THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 11, 1997 TAG: 9701110504
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: NHL In Hampton Roads
SOURCE: BY AKWELI PARKER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 81 lines
While the Hampton Roads Partnership and George Shinn may be cheering ``Go Rhinos'' after agreeing Thursday to build a downtown arena, some local businesses and residents say they've been trampled underfoot.
``We're kind of disappointed that they didn't get together with us beforehand,'' said Mike Geres, station manager of the Greyhound Terminal at Brambleton Avenue and Granby Street.
The property, which is owned by the city, would probably be leveled to make way for the arena's parking lot.
The arena itself would be built at 700 Monticello Ave. - now occupied by a Howard Johnson hotel.
It was only Thursday afternoon that local leaders knew they had a chance for an arena on the site.
Negotiations had been ongoing for more than two months; both the Howard Johnson site and one near MacArthur Memorial had been discussed.
Questions have been raised about the hotel's future since management has recently turned away a number of large reservations. A worker at the hotel said group reservations were still being accepted but ``not too far in advance.''
In addition, The Howard Johnson corporate office filed a lawsuit against the Monticello property's management Jan. 3 ordering them to stop using HoJo's trademarks, such as logos and signs.
But if the Hampton Roads Partnership gets its way, the dispute soon won't matter.
``We want them to have a team here,'' said Geres, who described himself as a big fan of the Washington Capitols.
But he said it makes little sense to put the arena where the hotel is or threaten the bus station, which employs about 50 workers and is the only long-distance transportation that many residents can afford.
``We've been treated unfairly,'' he said. Greyhound absorbed the maintenance costs for the 1940s-vintage building, he said, and paid more than the building's sale price in annual rent.
Linda Bress, co-owner of Bress Pawn Shop on Granby Street, wasn't ``exactly excited about it'' either.
The shop's parking lot lies on the same block as the Greyhound station, a shuttered Western Union and Bob's Gun Shop.
Bress said she supports the regional effort to snag an NHL expansion team, but says the site of the arena shouldn't be one that hampers the livelihood of local businesses.
A squeeze on local parking on game nights is almost assured.
Bress was dismayed but not surprised that local businesses were not consulted.
``This isn't the first time the city's snuck something through,'' Bress said, recalling a tripling of some parking meter fines last year.
Local residents who would live in the shadow of the arena had their own reservations.
Earl Fuller, a resident of the Young Terrace public housing development, agreed with the idea of bringing the visibility and revenues of a major-league franchise. But sticking it on the hotel site would make for a claustrophobic downtown, he said.
``It's a good thing to have but there's no room,'' Fuller said.
``It ain't helping anybody out here,'' said Joseph Banks III, who was visiting his sister in Young Terrace.
``They're not thinking about the poor.''
But, not everyone's complaining.
Robert Marcus, owner of Bob's Gun Shop, said he welcomes the arena, close proximity and all.
``I'm really excited about it for the city, for the region and am looking forward to seeing lots of friends at the hockey games when this all happens.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARK MITCHELL photos/The Virginian-Pilot
Linda Bress co-owns Bress Pawn Shop on Granby Street, which is near
the proposed site for the arena. Bress said she supports the
regional effort to snag an NHL expansion team, but says the site of
the arena shouldn't be one that hampers the livelihood of local
businesses.
Despite his store's proximity to the proposed site, Robert Marcus,
owner of Bob's Gun Shop, was one of a few nearby business owners who
said he'd welcome the arena: ``I'm . . . looking forward to seeing
lots of friends at the hockey games when this all happens.''
KEYWORDS: NHL FRANCHISE ARENA