THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180476
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: CHARLISE LYLES
LENGTH: 67 lines
``Look, up ahead! I've spotted a pedestrian!''
``A pedestrian!'' the whole family exclaimed.
The ``Burbies'' had traveled for days from deep in the grassy bosom of suburbia, around cul-de-sacs, through strip shopping plazas, past HQs and Kmarts and down boulevards with no sidewalks, let alone a pedestrian - just to get to the MacArthur Center shopping mall in downtown Norfolk.
Now, they couldn't believe their eyes.
``Aw, Dad,'' said little Beaver Burbie, hanging his head as the station wagon neared the MacArthur Center. ``It's not a pedestrian. It's just a stop sign . . .
``But Dad, you promised there would be lots of people walking around outside, not like Lynnhaven or Greenbrier and all the other suburban malls we go to.''
The Burbies yearned for the dynamic energy that a vibrant downtown mall could generate. They longed for the urban shopping experience they'd seen once on TV.
But that energy was nowhere to be found. The MacArthur Center had been approved by planners who failed to heed the cries of common city folk and local architects.
Some city officials said the design ``generally accommodates'' pedestrians and the cityscape, but the Burbies didn't see it that way.
Its stores and windows facing inward, its parking lots concrete barriers, the mall seemed a planet separate from the city - just another mall.
Little Beaver's heart sank. For nights he had napped in the back of the station wagon, dreaming of the colorful city mall and its streets teeming with shoppers, businessmen, artists, homeboys - pedestrians all.
Even Bow Wow Burbie, the family dog, barked disapproval, though he liked the food court overlooking Monticello Avenue. Bow Wow, too, had hoped for a totally urban experience, something to distinguish him from other suburban pets.
Little Beaver wondered, ``What should we do now, Dad? Go to Waterside?''
They had come all this way, the upbeat sound of Petula Clark on the car stereo boosting them along.
``You can forget all your troubles
Forget all your cares
And go downtown ...''
And they had pinched pennies and paid up credit cards for totally urban shopping at upscale Nordstrom.
Now Mom Burbie was looking as though she never wanted to see the inside of another department store.
``This one is suburban-feeling just like every other shopping mall in Tidewater,'' she said.
The overall architectural unfriendliness of it spoiled her appetite for shopping.
``Now, now, dear,'' said Dad.
``You can't even see all the beautiful surrounding historic sights,'' said Mom, blinking back tears. ``You promised we could enjoy the cityscape and watch people strolling the bustling avenues. City ambience is all we wanted.''
Little Beaver was saddened to see Mom weeping, unable to shop. ``Dad, is this the way folks wanted the mall to be built?'' he asked.
To Robert Burbie, the answer was as plain as the empty streets of downtown Norfolk.
``Well, son, there's a lesson to be learned here,'' he said, puffing on his pipe.
``If you ever build a mall - especially in an old, established city - be sure to listen to the voices of the people, even if they're a little tardy about putting in their two cents worth.''
``Yep. I sure will, Dad.''
And with that, they rode off into the urban sunset. by CNB