The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, June 18, 1996                TAG: 9606180003
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   16 lines

$250 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR CENTER?

Regarding the $300 million shopping mall to be built in downtown Norfolk:

I've been a carpenter, a builder and an estimator for more than 30 years. Never have I heard of a mall costing $250 a square foot. That's $160 a square foot more than it should be, or $160 million.

I had a hand in the building of Greenbrier, Pembroke and Military Circle malls, so I am somewhat aware of what things cost.

FRED ROMANSIK

Virginia Beach, June 14, 1996 by CNB