THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 8, 1996 TAG: 9606080268
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 90 lines
The signs, they are a changing. And that could be a good sign for regional cooperation in Hampton Roads.
A proposal to promote regional unity on area roadside welcoming signs seems to have taken hold.
The idea was to have each city add the words ``A Hampton Roads Community'' to the signs at borders.
Now, Virginia Beach has become the first city to make the changes.
Advocates of better regional cooperation are delighted with the progress.
``It's little things like this,'' said Hans Gant, president of Forward Hampton Roads, the economic development arm of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. ``The more you get that message out there, the more it brings recognition to the Hampton Roads region and more awareness within the region.''
Gant said the signs even can help efforts to recruit businesses to Hampton Roads. ``It portrays a positive community image,'' he said. ``If businesses sense that there is conflict and the kind of competition between cities that would be negative to business development and the business climate, that's one of the factors that will affect their decisions.
``So portraying a positive climate is extremely important to our efforts.''
He suggested that the cities and businesses brainstorm other ways to make regional cooperation more visible, such as including the ``Hampton Roads'' phrase on letterheads or on public amenities. ``Then it begins to feed on itself,'' he said.
The sign idea came from the Leadership Hampton Roads' 40-member Class of '96, which is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
The thinking was that the signs would raise public consciousness that each Hampton Roads city is part of one interdependent region. The signs also were aimed at clarifying the area's often-confused identity to the national and global business and tourist markets.
So last December, the class - which includes up-and-coming business and civic leaders - decided to promote the sign idea to each local government in South Hampton Roads and on the Peninsula.
Letters were sent to all 10 cities and five counties that make up the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. Several class members also made in-person presentations to several of the local governments.
The results: the promotion was approved by the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Suffolk and Virginia Beach and Isle of Wight County, according to Shira Itzhak, coordinator of the sign project for the leadership class.
And, on May 30, Virginia Beach became the first to implement the idea, adding ``A Hampton Roads Community'' to nine ``Welcome to Virginia Beach'' signs, Itzhak said.
The message will be added to at least two more Virginia Beach signs. The effort cost the Beach $1,149 in material and labor, said Carol Bowen, traffic operations engineer.
``We're very proud of being part of the Hampton Roads family. And still allow each of the sister cities to not only be part of the family, but to be individuals as well,'' said Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf.
It was uncertain when the other jurisdictions would implement the regional wording.
``A date has not been determined'' for Norfolk to make the changes to four signs, said Nancy Soscia, a spokeswoman.
Mayor Paul D. Fraim said Norfolk remains committed to the effort and that he will ask for a progress report from City Manager James B. Oliver Jr. MEMO: Staff writer Karen Weintraub contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by Gary C. Knapp
This sign on Virginia Beach Boulevard near Newtown Road was one of
the first in the region to have " A Hampton Roads Community" added,
marking regional cooperation more visible.
Graphic
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LOCATIONS
These are the locations of Virginia Beach welcome signs with the
added message: ``A Hampton Roads Community.''
Northampton Boulevard at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
Shore Drive at the Norfolk city line.
Northampton Boulevard at the Norfolk city line.
Virginia Beach Boulevard at the Norfolk city line.
Princess Anne Road at the Norfolk city line.
Indian River Road at the Chesapeake city line.
Princess Anne Road at the North Carolina state line.
Route 44 and Parks Avenue.
North Landing Road at the Chesapeake city line.
Virginia Beach plans to add at least two other locations:
Military Highway at the Norfolk city line.
Military Highway at the Chesapeake city line.
KEYWORDS: REGIONALISM SIGNS by CNB