DATE: Friday, April 11, 1997                TAG: 9704110573

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: By IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   74 lines

PORTSIDE WILL OPEN MONDAY FOR POSSIBLY ITS FINAL YEAR

In the stormy 14-year history of Portside, blustery weather has welcomed April's opening day more often than not.

But weather is about the only aspect anyone can predict for the tent-topped food and drink marketplace and the nearby ferry landing.

Portside will open officially for the summer tourist season Monday, but this could be the last year for the waterfront marketplace.

The Elizabeth River Ferry will continue to operate between Portside and Norfolk's Waterside - but not for long if the city goes ahead with a plan to discontinue the Portside stop when High Street Landing opens in mid-June.

Originally the city planned to close the Portside facility when this new inlet at the foot of High Street was completed and eliminate the ferry stop in the North Harbor.

Deputy City Manager Tim Little said Tuesday that a final decision has not been made about the waterfront gathering spot.

``We haven't unilaterally decided to close Portside,'' Little said. ``And it certainly will be open this year as usual.''

Tidewater Regional Transit director L.A. ``Kim'' Kimball said the city has not made a final decision on the ferry stops.

``I haven't heard the latest from the city,'' Kimball said. ``We'll operate at whatever level of service the city wants. They pay the bills.''

However, he said he does not believe that using two stops - Portside and High Street - will cost the city any additional money.

The ferry began operations in 1983 with leased launches after a contractor failed to deliver on time replicas of historic river boats similar to those now in use.

Ridership grew to a peak of more than 600,000 in 1991. Increases in fares over the past five years have led to a decline in ridership. In 1996, about 428,000 passengers rode the ferry.

David Jordan, who operates the ferryboats on a contract, said as many as 8,000 riders have been recorded on summer weekends.

``I am hoping it can be worked out to continue stopping at Portside because we have heard a rash of complaints from regular riders'' about the prospective closing of the Portside dock, Jordan said. He said his employees working on the ferryboats ``get a lot of flak'' about the proposed closing of the Portside dock.

Many residents of Harbor Tower, No. 1 Crawford and other nearby housing facilities ride the ferry to work in Norfolk. Tourists and convention-goers staying at the Holiday Inn Portsmouth Waterfront also use the service to attend meetings and see attractions in Norfolk.

Jordan said closing the Portside dock could cut ridership by as many as 100,000 riders a year.

Little said the future of Portside depends largely on what happens on property next to the harbor and the Portside in-the-water stage, a site being considered for a convention hotel and a conference center.

``But we're thinking about some other short-term suggestions,'' he said. They include a tentative proposal by some Portside vendors to renovate Portside for year-round use and operate it independently of the city.

Portside was developed around the ferry stop 14 years ago to provide convenient shopping for ferryboat users. Over the years, it has become the center of many waterfront activities that attract visitors from all over the region.

But not everyone has been a fan.

Since opening at the foot of North Street in 1984, the outdoor marketplace has been beleaguered with complaints about noise from nearby Olde Towne residents.

There were unsuccessful attempts to get the Alcohol Beverage Control Board to ban the sale of beer at Portside. However, in the past few years, the music has been more controlled and complaints have been fewer.

This year, the Thursday Band Night, a weekly presentation of a musical group for dancing, will be offered again. ``Undercover,'' a top-40 band, will open the 1997 weekly series May 1.

Portside will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. In addition to the Thursday bands, acoustical entertainment will be presented Fridays through Sundays. KEYWORDS: PORTSIDE

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