DATE: Monday, May 19, 1997                  TAG: 9705190029

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   97 lines

SUFFOLK'S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE SPEAKS TO NEW ASSISTANT MANAGER

Except for a secretary and a photograph of the old City Hall, Room 203 on the second floor at 441 Market St. sat vacant for almost seven months.

On April 3, Steve Herbert walked past the shingle reading ``Assistant City Manager'' and entered the nearly empty office to begin the task of preserving the best of Suffolk's past and charting its future.

Today the secretary is scheduling appointments, and Herbert's days are packed with meeting city, civic and business leaders to learn more about Suffolk. He comes from neighboring Portsmouth, where he served as director of plans and policy.

The old photo of the long-gone City Hall still hangs on Herbert's wall, a reminder of the Suffolk of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The 51-year-old admirer of John F. Kennedy says Suffolk reminds him of his childhood. Born in Washington, D.C., he moved to a Northern Virginia farm when he was 12.

Thirty-five years ago, he recalled, Northern Virginia was country. Growth, such as Suffolk is experiencing now, transformed that area.

He's already fallen in love with some of the sights of Suffolk. He's toured some of its most rural parts and visited the most rapidly growing sections. Still, he says, there is more to see of Suffolk's 432 square miles - roughly the size of Rhode Island.

Already, he's beginning to see what could be.

There's Lone Star Lake, a 1,063-acre park near Chuckatuck with 10 lakes, trails, picnic areas and playground. ``Lone Star Lake is a wonderful jewel, waterfront property,'' Herbert said. ``We could put golf courses there.

``I was fascinated that the city owns that kind of land in the middle of the city.

``Whaleyville and Holland (rural areas), we need to make sure the integrity of those places stays intact. . . . That protected lifestyle and quality of life would be hard to replicate.''

Herbert also has come to admire the sense of community spirit he perceives throughout Suffolk.

``I'm surprised every day about the good will in the city,'' he said. ``The business people and civic leaders are willing to work, and they are volunteers.

``Sure, they want change, and they're concerned that things aren't moving much. But I'd be more concerned if there was a sense of hopelessness.''

He plans to continue the negotiations with Portsmouth, started by City Manager Myles E. Standish, on topics such as water resources and land use, to unify the departments he oversees, and to broaden the scope of downtown Suffolk and help devise a rehabilitation plan.

Down the road, he foresees Suffolk's building - and filling up - two more industrial parks, constructing a stadium large enough for NCAA tournaments, and a major hotel and convention center.

Herbert wants one-stop shopping for developers, so they don't have to go to different departments to build their projects. ``We have to be responsive to our customers.''

During a 10-year stint with the Navy, he toured many of the nation's cities, and that taught him the importance of planning.

In Portsmouth, Herbert led economic development efforts that produced Vision 2005 - a document targeting where and how the city would attract economic development. Portsmouth is now experiencing a tremendous surge in commercial growth.

Herbert plans a similar blueprint for Suffolk.

``The city has an historic downtown, a growing suburban population, a great agriculture component,'' he said. ``In terms of development, it offers it all.''

Herbert is responsible for planning, utilities, economic development, housing and building inspections.

While the Vietnam veteran admits to having his work cut out for him, he's not put off.

Growth, he says, doesn't mean eliminating the past. It entails preserving historic sites and redeveloping older neighborhoods as well as bringing in new jobs, residents and quality development.

That makes photos of places like old City Hall important to Herbert.

City Manager Standish said Herbert's arrival is important to Suffolk.

``He's worked on issues in other areas that the city of Suffolk is facing now,'' Standish said.

``Herbert is a broker, negotiator and facilitator,'' said Kenneth M. Wheeler, director of marketing, museums and tourism in Portsmouth. ``He's good at taking groups of people and helping them find their common ground.''

Herbert stumbled into city government. He started at the University of Virginia as an architecture major but was quickly told that his drawing skills weren't up to par and switched to city planning.

After ending his Navy career to start a family, Herbert worked in the private sector before being hired by Norfolk to help bring the Tides stadium downtown. He then went to work for Portsmouth.

Commitment to public service is high on his list - a reflection of his admiration for Kennedy.

``Kennedy had the great ability to instill a sense of optimism, vision and power in people,'' said Herbert.

He said he'll know when he's been successful:

``Once I see downtown fill up, our parks overflowing, and quality housing, I'll know my job is done. I want Suffolk to be the best place to live in Hampton Roads.'' ILLUSTRATION: Steve Herbert has joined Suffolk's team after having

worked in Norfolk and Portsmouth. He also served a 10-year stint in

the Navy.

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