THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603190087
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JODY R. SNIDER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
The Isle of Wight/Smithfield/Windsor Chamber of Commerce soon will be sending out change-of-address cards.
The chamber plans to renovate an old service station/bus station on the corner of Main and Church streets in Smithfield, turning it into a facility that better serves the Isle of Wight business community, said Constance H. Rhodes, the chamber's executive director.
``The current facility is not efficient from this location any longer,'' Rhodes said. ``People are in and out of our one-room office all day, and when you want to meet with someone, you have to go for a cup of coffee somewhere because there is no place to meet.''
The proposed 1,700-square-foot facility will have a large reception area that flows into a conference room, complete with audio-visual equipment that can be used by members and civic organizations for meetings.
A director's office also will house a small conference area for private meetings, and an additional office will be used for future growth and for professionals who come to town and need a place to work.
Rhodes said that office also could serve as a temporary space for businesses trying to get a start in the community.
Other rooms include kitchen facilities, restrooms, storage room, workroom for office supplies and a secretary's office.
The new chamber will be in sharp contrast with the current chamber, which is housed in a 12-by-18-foot room in the old clerk's office on Smithfield's Main Street.
Rhodes said chamber officials anticipated a move two years ago when they began looking at the demands of the chamber and the growth of its membership.
``When I was hired in 1984, we had 65 members,'' Rhodes said. ``Today we have more than 200 members. We've averaged 10 percent growth in membership per year in the last four years.''
The former service station, which recently served as Discount Tire and Auto Service, was purchased by Smithfield Foods Inc. in February. The tire store's lease ran out in January, and Smithfield Foods did not renew the lease.
When the property became available, Rhodes said chamber officials felt it would be the ideal location for an office.
Since then, a contract-lease agreement has been reached between the chamber and Smithfield Foods. The agreement involves a 20-year lease with the option to purchase the building at the end of the lease, Rhodes said.
``The advantage to the new location is that when visitors enter Smithfield from South Church Street, the chamber building will be the first thing they see,'' Rhodes said. ``I see it as a cornerstone for the town.''
``Visitors will see us before they see anyone else,'' said Alan Monette, chamber building chairman. ``This new facility is badly needed right now. It's very difficult to do business in the current chamber because there's no space, there are interruptions, and, in my opinion, it's not even properly serviced with heat or air.''
The chamber's board of directors recently called on Planning and Design Collaborative, a Richmond company that designed the Gatling Pointe Yacht Club, to make the preliminary designs for the renova-tions.
Costs for renovating the building are estimated at $200,000, Rhodes said.
The chamber has set aside $20,000. It plans to raise additional money through its membership once a contractor is hired and cost is determined.
Rhodes said several contractors within the membership have been interviewed for the job.
``A local contractor will be selected by the design company, and then that company will give us their price,'' Rhodes said. ``At that point, the chamber will conduct a feasibility study to determine whether funds can be raised to renovate the building. We'll probably have to talk to some lending institutions as well.'' ``It's going to be an effort by the whole chamber to make this happen,'' Monette said.
A final decision will be made by 16-member chamber board in May. ILLUSTRATION: Planning and Design Collaborative, a Richmond company, made
preliminary designs for renovations.
Plans include landscaping the grounds.
by CNB