THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410070259
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Four years ago, Portsmouth engineer Joseph Russo got so fired up about the city he sat down and drew up ``A Portsmouth Plan,'' a document he gave to the city manager.
``I never heard from the city,'' he said Monday. ``But when you suggested that citizens pass along their ideas, I pulled it out - and here it is!''
Russo, who grew up in Cradock and now lives in Park Manor, is thinking of moving Downtown. His 4-year-old plan concentrates on making Downtown a place to attract visitors.
A professional engineer with a mind for order, Russo outlined the problems and the solutions as he saw them.
The major problem: inadequate financial resources. The problem stems from a large portion of the city's land being non-taxable because it's used by the federal government; from a lack of business and growth; and from a lack of income from tourism.
In 1990, Russo noted, the outlook was miserable for the city with decreasing income from falling property values, layoffs that cause loss of jobs and homes, lagging businesses because of recessionary times.
His predictions were correct.
The bright spot, Russo said, was the potential for a ``substantial increase'' from tourism.
The original Portsmouth plan, laid out by William Crawford, has provided us with an orderly, compact area where visitors can walk through three centuries of architecture, he said.
Russo concluded that Portsmouth can become the region's ``City of History and Museums.'' He also believes that tourism can provide the reliable, stable, financial foundation the city needs.
How do we capture the tourists?
The city, he said, already has in place many pieces: the museums, historic districts, interesting churches, the naval shipyard and its history; the Nine O'Clock Gun and dozen of other unique things and events.
What does it need? Russo recommends adding places that will interest members of families who might not find history and the existing museums exciting.
For instance, he suggests expanding museum holdings to include railroads, street cars and other forms of transportation. In addition, he suggested creating new museums housing military vessels with one side removed to show the interior workings of ships and airplanes.
Russo would like to see as many as 15 museums in five new buildings. He would like to see the city offer tours of the naval shipyard and the naval hospital on a regular basis.
A convention center and two new hotels are essential to bringing tourists here, he said. Once they come, he added, we need to have specialty shows such as a rock and gem show or a car show.
An outlet mall for one group of shoppers and antique shows and centers for another group would expand the possibilities, he said. In addition, arts and crafts could be spotlighted in new Downtown stores.
Russo, who with his wife is a collector, said the city should make an immediate effort to attract antique and collectible dealers.
The first step the city should take to bring back Downtown as a tourist attractions should be the establishment of what he calls the ``Merrimac Antique Center'' and then the ``Monitor Antique Center.''
``Elegant antique centers host 50, 100 good dealers and are open seven days per week,'' he said. He cited Durham, N.C., Frederick and Hagerstown, Md., as homes of antique malls.
An antique mall in the former Woolworth building still is a possibility. But the idea might be fading because of opposition from those who do not collectand do not know how people will drive miles to stop at one more antique mall.
Russo's ideas work exceedingly well within the framework of the plan now being drawn by Ray Gindroz and his associates.
Maybe the city manager needs to dust off Russo's 1990 document and pass it along to Gindroz. There might be some ideas the consultants overlooked.
Certainly, his contention that the city needs to offer something for every member of a family on vacation is a valid concept that should be incorporated into any plan for Portsmouth. MEMO: Whether you agree or disagree, The Currents would like to hear from
you. Send your thoughts to The Currents, 307 County Street, Suite 100,
Portsmouth, VA. 23704-3702 or fax us at 446-2607.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT by CNB