THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 15, 1996 TAG: 9606150317
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 88 lines
Robert B. Smithwick, the city's leader of downtown development for a decade, is taking advantage of a lucrative retirement package offered to all eligible city employees and will leave city government Aug. 1.
Smithwick is now a special assistant to the city manager on development issues. He has been leading the ongoing development of the planned MacArthur Center mall.
Smithwick, who reportedly has been talking about retiring for the past year, said on Friday that with the city having finally secured a crucial loan for the mall, it made sense for him to leave.
``Once we got the $33 million loan and the paperwork went through, I realized that that completes my task,'' Smithwick said. ``I've decided to take advantage of a retirement incentive available to all qualified city employees. So I'm moving on. I'm proud of the contribution MacArthur Center is going to make to the future of this region. And I'm proud to have been able to be a part of that.''
The loan is the final building block necessary to assure construction of the mall, said city officials. The city had been pursuing a package of federal loan guarantees, but switched to private loans instead after failing to agree over hiring requirements of the federal loan program.
Until April, Smithwick was the city's director of development, a position he held for 10 years. Smithwick said then that he wanted to diminish his administrative duties in the 15-person department in order to prepare for retirement.
In May, City Manager James B. Oliver revealed in a confidential letter to the City Council that Smithwick was transferred also because female staffers had complained to the city manager of sexual harassment by Smithwick. Transferring Smithwick to the city manager's office resolved those complaints, Oliver said.
Smithwick, 68, joined the city in 1986 after a 30-year career with Texaco, retiring as vice president in charge of U.S. operations. The position with Norfolk was really a third career, because he worked as a high school coach before his career at Texaco.
``Bob has made such a contribution to this community,'' said Deputy City Manager Darlene L. Burcham on Friday. ``It wasn't something he had to do. He chose to come out of retirement to make a contribution to his home.''
As development director, Smithwick has led the city's charge to find new businesses and develop those that are here already. During Smithwick's tenure, USAA located an office in Norfolk. Smithwick also was a player in downtown projects like Harbor Park baseball stadium and the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel and the Norfolk Waterside Convention Center. Recently, the Coast Guard and The New York Times moved offices here.
But the MacArthur Mall has been Smithwick's first priority. The city has worked to attract a developer to the 17-acre site for 35 years. For the last 10 years, during Smithwick's reign, it has focused on attracting an upscale shopping center, with particular focus on Nordstrom, the Seattle-based luxury department store.
Smithwick is particularly credited with securing Nordstrom's commitment to the proposed mall, in part by establishing a close relationship with top executives in the family-owned department store.
Once Nordstrom had signed a letter of intent, the city was able to attract a developer to the project and eventually another department store. The mall is still seeking a third anchor.
Smithwick has said he will leave Aug. 1, which will be about when the first pilings are scheduled to be driven for the foundations of the mall.
The retirement package Smithwick is accepting will boost his retirement pay. Offered to all eligible city employees, it allows anyone with 30 years' service, or who is at least 65, to retire with four additional years of retirement credit or with a one-time cash payment equal to 40 percent of their annual salary.
The city crafted the package after substantially changing the city's present retirement system during this year's budget process.
Eligible employees have until July 12 to accept the offer, although they can choose to retire anytime up to Dec. 31, when the city's new retirement system goes into effect. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
[Robert Smithwick]
SMITHWICK'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
As development director, Robert B. Smithwick has led Norfolk's
charge to find new businesses and develop those that are in the city
already.
During his tenure, USAA located an office in Norfolk.
Smithwick also was a player in downtown projects such as Harbor
Park baseball stadium and the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel and
the Norfolk Waterside Convention Center.
Recently, the Coast Guard and The New York Times moved offices to
Norfolk. by CNB