DATE: Wednesday, October 1, 1997            TAG: 9710010411

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER  

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   66 lines

FUTURE OF PORTSIDE IS MUDDLED

The final weekend of the 1997 season for Portside, the city's popular waterfront gathering place, is approaching.

The tent will shut down Sunday, Oct. 12.

Will the shutdown be permanent, as City Council has said, or just for the winter?

Portside's future has been a hot topic in Portsmouth this year. Hundreds of citizens signed petitions and wrote letters to elected officials urging them to keep it open.

But City Manager Ronald W. Massie says that the city at this point has not worked out a plan to respond to popular demands.

Last week, the Portsmouth Division of the Chamber of Commerce came out in favor of keeping Portside and sent copies of a resolution to city officials.

``The Portside location provides a unique meeting place for citizens, young and old, to come together to relax and enjoy our historic waterfront sights,'' the Chamber statement said. ``The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Portsmouth Division, encourages the Portsmouth City Council to expeditiously pursue plans for a permanent indoor/outdoor marketplace with the same character and function of the existing Portside facility.''

The Chamber members suggested that the city turn the North Harbor, where Portside is located, into a boat haven.

``We would encourage pursuit of a plan to develop the Portside area as a year-round marina facility for transient boaters with floating docks and finger piers,'' the Chamber said. ``We would encourage a permanent structure that could be opened up in the summer but provide a full-time informal introduction to our historic Olde Towne business and residential districts.''

For a variety of reasons, some High Street merchants and some Olde Towne residents have pushed for the closing of Portside.

Noise has been the main complaint of nearby residents. Merchants have claimed that the city is subsidizing the businesses at Portside while others struggle to survive. Bowing to the pressure, City Council had decreed that Portside would be closed when the High Street ferry dock was completed this year.

Chamber president Elizabeth Psimas, owner of a High Street travel agency, said the organization's position is ``pro-business, as it should be. We don't want it closed until the city has something to replace it. We want to continue the concept on a year-around basis.''

Her husband, Alan Psimas, is president of the Olde Towne Business Association, an organization that has voiced some anti-Portside sentiment. But, according to executive director Flo McDaniel, the association has not taken an official position.

``I totally agree with the Chamber's position,'' Alan Psimas said. ``However, I would like a realistic time frame, maybe 60 days, for the city to have a plan for the future.''

He said the existing temporary structure at Portside has outlived its usefulness.

``It's time for a permanent plan,'' he said.

For several years, merchants at Portside have lived under the threat of closure, and each year the tent has reopened for another six-month season.

Currently, the merchants are operating on the premise that Portside will not reopen.

``The last we heard, we are closing for good,'' merchant Sam Mandaleris said. ``I wish they'd let us know. After 12 years here, we should be having a big farewell party if this is it.'' ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/File color photo

The Portside tent in downtown Portsmouth will close for the season

Sunday, Oct. 12.

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