Minutes 04/28/1964 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 2~. 1964 increasing numbers of tourists the new highways and the Bridge-tunnel will bring. There's no doubt about the appeal that historic and unusual places h'm-ye for the tourist; and tourist business is big business in many parts of Virginia. It c~uld be so in Portsmouth. With a beautiful restaurant commanding a view of the entire waterf~ront and a park overlooking the water, Portsmouth wentd ~e~ni~ue among the ci'ties~on the south side of Hampton Roads. -Portsmouth would become the destination of people from Norfolk, as well as suburban areas, when dining out snd sight-seeing. This activity in the section along the w~erfront and on Crawford Street-would spill over into High Street and revitalize it. . If the residential area of the Old Town is not preserved, Portsmouth will be throwing away what it cnn ~er recover and wha~ many cities would give much to have. Norfolk,tore-down some historic homes along with the worthless, but is now concentrating on the few they have tel,t, such as the~isolated Myers House. I've often Wondered why Portsmouth doesn't publicize itsbeautii~ old homes. They should known nation-wide. Even in Virginia they are not widely, ~nown,. Visitors are quite a~azed and charmed when they see them. They resemble very much Georgetown in Washington, which is so admi.red~no~. Thank you for your consideration o~ my letter." Motion of Mr. Knightto refer the cnmmunicati~s to the~.P~ann~n~ Commlssio~l vc~s'~dopted, without dissenting vote. 64-90 - The following communication from the Portsmou%h Cham~er of Comme~ce was read: "It is expected that Interstate Highway 264, between.Bowers-~il~ Snd~he ~shingt~ Stmeet tunnel entrance to Norfolk, wilt be completed in d967. In addition to ~hrohgh t,~a~ic, this highway%w~51-- place downtown PQrtsmouth only a fe~,mznutes drlving time away from-thousands of+~people living i~the sont~ern. and western parts of this city and the City of Chesapeake. The Chamber of Comme~ce cmnsi.dersit ~tremely · mportant for the development of downtown Portsmouth and for the success of the Colonel Orawford Common Plan that in addition ~o planned interchanges, an easy access be provided to Crawfor~. Street, ~ather than funneling all traffic to the tunnel. The Board Of Dlrectors of the Portsmouth Chamber Of Commerce, therefo~'~ u~on recommendation of the Highway and Roads Committee e~ndorsesthe~c~ty%s plans~to c0n~e¢iti~er~th~e~ Highway 264fith Crawford Street. It is further reconuwended that action be initiated ~o hove t~zia.cennection 'completed and-opened for tra££ic simultaneously with the openlngof Highway 26~." Motion of Mrna, Barnes to acknowledge and refer to theConncil- cor~ferenoe on -planning, and to send a copy to the Plannzng Commission, was adopted, without dissent'}~ 64-91 - The following communication~ f~m Collins-~Machine "Your attention is invited to a situation existin~,in the area~along Syer Road boun~ed on the north ~y_the Seaboard tracks, on the east by the Beltline tracks, and .o~ th~ south b~ the. new lcity incinerator and part of the Interstate spur. This r~h triaugle of laud is surrounded now by higher ~e~t ~tr~tion which causes flooding during heavy rains, No drainage is installed i~.this area~, and no natural~run-offs~ist;.,there£ore stands for weeks creating poor opersting conditions and deteriorating buitding~ and e4~ipmen~. · Another equally bad situation is the isolation whic~ results when the:'on~y access road i~nto the area is block~ by. trains, sometimes'for as long as twenty mirtutes. During ~hese tz~es ~he area is not accessible to either the pubtic, or the Fire and Police equipment, ~r ambuiance servzce~in the event of injury to 'employees. The~e~hre now ~wo growing, home industries on this part of Syer. R~ad,"and. ot~e~ commercial land which could be usable. The bad situation which has developed through no fault of our o~rn, warrants considera- tion b~<Ce~ncil as 'it continues ~its effor'ts to attract ~ew industryv It is urged that immediate steps be taken to extend Syer Road in a westerly direction SIong the line of the Seaboard Rat%road right-of-way the few hundred feet necessary to intersect with the presort5 road into the city incinerator. This would open up 'the- a~es [o public safety equipment at ,all'~imes. The installation of a storm drain along this very short length of road at th~ time'~f ~t~'~onstructio~ wou}d help alleviate the flooding condition. Your consideratidn of t~is ma~ter at the .earliest possible d~te ~itl b~ ~reatly appreciated." On motion of Mr~ Dillon, ~eferred to the City Manager fo~ study and recommendation. 64-9~ - The following communication was read: "TO: Mayor R. Irvin~S~ith FROM: The Adjustment Committee of the Cavalier Ma~or Civic Leagiie %RE: Permission for a civic committee' to ~attend the Coundil ~e~ting of Tuesday, ApriI 2B, 19~, for presentation of the foll~iag issues: 1. The ~gen~ need ~or more elementary ~classrooms ~to relieve the acute shortage that exists now a~d will in the i~ediate future d~e to-the rapid gr6wth of cur com~ity. 2, The nee~ for s~op lights ~o be erected immediately at Freedom Avenue and Victory Bouleva~- Greenwood Drzve and V~ctory Boulevard; Cavzlzer Boulev.~d and g~to~y B~ev~r~. 3. The ~eed for the City C~ncil to take steps to prdhiBkt the P~f~ing of vehicles~ at the ~ed~ate auproach to the ~nte~s~t~ of ~Freedom Avenue snd~ Cavml~e~ Boulevard by ~e V61ks~agon Company ~ ' I~ ' 4. The need ~or the Co~ciL~ a~rove s~d~ap~in~ a,Justi~e ~of ~he ~e~ee in ~ general Cavalier Manor area.~ ~ ' - '' . The n~ed .~or some re~le~ ~m ~ama.ges that have ocourred ~ro~ dus~, dzrt, a~ ~pac~s caused by heavy dut~ trucks wh&le hauling so~l T~r the' eons~r~12~n ~ I~erstate' 264:. This has caused i~egular s~d terrain sentiment of some hemes 6 ' ' ' ' '~ ' '~ / . The n~ed_~or ~m~ed~ate steps to be ~ake~ to p~operZy repair alt s~ree~s;- t~e damages are Fi~a.l~, the need for t~e city ~o propgrZy ~ns~all c~rbs and gun,ers at CavaI%er Ma~or ~ool." Motion of Mr. Knight to suspend the rules to hear Mr. Lnwrenee was adopted, without .dissenting vote.