DATE: Tuesday, June 3, 1997                 TAG: 9706030001

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B12  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

TWO NEW PORTSMOUTH CHURCHES FORCED TO MOVE

The situation is, in the words of Portsmouth Mayor James W. Holley, ``most unfortunate.''

Two fledgling churches have been denied city permits to continue worshiping in downtown buildings. They are, in other words, being booted, one from a storefront on County Street, the other from a former office-furniture building on Crawford Street.

The reason for denying the permits is sound. Roughly half of Portsmouth property is tax-exempt, most because it is government- or church-owned. Portsmouth is so desperate for taxable property that it is considering moving City Hall from prime Elizabeth River-front offices to make way for taxpaying development. Every downtown and waterfront property that is off the tax rolls increases the tax burden on home owners and businesses.

Denying the permits is legal. As staff writer Battinto Batts Jr. reported Monday, city law requires churches to receive a permit from City Council to operate in commercial, office, public, culture-and-arts and mixed-use districts.

The two churches are not being forced to disband. That would be a despicable misuse of government power. They are being asked to move, after several months in their present locations.

``Their idea, concept and mission is good,'' Mayor Holley said, ``but the site they elected is not compatible. The city is ready to assist them if it can.''

The city owes them that, after an apparent misunderstanding.

Officials from both churches said they wasted thousands of dollars turning the properties into places of worship after the city was less than forthright about their chances of obtaining permits. City officials said they made clear that denial of needed permits was a possibility.

Too late for the two churches that must move, the city is mailing a letter to local commercial real estate agents stating the city's desire to keep downtown and commercial properties on the tax rolls.

Now the city needs to do everything it can to follow through on the mayor's promise to help the two churches find new homes. And extra effort should be made to find tenants for the two locations. Leaving them vacant would add salt to the two churches' wounds.

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