THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 5, 1996 TAG: 9610050008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 33 lines
I am a native of Chesapeake and a senior at Old Dominion University who is concerned about the backward step the City Council may take if it cancels the proposed Chesapeake Convention Center. A Virginian-Pilot article some months ago called Deep Creek a ``Boomtown.'' This article explained how Chesapeake's population will grow 25 percent and Deep Creek's population will jump 50 percent by the 21st century. If our city's growth is inevitable, how then can the city council dismiss the Convention Center proposal?
The council must consider that many of the city's large companies such as Household Finance Corp., Armada/Hoffler Construction, Sumitomo Corp. and Mitsubishi are forced to have annual Christmas parties and similar functions at the Norfolk Marriot or the Virginia Beach Pavilion simply because no facility in Chesapeake is large enough.
The council should ask, ``How many of our city's high schools have their proms and ring dances and perhaps even graduation ceremonies outside Chesapeake because there is no facility large enough to hold such functions?
Finally, the council must ask, ``How much revenue does our city lose because it cannot attract large corporations to hold trade shows, job fairs or conventions simply because our city does not have a facility large enough to conduct such events?''
Chesapeake is not the sleepy little town many of us remember nostalgically. Our city's growth is forthcoming and the Chesapeake Convention Center is just the type of facility our growing community needs.
KELLI D. THEREAULT
Chesapeake, Sept. 30, 1996 by CNB