THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 12, 1996 TAG: 9609120336
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA MCNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 64 lines
For the second time, one of the city's two high-rise buildings is for sale. And, with the right plan, it could be a bargain.
The city, which owns the seven-story Professional Building at Washington and Main streets, is seeking someone to renovate and reuse it as part of downtown-renewal efforts.
The building opened in 1917 with marble stairs, crystal chandeliers in a marble lobby and one of the city's first elevators. It has been unused for several years.
The empty structure is in the same block that will hold the city's new, $14 million courthouse. Construction on that began recently.
Sealed proposals are due by 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Assistant City Manager James G. Vacalis said the right plan might persuade city officials to let it go at a bargain price.
``I want to see an innovative proposal for some really nice, upscale offices in there,'' he said. ``We want to know what they want to do with it, what it will look like, what kind of materials will be used.''
The city believes the building has a lot of potential, especially with courthouse construction to be complete by early 1988. The seven courts that will operate there will need professional support, Vacalis said.
City officials worked with a potential developer in 1995, Vacalis said, but those plans didn't work out.
For years, the Professional Building housed the offices of doctors, lawyers, accountants and insurance agents. But gradually, professionals have set up offices away from downtown.
In 1993, G.P. Jackson, the building's owner at the time, gave the landmark to the Western Tidewater Community Services Board to be refurbished as a center for mental health and retardation services.
It was valued at the time at $100,000.
After extensive studies and architectural development plans, the regional board decided that the $1.65 million renovation estimate was too rich for its budget, and the building landed in the city's hands.
The building is structurally sound. It was a fallout shelter during the Cold War period. Vandals later broke into the building and stripped its old copper wiring.
Little harm was done, Vacalis said, since the building will have to be stripped and its mechanics brought up to modern standards.
Vincent Doheny, executive director of the Western Tidewater Community Services Board, still wishes his agency could have afforded the renovation.
``I would love to see it restored,'' Doheny said. ``It's a very solid old building with so much potential.''
Doheny's group got architectural drawings done and had an asbestos study completed. Most of the asbestos in the building could probably be easily contained, he said. All of the paperwork is in the hands of the city and could be passed on with the sale.
Jackson, the contractor who originally donated the structure for reuse, still has a warm place in his heart for the building where his own company spent so many years.
``The building will support any kind of renovation,'' Jackson said. ``It could be a beautiful building with the right kind of development. Hopefully somebody younger than I will have the strength to see it through.'' ILLUSTRATION: FOR MORE INFO
Proposal requirements are available from the city purchasing
agent. Call 925-6462. Inspections will be conducted between 10 a.m.
and noon Friday. Sealed proposals are due by 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. by CNB