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<br />possible kindly consideration, for which our people are deeply grateful, I now learn with sor-
<br />row that a new movement is under way to have removed, for the purpose of parking cars pertain-
<br />lng to occupants of some building or buildings located on, or to. the. south of, High St., the
<br />beamtiful parkway on the block of Washington Street, between High and Queen Streets,rand po$~
<br />sibly the parkway also on Washington Street, between Queenand London Streets. I may say, in
<br />the beginning that the many property owners concerned, to whom I have'talked on the matter,
<br />during months past, are vehemently opposed to She removal of the parkway in questiOn.
<br /> - In the name of the people of St. Paul's 0ongregation, I respectfully
<br />send this letter of protest, both to our Honorable City Council and to our Honorable City Man-
<br />ager, agains~ the plan of removing the said parkway, for the following, amongst:other reasons:
<br /> '(i) The removal of the parkway will cause more congestion at High and Washing~o~
<br /> .- Streets, through the crossing of High Street by more cars, which naturally
<br /> -- belong to the 8curb of High Street;
<br /> (2) 'The lives of the people of St. Paul~s Congregation and of the children of
<br /> St. Paul~s School will be more endangered by theremoval of the said park-
<br /> way;
<br />
<br />Paul~s Congregation,
<br />
<br /> (3) The parking tf ~ars, tha~ belong to the South of High Street, in front of
<br /> our Church, will seriously interfere with funerals and sometimes church
<br /> weddings, and will prevent often wholly, or at least largely, the park~ing
<br /> of oars as now in front of our church, by our people, who attend our ser-
<br /> Vices, many of which are held on week days, besides~those held on Sunday;
<br />'(~) Should the proposed, much-needed new hotel be constructed in our City,
<br /> more tourists will stop with us, some at least of whom will attend our
<br /> churches° These should have ample parking place, if possible, in front
<br /> of, or alor~side the churches they attend. How can they find such hark-
<br /> ing places, if the space around the churches be generally occupied ty
<br /> oars of owners occupying locations on some other block?
<br />(5) The rights.of the City over the streets is not called in question. Our
<br /> protest concerning the removal of the said parkway is based, we feel, on
<br /> wisdom.
<br /> With sentiments Of hi~hett esteem from the priests and People of
<br /> I remain,
<br /> Ve~, oo~dially yours,
<br />
<br /> F. Joseph Magri, Pastor,
<br /> St. Paul's Church,
<br /> Portsmouth, Va."
<br />
<br />"T~e ~ity'Oounci1,
<br /> Portsmouth, Virginia~
<br />
<br /> Gentlemen:
<br /> On April 25, 1935, I sent to the City Manager, a letter represent-
<br />ing the owner of property in the three hundred block of Washington St., protesting against the
<br />removal o~ the parkway in the center of the street in that block. The Manager, at t_bat time,
<br />informed me that should any further move be made to remove.the parkway, he would give me an op-
<br />portunity of appearing to lodge protest in addition to the one in my letter.
<br /> To my surprise, yesterday's paper carried a report that the Council
<br />Had approved an appropriation for removal of this parkway. No notice was ever given me that
<br />any further move was on for such removal, although I ha~ been assured that should any further
<br />move be made, ample notice would be given for an opportunity for a hearing before any such re -
<br />moral would be made.
<br /> Again, on behalf of my client, Mrs. Oornelius Thomas, I wish to en -
<br />ter protest against the removal of the parkway in that block, and would respectfully request
<br />your Honorable Body that before any work is done re~arding the removal, you give me an opportu-
<br />nity to be howard.
<br /> I am inclosing a copy of my letter of April 25, 1935.
<br />
<br />Respectfully submitted,
<br />
<br />J. Lewis Thomas."
<br />
<br />"Honorable City Council,
<br />Portsmouth, Va.
<br />
<br />~enttemen:
<br />
<br /> We, the undersigned citizens and taxpayers of Portsmouth earnestly
<br />request that your honorable body vote to do .away With the border on Washington Street, between
<br />High and London Streets, and have the same paved similar ~o the oaring on Washington Street,
<br />between High and County Streets. It is our opinion that this w&~l facilitate parking condi -
<br />ttons in this area which are now very congested.
<br />
<br /> Respectfully submitted,
<br />
<br /> (Signed) Julius Berson~ and ~t others."
<br /> Privilege of the floor was granted to J. Lewis Thomas, who spoke against the
<br />removal of the parkway from Washington Street.
<br />
<br /> Motion of Mm. Lawrence to authorize the C!%~y Manager to proceed with Project
<br />#P-IOT, making ~he removal of Washington Street Parkway, the last item of work, the Manager to
<br />reconsider said removal and report back to ~he Council, was adopted.
<br />
<br /> The following letter 'from the .~i ty Manager, l~id ~n ~able at last meeting, was
<br />
<br />
<br />
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