THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 23, 1995 TAG: 9508230445
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
The City Council approved Tuesday the widening of Church Street into a four-lane highway despite criticism that the project will destroy black-owned businesses and the last vestiges of the commercial heart of a once-thriving urban community.
The residents and business owners on and around Church Street were divided over the idea. About 100 people attended the council session; most supported the project.
The difference of opinion on the project came down to different visions of prosperity and progress. The Huntersville community saw the new suburban-style road as clearing away a blighted area and possibly bringing new businesses and life.
But opponents saw the project as clearing away the small barbershops and restaurants that had traditionally served as the heart of a neighborhood or business district. They said the widening would convert Church Street into little more than a thoroughfare to get from one part of the city to another.
``This project will help not only our hopes and dreams, but the aspirations of all those who live within the Church Street corridor,'' said Letitia Batey, president of the Olde Huntersville Development Corporation. With good planning, ``we don't feel the widening will hamper or prevent present businesses from thriving.''
But Lamar Brown, whose family had owned a Church Street restaurant cleared in past redevelopment efforts, said the city has a habit of knocking down black businesses and disregarding the wishes of poorer people.
``After already destroying the black commercial district'' on other parts of Church Street, Brown said, ``now there is a concentrated effort to exterminate all black entrepreneurship in the city of Norfolk.''
``It's as if they planned to go through Colley Avenue,'' said Brown, citing the prosperous shopping street in Ghent, ``and tear all the businesses down.''
The $12 million highway project, funded mostly by the state, would swell Church Street between Goff and Granby streets from two to four lanes and include a wide median strip. On-street parking would be prohibited, and future businesses would be set back behind parking lots in strip shopping centers.
The council approved the project 6-0. The principal critic of the project, Councilman Paul R. Riddick, did not attend the meeting. Riddick had argued in favor of revitalizing the old business district. Several councilmen who at first had sympathized with Riddick voted for the project.
Councilman Herbert Collins said the new road would ultimately benefit the entire city. Mayor Paul D. Fraim said the design of the project was flawed, but that the council had little choice if it were to receive state funding.
The new road is designed according to state standards, which mandate sweeping curves and turn lanes for quicker, simpler driving, and prohibit on-street parking. The rules encourage a more suburban-style parkway instead of an urban street. Fraim has been a critic of such rules.
The southern end of the street, below Goff, already has been widened to those standards.
The road-widening would take out 24 businesses, say city staff members, including Acey Ducey restaurant, the Goody-Goody Barbershop, Graves Funeral Home and Simpkins Wholesale Confectionery.
The city has no plans to relocate any of the businesses.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL by CNB