 to $160,000, have sold quickly. The demand for these houses may be a good indicator that duplexes are not the best use of the nearby land.
The units proposed would sell for $80,000 maximum and may be less than what is needed to continue the metamorphosis of this area. Columbia Commons has made it obvious that there are many people who want to live in a new house Downtown and who can pay $150,000 or more for a dwelling. The city should continue in that direction to change the demographics that discourage businesses from opening Downtown.
There is no doubt that Portsmouth needs ``affordable housing'' as proposed by Portsmouth Community Development, but the city should think long and hard before it gives up some of the last vacant residential property in the Olde Towne environs for uses that may be less than they should be. by CNB