THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 25, 1996 TAG: 9607250005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Another View
SOURCE: By MILTON KAPLAN
LENGTH: 86 lines
During the 1950s, confrontational antagonism was engendered by Princess Anne County political leader Sidney Kellam and Norfolk's equally strong-willed Mayor Fred Duckworth. That antagonism, now between Virginia Beach and Norfolk, is as strong today as 40 years ago.
The failure of the two local political giants of the '50s to recognize the benefits of cooperation by county and city have done undeniable damage to both entities.
Unfortunately, neither the new city of Virginia Beach nor the old city of Norfolk has elected leaders with vision to bury the old antagonisms, to recognize their interdependence and to cultivate our mutual potential.
Norfolk needed land to expand, and Virginia Beach needed Norfolk's water and its industrial job base to survive. Limited by its small land area, Norfolk has had to redevelop many areas and tailor its growth. Considering its limitations, it has done well to develop its waterfront, new neighborhoods in Ghent, downtown, Lafayette Park, Ocean View, the medical complex, Old Dominion University and other areas.
Meanwhile, Virginia Beach, with its vast resource of land, has exploded with residential and industrial development. But could this have occurred without Norfolk's water supply?
Virginia Beach has beautiful sandy beaches that attract hundreds of thousands of tourists to its shores. Norfolk also has a beautiful shoreline of Navy piers and warehouses that provide jobs for the whole area.
Richmond has 20 Fortune 500 company headquarters. Norfolk has just acquired its second; Virginia Beach has none. Should not this circumstance awaken the leadership in the Hampton Roads cities to the damage the confrontational attitude is causing the whole area? What other Fortune 500 company would consider this area with the uncertainty of water and the openly uncooperative relationship that exists in Hampton Roads? What major-league sport would want to venture into such provincial hostility? Baltimore, Raleigh-Durham, Charlotte and Jacksonville lack the natural advantages we enjoy. But they have enjoyed far greater growth than Hampton Roads.
Twenty years ago, when Norfolk wanted to expand its airport, there was opposition from the other cities in Hampton Roads. Norfolk undertook the expansion alone. When Norfolk requested support for Harbor Park, Virginia Beach became a suitor for the franchise. The medical center of Sentara, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, an asset for the whole area, has only the lukewarm support of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
Neither do these cities support the two universities, Old Dominion and Norfolk State, commensurate with their populations. Now the commuter rail service that would benefit the residents of Virginia Beach tremendously has found much opposition in Virginia Beach City Council.
Suppose Norfolk had opposed the construction and later widening of Route 44? Would as many former Norfolk residents be living at the Beach? It may be of interest to area newcomers that Route 44 was named for Norfolk resident and state Sen. Robert Baldwin.
A recent letter to the editor pointed out that all of Norfolk's water resources are in Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Chesapeake or elsewhere. How fortunate South Hampton Roads is that many years ago the leaders of Norfolk city government had the foresight to make the investment in water resources that the area now enjoys. Virginia Beach would still be the waterfront township without these visionary leaders. Why didn't Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach plan and invest the $200 million required to build a system?
Another letter suggested that Norfolk wanted the rail system to entice some of Virginia Beach's tourists to Nauticus and Waterside. Of course Norfolk wants some of the Beach tourists to visit Norfolk. But would the Beach have tourists without the water that Norfolk provides?
Why can't Southsiders understand the interdependence of our area? Route 44 and I-64 bring 100,000 people a day through and into Norfolk from Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Many earn their living in Norfolk and reside in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
You have reported that the economy in Virginia is good but our developmental capacity is mediocre. Could our uncooperative policy be the reason?
What will it take to make the political leaders of South Hampton Roads recognize the benefits of cooperation? Fortune 500 corporate headquarters and major-league teams and entertainment are within our reach. But not without an attitude change.
The success of ``Phantom of the Opera'' was an example of our ``big league'' potential. The Tides and Admirals are two other examples.
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim has demonstrated the quality of leadership that might pull off the trick. If his display of patience, cooperation and compromise were matched by the leaders of the younger cities of South Hampton Roads, we could achieve our potential. MEMO: Milton Kaplan is a lifelong Norfolk resident and businessman. by CNB