The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996                 TAG: 9607090003
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   26 lines

ENLIGHTEN NORFOLK'S LEADERSHIP

Mark Perreault is absolutely correct regarding the MacArthur Center (``Norfolk needs distinctive street-side center,'' Another View, July 3). The Center must be responsive to pedestrians and street patterns downtown. It must have entrances and windows on the street and elements of human scale to be sustainable in an urban environment over the long term and to promote spinoff development downtown. Projects with these very attributes have been enormously successful around the country.

The problems of our suburbs today are the direct result of untethered developer demands. The citizens and business people of Norfolk have very valid opinions to which city leaders must listen. Readers should write to the mayor and to the City Council and let them know they are concerned about the MacArthur Center's current design.

The enlightened leadership of cities such as Charleston, Portland and Baltimore have lead to viable projects which have become regional jewels as opposed to local liabilities.

DAVID LEVY

Norfolk, July 4, 1996 by CNB