THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609130204
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: ANOTHER VIEW
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: BY MARY L. CURRAN
LENGTH: 74 lines
Long ago, our Midtown area was teeming with retail outlets and businesses supported by the residents of Portsmouth.
For the most part, ours is a stable and maturing community, still eager to shop in Portsmouth, and hungry for the atmosphere once found in and around the MidCity Shopping Center. Evidence the community spending power by the sizable deposit base of the Portsmouth banks, especially those located in Midtown (1994 report, Ida Kay's Portsmouth, Currents, May 5). Time and again they begrudgingly leave Portsmouth to fulfill their needs shopping in our sister cities - not because they want to - but are forced to.
If the community is eager for shops, stores and businesses, where are they?
While the newly opened Farmer Jack (still the same old A&P, SuperFresh) is enjoying the fruits of its recent renovations, the last new store opened in the MidCity Shopping Center in 1988. In those eight years, store after store has left the center until only nine stores remain.
This concern was voiced to John Streicker, president of Sentinel Real Estate Corp., in my letter of Sept. 12.
``... Midtown Portsmouth Association was formed 18 months ago to address the deterioration and blight in this area, and work toward its revitalization. To this end, we have worked together with city officials to identify areas of concern, with suggestions and/or solutions for their improvement.
``The MidCity Shopping Center, once the focal point of our retail district and source of shopping opportunities and employment for our community, now suffers the most extreme deterioration and lack in our area. On any given day, with 73 percent of the shopping center vacant, less than 100 cars are seen to be visiting the remaining businesses. With darkened hallways and crevices to attract unwanted and illegal activities, persons have been seen vandalizing walls with profane graffiti, dumping trash and, in one extreme case, a young person died in your hallways.
``With the adoption of Vision 2005, the city of Portsmouth has begun a unified effort for the revitalization of our city, including Midtown and the MidCity Shopping Center. Your previous correspondence with our city officials and my personal meeting with your representatives indicate your awareness of the scope of this revitalization plan.
``It is unfathomable that you continue to believe your efforts to lease properties have been successful or will be in the future. The merchants of this area, yea, the entire city of Portsmouth, have been watching the decline of your property for the past 10 years. The vacancy and dilapidation of your shopping center has contributed to the decline in our area, and the suffering of our remaining merchants and businesses.
``We urge you to reconsider your position with the city of Portsmouth for the Vision 2005 revitalization plan, a plan that grants our area the hope of change and improvement - both necessary for our survival.
``We remain strong in our conviction for the revitalization, and rebirth of the Midtown area, urging you to join us in all efforts.''
This same blight and deterioration repeats itself along Frederick Boulevard with other properties owned by companies or persons who do not live in our city. And because they do not travel our main thoroughfare to and from I-264 on a regular basis, does that lessen their responsibility to maintain their properties?
Imagine trying to sell your own home if it were in a state of disrepair where deep sink holes were simply filled with blocks of concrete, where your grass was allowed to grow six to 12 inches high or the state of your neighbor's home led others to believe the neighborhood was in a decline. How can our city be expected to attract new businesses with the sore condition of the existing properties?
Each of us - those who own property, those who work or live in Portsmouth - must come together to work as a team to re-create the attitude and atmosphere needed to spur growth and attract business. We have planted the seed with Vision 2005. Let us all be caretakers to assure our future growth and success. Together we can revitalize the heart of Portsmouth, re-establishing Midtown as an attractive, viable retail and commercial district. MEMO: Mary L. Curran is president of the Midtown Portsmouth Association. by CNB