THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 23, 1996 TAG: 9610230006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 26 lines
My wife and I recently returned from a delightful trip to Montreal, Canada. Among the many attractions that city exhibited was the heavy presence of university students in the downtown area. These students added an excitement and youthful zest to an already more than pleasant area.
What brings this to mind is the article you recently carried about the MacArthur Center Mall and the expected impact it will have on downtown Norfolk.
If all those empty top floors of downtown buildings would be converted into dormitories and classrooms, and if Old Dominion University could add to the Tidewater Community College presence, we just might bring Norfolk downtown into a really exciting rebirth.
One final thought: Recently, my wife and I went to dinner at a restaurant on Bank Street. The food was excellent and we would like to go back, but I was struck with how empty and even threatening the area was after dark. Load that part of town with students and I guarantee that place will be jumping.
WILLIAM STEVENS
Norfolk, Oct. 10, 1996 by CNB