THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030353
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 31 lines
A ballot question that Beach voters will consider in November received its first major endorsement Wednesday.
The board of directors of the Virginia Beach division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce voted 23-0 to support the creation of a redevelopment and housing authority.
The group said such an agency would ``provide our city the ability to improve and rehabilitate areas of the community,'' and help attract and retain businesses by boosting the quality of neighborhoods.
The board is the first group to voice an opinion on the question, which the City Council added to the Nov. 5 ballot last month, on the last possible day.
Virginia Beach does not have the ability to adequately combat neighborhood deterioration without a redevelopment and housing authority, C. Grigsby Scifres, an attorney and chairman of the chamber's Beach division, said Wednesday. The board of directors includes about 60 business and community leaders.
The Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations, an umbrella group of civic leagues, will hold a public meeting on the ballot question Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. The CCO has not taken a position on the creation of a redevelopment authority.
City Council member Louisa M. Strayhorn will hold a public meeting on the question Oct. 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Glenwood Elementary School, 2213 Round Hill Drive. by CNB