THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509290180
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Another View
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Twenty-five years ago the Navy relocated my family to Portsmouth. I will never forget the first time we rode through town and saw small signs in some of the yards which read, ``Sailors and Dogs, Keep Off the Grass.''
We had never seen such a thing in any of the other dozens of cities in which we had been stationed. While I was the son of an officer and sailors were enlisted, I still felt a great deal of embarrassment for everyone.
Well, the years passed, the signs disappeared and living in Portsmouth agreed with us. Even after a final tour of duty elsewhere, we settled in Portsmouth.
I have lived in the other area cities but continue to find Portsmouth my preferred habitat. There is a friendly attitude here, less traffic, interstate access is easy and quick, and housing is less expensive.
Recently, I became a Realtor. My office is located in Chesapeake, but we deal a lot in Portsmouth properties. At a recent sales meeting, one of our Realtors expressed dismay at hearing from a potential customer that the Naval Housing Services Office at Janaf had advised them not to buy in Portsmouth.
I had previously encountered this prejudice and ignorance on the part of Portsmouth Naval Hospital's Housing Office. When I showed them pictures of the interior of the apartments I owned in Olde Towne, I was told that they had no idea that there were such nice places to live in Portsmouth; therefore, they were sending all of their people to Greenbrier apartment complexes.
But, the icing was placed on the cake the other day.
Friends of mine who are Virginia Beach Realtors, although they choose to live in Portsmouth's Olde Towne, related to me that they receive a great number of calls originating from ads placed in the military newspapers. In almost every case, the potential customers have been told by naval housing personnel that they would be best advised not to buy in Portsmouth.
Granted, we have some neighborhoods, as do all of the Tidewater cities, which are less desirable. We also have many good neighborhoods on both sides of the Western Branch. So, why does the Navy condemn an entire city, in particular one which has hosted its presence for so long?
As a Realtor, I am required by the state to renew my license every two years and complete specific continuing educational programs of which fair housing and anti-discrimination review and update must be a part. We are repeatedly told that when speaking to a potential client, it is expressly illegal for us to ``steer'' them toward or away from a specific neighborhood or locality. We cannot answer racial demographics questions which are frequently posed to us. Violation of any of these laws would result in loss of our licenses and severe financial penalties.
Yet, the naval housing offices, extensions of the very body which in its august wisdom has passed these laws, continually violates the steering portions of the law with seemingly complete immunity.
We can rest assured that there is no official policy of discrimination at work in the Navy and that the ``alleged practices will be looked into.'' Similar complaints were made a few years ago. The Navy's answer was simple. The employees deny it, therefore it does not exist. The fact remains that we hear it again and again.
Portsmouth is a wonderful community. We have an attractive human-scale downtown with many good restaurants and shops, museums and churches and two downtown residential areas: Olde Towne and Swimming Point.
Additionally, we have northside, midtown and suburban neighborhoods - too many to list - which rival anything in Norfolk, Chesapeake or Virginia Beach. And as far as crime goes, our neighborhoods are as safe as those in other cities. Our public housing has its problems, but you cannot tell me that Tidewater Park, Young Park and Moton Park (all housing projects in Norfolk) are ``safe'' places to live.
Portsmouth is eagerly awaiting the completion of the expanded Naval Hospital and the anticipated housing and business opportunities it should provide. The city sacrifices an estimated $30 million in revenues on the property which the military occupies in return for the business the personnel should bring to town. Where is the benefit if the personnel are told to stay out of Portsmouth?
I am beginning to believe that Charleston got lucky. They have the opportunity to establish an honest presence and not one dependent upon Washington's largesse and the whim of its less than informed employees. Perhaps, it is time we rethink our open arms policy for the military and went back to the old days, the signs can now read: ``Good riddance to the Navy Department.''
Michael W. Dreitlein
Olde Towne
Sept. 25, 1995 by CNB