THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060353
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 95 lines
The Hampton Roads Partnership apparently will not fund a study of a proposed 20,000-seat sports arena after all.
The partnership's executive committee formed a two-person subcommittee Wednesday to study the arena issue, but according to partnership co-chairman John O. Wynne, a consultant likely will be hired and paid for by another organization.
It had been anticipated that the partnership would name at least a six-person committee to hire a consultant and that the partnership would pay for the study.
``I don't think the partnership is going to fund that,'' said Wynne, president and CEO of Landmark Communications, parent of The Virginian-Pilot. ``I think it will be funded through some other regional arrangement.''
The executive committee named Norfolk Mayor Paul D. Fraim and Hampton Mayor James L. Eason to the subcommittee, one of six two-person groups selected by the partnership to study regional economic concerns.
Other subcommittees will study tourism, transportation, the privatization of some military operations, the port, and using the region's high-technology military facilities to attract high-tech business.
The partnership is a 53-person group formed last month to address the region's economic agenda.
Two months ago, Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf proposed the partnership as a compromise organization to fund the arena study. Norfolk and most of the region's other cities and counties wanted to use the private Greater Norfolk Corporation. Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Isle of Wight urged using the public Sports Authority of Hampton Roads.
The partnership, a public/private group, was agreeable to all.
Wynne said the arena is ``a politically charged issue,'' but he insists the partnership is not backing away from its commitment to provide leadership on an arena study.
``We're trying to establish our priorities,'' he said. ``The arena has come to us as one that's already been worked on.
``We've asked two people to tell us what the thinking is and to provide us with some information. We encouraged them to move as quickly as they can.
``A lot of us don't know much about this project. We came back with some thoughts we want them to investigate promptly.''
Wynne added that the group wants to see a business plan and an analysis of an arena's potential economic impact. He said the arena is on the partnership's standing agenda and will be discussed at each meeting.
Asked about funding for the consultant, Wynne said: ``The partnership is trying to help set (economic) strategy for the overall community. Many strategies will be implemented by others.''
Fraim said the decision was not a setback for the arena.
``The process will take some time and will be difficult at times, but it's worth pursuing,'' he said. ``The enthusiasm for this project remains high and it's going to proceed.''
The six subcommittees are to report to the executive committee on July 24. Fraim would not say whether a consultant will be hired by then, or who will hire the consultant.
``I need to talk to Jim (Eason),'' Fraim said. ``He wasn't at the meeting today and I need to hear what he thinks and sit down with my City Council to see what they think.''
Incoming partnership President Barry E. DuVal, Mayor of Newport News, said he expects the group's role in the arena study to be more clearly defined at the July 24 meeting.
``We've asked them (Eason and Fraim) to come forward with a recommendation should approach the study and what role the Hampton Roads Partnership should take in the study,'' he said. ``Hopefully, we'll reach some conclusions at that meeting and take the appropriate next step.''
Other subcommittees:
Tourism: Oberndorf and Robert Wilburn, president of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Transportation: Suffolk Mayor S. Chris Jones and former state Sen. Hunter B. Andrews.
Technology: Dr. James V. Koch, president of Old Dominion University, and Dr. Hermann Grunder, director of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.
Privatization: Daniel A. Hoffler, chairman of the board of Armada Hoffler, and Edward L. Brown Sr., international vice president of the International Longshoreman's Association.
Ports: J. Robert Bray, executive director of the Virginia Port Authority, and Charles E. Brinley, president and chief operating officer of Dominion Terminal Associates.
DuVal said projects that some business groups would like to see funded regionally along with the arena will be studied by other subcommittees. For instance, the expansion or construction of new convention facilities, most likely in Virginia Beach, will be studied by the tourism subcommittee.
DuVal said the partnership, which does not officially open until July 1, will locate its headquarters in downtown Norfolk, though he would not name the building. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
Mayors James Eason of Hampton, left, and Paul Fraim of Norfolk will
study the arena for the Hampton Roads Partnership.
KEYWORDS: PROPOSED ARENA REGIONALISM by CNB