THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 1996 TAG: 9608060010
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 31 lines
Recently, I had occasion to be on East Main Street, and being old enough to remember the once revolutionary development of the Selden Arcade, I thought I'd walk through and update.
What a pitiful waste!
Why don't Norfolk developers wake up and use a little imagination? All those expensive, out-of-date stores (except the barber shop) without business! And why not? Who's going downtown to buy expensive merchandise and pay to park while they're there?
Why not break those stores up into small, open shops - boutiques and small unique shops? Continue the small restaurants, especially the porch-styles already there. Hang flower pots, fly birds.
Drop the rents - if necessary charge a reasonable percentage of the merchants' profits. Give parking discounts with purchases.
Developers keep talking about ``drawing people downtown,'' but they cut their own throats with expensive parking and no incentive to come downtown.
Norfolk and Virginia spend all their energy and time trying to tempt tourists and seem to forget citizens who are here year 'round.
I love Norfolk; I would love to see it come back.
Developers: If you need any more suggestions, call me; I live nearby in Kempsville.
BARBARA ROSS
Virginia Beach, July 17, 1996 by CNB