THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030356
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 47 lines
Suffolk city officials, responding to recent complaints by downtown merchants, presented a report to City Council on Wednesday that they say shows improvement.
For the past several months, members of the Downtown Suffolk Association and city officials have been at odds over their vision for downtown. Key association member and former mayor Andrew B. Damiani resigned recently over his frustration in dealing with the city.
Merchants argue that city officials do not have a long-range, comprehensive plan for attracting business downtown.
They applaud the city's efforts to locate the $14 million Mills E. Godwin Courts Complex on Main Street downtown. But they have been disappointed about plans to construct surface parking for the courts complex instead of a parking garage. They say the plan doesn't allow room for new businesses and isn't in keeping with the compact, high-density nature of a downtown.
City officials insist that a parking garage is too expensive. Wednesday, Parks Director Dinesh Tiwari said surface parking costs about $2,000 per space, compared with $12,000 to $15,000 per space for a garage. Tiwari said the total cost for a garage could run $3.5 million.
Other plans for downtown outlined by city officials include:
Facade and street improvements, which would include giving an old-time appearance to street signs and clocks.
$8.5 million budgeted for downtown improvements in the 10-year capital improvements plan.
A public-private partnership planned for attracting new business.
Over the past five years, the city has invested $2.2 million for downtown, officials said.
Mayor Thomas G. Underwood asked officials to present their report to members of the Downtown Suffolk Association, who weren't at Wednesday's meeting.
Association member Eugene Denison said Wednesday night that city officials haven't communicated their recent proposals with merchants. But, Denison said, public money used for downtown usually involves signs and paving - not significant changes.
City Manager Myles E. Standish said the report shows the city is making progress with a limited budget.
``This illustrates we're showing improvement,'' Standish said. ``I wouldn't want some voices in the downtown community to suggest we aren't doing anything for downtown.'' by CNB