|
August 26~ 1980
<br />
<br /> Our schools in Chuzchland are bursting at the seams with mobile units having to be brought
<br />in for this school year and actually busing between elementary schools during classes in orde~
<br />to accommodate the student load now, further jeopardizing the students lives unnecessarily.
<br />
<br /> The 130 tract is directly adjacent to the railroad ,,~hich serves Virginia Chemicals. The
<br />railroad has already claimed many lives including the Christmas Lye death of James Bunn as
<br />you remember and it will surely get a children share of lives if young people are put there
<br />to live. Virginia Chemicals is in the process of expanding their facility which will increas(
<br />the train traffic.
<br />
<br /> The burrow pit which George T. McLean dug out and the resulting lake will adjoin the HUD
<br />130 tract causing a natural drowning trap for children.
<br />
<br /> The W~stbrn Freeway will be constructed 33 feet high te cross the railroad off the end
<br />of West Norfolk Bridge and will still be in the air on a mounded right-of-way as it approaches
<br />the HUD 130 tract making a great view from the living room windows if it doesn't cover them
<br />
<br />completely.
<br />
<br /> The two lane West Norfolk Road
<br />the traffic now and is projected to
<br />Recently a young mar was seriously
<br />Norfolk Road to 7-11 Store.
<br />
<br />with a ditch on both sides and no shoulder will not handle
<br />be made wider. It has no provisions for pedestrians at al
<br />injured as he tried to walk the mile or so along West
<br />
<br /> The people in contained areas have unique problems of transportation. The proposed HUD
<br />130 tract is certainly doomed to the same problems with the freeway to the north, burrow pit
<br />to the east, railroad to the south and only Wild Duck Road to the west as an exit, making the
<br />only escape by automobile for people forced by economics to live in low income subsidized
<br />housing. Bven if this luxury is feasible to the proposed tenants they would still find an
<br />obstacle of 10 to 15 minute delays trying to break in the bumper to bumper traffic on West
<br />Norfolk Road generated by Merrifields and surrounding areas - Naval Air Station connecting
<br />to Churchland by the Midtown Tunnel, G. E. Plant, New Coast Uuard Station, Virginia Chemicals
<br />with its projected expansion and ChBm~hland Navy Yard traffic. It is the only road of egress
<br />Hunters Point, West Norfolk, Coast Guard Station and would be the only road available for HUD
<br />Census Tract 130. There is no other way to get in and out. There are no stores, shops,
<br />service stations or other public conveniences available within walking distance at all, which
<br />~ould also make it necessary for the subsidized housing residents to be an automobile depen-
<br />dent community.
<br />
<br /> Many residents of Pormsmouth have previously signed a petition c~rculated in the Navy
<br />Yard and other areas objecting to the city approved 125 Census Tract subsidized housing with-
<br />out knowing the content of Mrs. White's letter from HUD. They now feel like yo~ would if you
<br />petitioned to give everyone a house as nice as yours and then later found out you had to give
<br />them your house.
<br />
<br /> We feel that the city,s proposed 125 tract would be far more acceptable than in Hunters
<br />Point because of traffic, schools, city services, and close proximity to stores and also the
<br />fact that the City of Portsmouth would have control over the construction of the housing
<br />whereas, HUD Census ~ract 130 would be completely under the dictat6rship of the federal
<br />government."
<br />
<br /> John Coates, 4167 Mallard Crescent, representing Hunters Point Civic League, concurred
<br /> ~ith Mr. Pitts' comments.
<br /> Mrs. Odell McFarland, 2623 Smithfield Road, representing South Central Civic League,
<br /> relinquished time to Mrs. Jean Griggs.
<br /> Francis A. Loehr, 2607 Smithfield Road, relinquish time to Mrs. Jean Griggs.
<br /> Mrs. Jean Griggs, 5025 Deep Creek Boulevard, representing South Central Civic League,
<br /> spoke and presented fo21e~ing petition with 1,025 signatures:
<br />
<br /> "We, the undersigned residents and registered voters of the City of Portsmouth do hereby
<br /> oppose the proposed low income, Federally subsidized Townhouses or Apartments to be builf ~t
<br /> Deep Creek Boulevard, Claremont Drive and Smithfield Road. Signed by Herman G. Foster, 2619
<br /> Smithfield Road"
<br />
<br />Dr
<br />
<br />Kuhre~_C. Br~ck,/~SO9~D~C~ee~ Boulevard, spoke opposing Census Tract 125.
<br />James E. McFarland, 2623 Smithfield Road, representing Cradock residents-Last side.
<br />Albert P. Sykes, 200 Beechdale Road, relinquish time to James Bridgeford.
<br />Jack Gibby, 420 Cabot Street, representing South Fairview Heights, spoke for Richard P.
<br />Lake, in opposition of the proposal.
<br />Richard Luxford, 25 Burtis Street, spoke regarding the high rate of crime in Cradock and
<br />opposed the low income housing near Cradock.
<br />A. J. Barnes, 1417 Mt. Vernon Avenue, representing Mt. Hermon Community League, presented
<br />letter on behalf of Joseph Parker and Mt. Hermon C6mmunity League, requesting that all
<br />segments be recognized if the city is to survive, it must do~ everything in its power to
<br />to get the funds released.
<br />Edwin L. Lllis, 313 Wynn Street, representing CAC, spoke and stated that he vigorously
<br />opposed amendment change.
<br />Durvin P. Cromwell, 2820 Hyman Street, representing Hattsonville Civic League, spoke on
<br />the conditions of Hatton-sville. (Mr. Cromwell was informed that Hattonsville was not a
<br />part of the Public Hearing.)
<br />Vernon C. Crump, 2501 Oak Street, representing Central Civic Forum, spoke concerning the
<br />need of low-gnd moden~t8 ihcome:pub~ic'housing~ requesting to delay this matter and plece
<br />the 100 units in Census Tract 128 as originally planned.
<br />
<br />
<br />
|