THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 9, 1996 TAG: 9608090486
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 76 lines
City Council has delayed funding a new teen center, frustrating proponents who want the doors open by November.
``There's too much that's been accomplished,'' Terry Blucker said Thursday. Blucker is chairman of Project Voice, the nonprofit group that is planning and promoting the center. ``They don't seem to identify or prioritize the importance of it the way we do. We see it as necessary now, yesterday. It's way overdue.''
The council balked at the lack of detail when Councilman Lloyd Griffin III reported on plans for the center at Monday's meeting.
Blucker and Griffin expected the council to vote favorably to fund its share of renovating the old Perry Tire store on the corner of McMorrine and Elizabeth streets.
``I thought we'd made the presentation very clear,'' said Griffin, who serves on a committee of local officials and business people helping plan the center. ``It was probably my fault.''
In late June, Project Voice received a $50,000 matching grant from the Governor's Crime Commission to build a teen center.
The grant award depends on Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County and Camden pitching in an additional $25,000. Elizabeth City's share is $10,417.
Project Voice is a nonprofit organization designed to keep troubled youth from drugs and alcohol.
For three summers, Project Voice has run drug- and alcohol-free concerts on the Elizabeth City waterfront. The teen center will be a gathering place for youths and a hub for future Project Voice efforts.
Mayor Rick Gardner cautioned Blucker that planned renovations were too ambitious for the $75,000 budget without extensive donations of manpower and materials.
Gardner, a retired contractor, wanted written commitments for donations. He offered to contact building supply stores himself.
Blucker and an assistant, Gil Lamb, left the meeting disgruntled at the inaction, but determined to return more prepared at a council work session on Aug. 19.
``I see that this can be accomplished within the budget,'' Blucker said Thursday. ``It can be done and we're going to do our very best to prove it between now and the work session.''
Meanwhile, Gardner called friends in the construction industry.
``It has been very, very favorable,'' Gardner said from his home Thursday. ``I know there is a willingness out there.''
Council members were cautious given the history of such projects. Several other attempts to operate teen hangouts in Elizabeth City have failed. But Blucker said this teen center may be the first of its kind in the state and one of the few in the nation. The nearest place like it is in Glendale, Calif., he said.
``Anybody who has ever tried to get a project like this going has either gone to one extreme or the other,'' Blucker said.
Some have emphasized religion with tight restrictions and others have allowed almost anything, he said.
``No one has bothered to sit down with teenagers and say `Don't tell us what you think we want to hear. Tell us what you really want.' ''
Plans for the center include:
Plenty of music, but nothing ``gravely antisocial.''
A computer work area.
A reference library for issues such as substance abuse and teen pregnancy.
A shop for woodworking and simple auto mechanics.
A photo lab.
Arcade games, pool and Ping-Pong tables.
A cold-cut cafe and soda fountain.
A full stage and disc jockey booth.
Counseling rooms.
``Most centers are limited in what they do and sports oriented,'' Blucker said. ``Ours is life-learning oriented.''
The Crime Commission grant provides $50,000 for each of the first two years. The third year and beyond may depend on local fund-raising, but Blucker says a successful teen center will not require much outside money.
Teens wanting to be a part of the Youth Commission can write to Project Voice (Youth Commission), c/o Terry Blucker chairman, 915 Tuscarora Ave., Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909. by CNB