THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997             TAG: 9701090003
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A16  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   18 lines

MALL OUTCOME OBVIOUS

When are our city fathers going to get some common sense? Mayor Fraim and the others are determined to build MacArthur Center even though the public has been trying to tell them that we aren't going to shop down there. Do they think downtown workers and visitors can support the mall? It sure hasn't been the case with Nauticus. Now we learn that Dillard's department stores will be available all over the area when the company takes over Proffitts.

Any dummy can figure the outcome of this situation.

MARY E. HADLEY

Norfolk, Jan. 3, 1997