THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506010403
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Church Street, the traditional center of black urban life in the city, may be expanded into a four-lane boulevard, with some businesses to be torn down.
The city has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed project from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Huntersville Center at 830 Goff St. Business owners or residents interested in the project are encouraged to attend.
The project, under its current design, would widen Church Street to four lanes from Goff to Granby streets, a distance of about 1 1/4 miles, at a cost of $12 million. The new boulevard would have a median strip with trees or shrubs.
Some are questioning the effect of the construction.
Several city councilmen, including Paul Riddick, who represents that section of the city, say the road should be improved while retaining or enhancing its character as a neighborhood business street similar to Colley Avenue south of 21st Street.
This would include businesses that front the street, on-street parking and a less expansive design. Riddick also says the city is planning to remove too many black-owned businesses.
But city staff members say they are planning to build more of a parkway-style road. State guidelines do not allow for many of the features Riddick wants, particularly on-street parking, staffers say. Because state money would be spent on the project, the city must follow state guidelines, staffers say.
KEYWORDS: ROAD CONSTRUCTION NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL by CNB