|
28?
<br />
<br />March 24, 1981
<br />
<br />At a regular meeting of the City Council held on March 24, 1981, there were present:
<br />
<br />J. E. Johansen, Jack P. Barnes, Ben A. Beamer, Sr., J. Robert Gray, Edward L.
<br />Oast, Jr., Gloria O. Webb, Morton V. Whitlow, G. Robert House, Jr., City Manager,
<br />Steven Lieberman, City Attorney.
<br />
<br />with
<br />
<br />Rev. Edward M. Garrett, Jr., Pastor, Cradock United Meihodist Church, opened
<br />prayer,followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
<br />
<br />Mayor Johansen welcomed all visitors in attendance.
<br />
<br />the meeting
<br />
<br /> Mbtion of Mr. Gray and seconded
<br />1981; minutes of the regular meeting
<br />adopted by unanimous vote.
<br />
<br />by Mr. Barnes, minutes of the called meeting of March 10,
<br />of March 10, 1981, to be approved ~s received, and was
<br />
<br /> 81-100 Mr. G. Robert House, Jr., City Manager, was given the Oath of Office by
<br />Corinna B. Jeffreys, City Clerk.
<br />
<br /> 81-101
<br />held:
<br />
<br />Public Hearing on the Revised Crawford Harbor~Waterfront Development Plan, was
<br />
<br />The following spcke in favor of the Plan:
<br />
<br /> Herbert Bangel, Chairman of Portsmouth Redevelopment & Housing Authority, made the
<br />following presentation:
<br />
<br /> "On behalf of the ~Board of Commissioners of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing
<br />Authority, I appreciate this opportunity to address you this evening in connection with the
<br />prcposed amendment to the Crawford Harbor Waterfront Development Plan. The staff of the
<br />Authority and the City, along with Project Planner and Architect Aldo Cossutta and Economist
<br />Philip Hammer, have worked very closely in a review of this development scheme which was
<br />endorsed by the Commissioners, by the City Council and by many other organizations in our
<br />community in 1975. ~n view of a number of economic and physical factors, and since we are
<br />at the midpoint of the initial ten-Fear time frame for the Plan, it is an appropriate time to
<br />review this important scheme to insure that we maximize the benefits that will accrue to our
<br />community in the rebuilding of the waterfront which represents one of the most valuable tracts
<br />of land in the city.
<br />
<br /> Before further addressing the revision before you, I would like to mention that the
<br />Authority and the Board of Commissioners are pleased with the progress to date in carrying
<br />out the Waterfront Plan, particularly in view of the high interest and construction costs
<br />which we have experienced during the past four years. In summary, the $28 million in new
<br />private investment which is either completed or under construction at this point will ultimate;
<br />generate in excess of $350,000 in tax revenue annually to the city, versus the less than
<br />$100,000 received from the entire waterfron~ prior to the rebuilding plan. This criticall~~
<br />needed revenue, and the other benefits which shall accrue to our community through these pro-
<br />jects, are certainly in line with the objective outlined in 1975 for the Crawford Harbor Plan
<br />and we are pleased to make this report.
<br />
<br /> The Board of Commissioners of the Authority has reviewed ~nd endorses the revised plan
<br />and feels that it affirms those basic goals, initially defined in 1975, which addressed the
<br />extremely important objectives~ of attracting people back to our downtown, both shoppers and
<br />permanent residents, enhancing the tax base of the City of Portsmouth, and maximizing the
<br />use of undeveloped and underdeveloped property.
<br />
<br /> We feel that the plan is welt conceived and represents a direction which is in the best
<br />interests of our overall community; accordingly, we would encourage City Council to approve
<br />the Plan presented this evening. With particular reference to recent comments regarding the
<br />retention of the former City Hall Building, we feel that on the basis of economic and physical
<br />data, this building cannot be rehabilitated, and that its retention could very well serve as
<br />a negative influence on the marketing of property in this sector of the waterfront. In today':
<br />economy, the attraction and financing of any development of the type we are proposing for the
<br />waterfront is extremely difficult. To mak-~--this job mo~e difficult by virtue of the retention
<br />of the Old Municipal Building would not be in the spirit of the 1975 plan and what we recogniz~
<br />should he our direction for the 1980's."
<br />
<br /> Michael A. ~ay, Executive Director, Portsmouth Redevelopment & Housing AuIhority,
<br />informed Council that the following individuals had sent letters ~ndorsing the up-dated
<br />Waterfront Plan: (Copies to be on file)
<br />
<br /> Robert W. Wentz, Jr., President, Eastern Division, Virginia Federal Savings & Loan Assn.
<br /> V. ~, Zodda,President, Victor Management Company, Principle in Portsmouth Hotel Associates,
<br /> currently under construction upgrading and expansion of the Holiday Inn at the northern
<br /> sector of the waterfront.
<br /> Milton M. Phillips, President, Downtown Portsmouth Associatian, Inc.
<br /> Tom Howard, Project Manager, Radnor/Barge Partnership
<br /> Ronald A. Nicholson, Principle, Crawford Harbor Associates, developer of the high-rise
<br /> residenti~tower currently under construction.
<br /> John Paul Hanbury, 208 Washington Street, gpoke in favor of the Plan as presented, but
<br />spoke against saving the Old ~eahoard Building (M~nicipal Building).
<br /> Charles B. Whitehurst, 6521 Bickford Eane, representing the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerc~
<br />made the following presentation:
<br />
<br />
<br />
|