DATE: Friday, July 11, 1997                 TAG: 9707090129

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: IDA KAY'S PORTSMOUTH 

SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan 

                                            LENGTH:   69 lines

CITIZENS QUESTION THE COUNCIL'S FORESIGHT IN STADIUM EXPANSION

Members of the Shea Terrace Civic League raised some legitimate questions about the proposed expansion of the stadium now being built at the new I.C. Norcom High School.

The citizens were serious and concerned, not just for themselves but for the city as a whole, when they met July 3 with City Councilman Bernard Griffin, a Norcom alumnus who co-chairs a committee to raise $1.4 million for the additional stadium seats.

One of their most important questions: Has a study been done to determine the need and possible use of a 10,000-seat stadium in Portsmouth?

Folks who favor a larger stadium say it will enable Portsmouth to host regional games. Can we justify maintaining a facility for a once-a-year event that's not coming to the city every year?

If it's used occasionally for a regional game, what else are we going to do with it? Can we justify maintenance and parking expenses for sporadic use?

These are good questions. And since there has been no real study, who can guess the answers?

Another concern of the citizens: Where are people going to park for even the 5,000-seat stadium that's already built? There are 556 spaces available around the school, at the Human Services Building several blocks away and at the Elks Lodge, which may or may not be available for parking. That's far short of the 1,300 spaces required for a 10,000-seat stadium and even short of the number needed for 5,000 seats.

Obviously, the only place to go will be into the nearby neighborhoods, and Shea Terrace is the closest. Longtime residents of that area remember when there were big games played at Lawrence Stadium, which was razed for the new school. Many have experienced having their driveways blocked, their yards torn up and trash left all over their property. No wonder they have questions and concerns.

I went to the Shea Terrace meeting to hear the discussion with Councilman Griffin because I think they are legitimately concerned.

Griffin said the stadium would be marketed and operated by the city, not the schools. This, he said, would broaden the uses. That comment raised more questions from those who remember motorcycle races and loud rock concerts at the old stadium.

Has the city set any limits for noise on the new stadium? The citizens suggested that a decibel level limit be determined before the school opens and that the limit be strictly enforced from the beginning.

They also suggested that a plan for security and a specified number of extra police officers be drawn up before the school opens.

As one member noted, residents of Shea Terrace have worked hard to maintain their neighborhood for the good of the city. They expect support from the city.

Shea Terrace and its Northside neighbors are in the middle of the Vision 2005 plan to increase the viability of the Scotts Creek area, which is vital to the success of downtown. The city is spending time and money to implement it right now.

Recently, citizens were told that the city plans to do yet another study on development around Scotts Creek. Already, though, many studies have come to the same conclusion - that Scotts Creek should be developed with a priority on boat-related activities. In addition, there is a developer already interested in taking Scotts Creek in that direction.

However, when it comes to determining the feasibility of expanding the new stadium, the city has not done any study whatsoever.

Does that make sense, one Shea Terrace resident asked.

Neighborhood activist Nancy LeMartin had a super suggestion for Norcom alumni working on the stadium fund-raising. Get the $1.4 million, she said, but use it to buy state-of-the-art computer equipment for student use and hire more and better teachers for the school.

That sounds like a winner.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu