THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994 TAG: 9406150195
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940616 LENGTH: Short
Brian Townsend, a senior city planner, presented the proposed study areas to the Planning Commission last Friday. They are:
{REST} The Southside communities of Berkley and Campostella.
East Little Creek Road between Southern Shopping Center and Azalea Garden Road.
35th Street, north Colley Avenue and central Granby Street. For study purposes, the combined areas would be known as ``Greater Park Place.''
``We've taken the first step is concentrating a level of planning efforts on our older commercial areas outside of downtown,'' Townsend said. ``Our goal is to improve their viability and insure their providing a range of goods and services dictated by the markets which they serve.''
Planners have been working since September to chose the study areas and create model programs for retail revitalization, particularly among small businesses.
Eventually, lessons learned from the three study areas would be applied to commercial districts citywide.
The City Council still must approve the study areas. The Planning Commission will soon discuss the recommendation's with a two-member council committee.
If approved, the revitalization program would help commercial areas: organize merchant associations, conduct market studies, attract and retain businesses, increase security, combat blight, stimulate investment, and obtain public improvements such as better streetlights. There also would be a monitoring and evaluation component.
by CNB