THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 11, 1996 TAG: 9607110004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 88 lines
I am a Larchmont resident and a relative newcomer to Norfolk via 12 years in Atlanta.
Having seen and been a part of the long struggle in Atlanta to try to develop some active downtown community, spirit and real economic base, it is time for Norfolk to stand up for itself and insist that City Council seek a ``street friendly'' design for our long-awaited downtown shopping extravaganza.
From the ongoing success of events at nearby Harbor Park and the steady ebb and flow of traffic in Ghent, a truly street-friendly shopping area will be a great success. Let's act together and work together to make this happen, and avoid a costly mistake of building a suburban-type mall in our wonderful downtown area.
BOB GLOVER
Norfolk, July 8, 1996
Please add our names to the list of citizens supporting plans for a MacArthur Center project that is designed to provide street-side stores and park-like space - ``an up-to-date street-friendly design'' - before committing $100 million of public funds to a design dictated by the whims and shortsighted interests of the developer and the department stores.
ERNEST and CAROLYN RHODES
Norfolk, July 9, 1996
The alternative plan of Mark D. Perreault for a downtown mall with windows is more appealing visually and is more logical for a city mall than the current plan. The arguments put forth against Perreault's plan do not make sense.
Stores can still be inwardly focused. The stores which are not anchors can have entrances from inside the mall. The anchor stores would benefit from the through-traffic from the street to the other stores.
Why do showroom windows not work? Is the developer, Taubman Co., thinking only of suburban malls? One of the wonderful reasons to visit New York City is to look into shop windows along Fifth Avenue.
I agree with Christine Saum, executive director of the Mayors' Institute on City Design, who noted that apartments and offices could be located above the stores (``MacArthur Mall spurs debate,'' MetroNews, June 27). What a wonderful idea for downtown Norfolk - more and more people are enjoying living in an urban environment.
I hate the current plan of blank walls on the mall. This works well for the areas where no one lives or works nearby. These sterile walls do not appeal to pedestrians, who have more time to observe their environment.
CLARA HEYDER
Norfolk, July 4, 1996
Mark Perreault's July 3 article had suggestions for an urban downtown shopping mall that makes more sense than any inward-facing building.
Being a Norfolk native, having lived a short time in South Carolina and North Carolina, I hope our city leaders will be as progressive as those in Charleston, Charlotte and the Raleigh-Durham area.
Norfolk leaders need to listen to Norfolk residents. This is an issue that needs to be fully explored. For the future of our city, we need to turn outward, not inward.
ANITA N. MITCHELL
Norfolk, July 5, 1996
My wife and I moved here three years ago, even though it means a long commute to work for both of us, because we found downtown Norfolk, Ghent and other parts of the city to be unique, beautiful and full of character.
Downtown Norfolk is beginning to exhibit a delightful combination of charm, affluence and stability that evokes the best of America's urban past. I know of no way of more surely reversing this trend than to erect a downtown mall resembling the dull, lifeless and uninviting structure pictured in last week's paper, which could be placed in the middle of any suburban area and be perfectly at home.
I urge City Council to coordinate a serious effort directed to ensuring an open mall more in tune with the character and beauty of downtown Norfolk. Side-street retailing and attractive welcoming facades will be a positive asset which will attract Norfolk residents and visitors and will enhance both mall shopping and surrounding businesses.
RICHARD P. HOLLINGSWORTH
Norfolk, July 9, 1996
We, as longtime Norfolk residents, would like to see old downtown Norfolk restored - storefront entrances on Granby Street and Monticello Avenue - not just one more neighborhood closet that provides quantity at the expense of quality.
HOPE W. PRICE
J. GUY PRICE
Norfolk, July 7, 1996 by CNB