THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 18, 1996 TAG: 9607180001
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A13 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: Patrick Lackey
LENGTH: 73 lines
Fast-growing Chesapeake may surpass Norfolk in population within as few as four years.
Sooner or later, without doubt, the South Hampton Roads population alignment will be: Virginia Beach biggest, Chesapeake second, Norfolk third, Portsmouth fourth, Suffolk fifth. Since Portsmouth and Norfolk have limited growing room and Suffolk consists mainly of growing room, Suffolk could move up to third place someday.
Chesapeake Mayor William E. Ward has noticed that his city is a giant in the neighborhood.
Usually an obliging sort, Ward recently flexed his city's expanding muscles and told his council:
``As we attempt to create a community of municipal partners in Hampton Roads, it has become clearer to me in recent weeks that while Chesapeake must remain committed to that effort, regional cooperation through superstructures will not work in our best interest when others use history and size as the determinant factors in deciding who gets what. I, and hopefully my council colleagues, will insist on equity, parity and collegiality in all regional organizations.''
When he said ``others use history'' in deciding who gets what, he obviously meant Norfolk, the historic hub of Hampton Roads. When he said ``others use size'' in deciding who gets what, he obviously meant Virginia Beach, the city big enough to kick sand on everyone else.
In the past, when people spoke of regional progress, they often meant Norfolk and Virginia Beach working something out, with the remaining three South Hampton Roads cities going along.
No more, says Chesapeake Mayor Ward. Chesapeake has gotten too big to ignore.
Its new residents appear to be frustrated farmers or ranchers, each with a highly developed work ethic. They came seeking pieces of the Ponderosa to tend all weekend long. The sun's up? Time to mow the front pasture and trim the fruit trees. Anything for elbow room.
There are not a lot of reasons for someone who doesn't live in Chesapeake to go there, except to shop at the two big malls or to watch the residents ride their shiny red or green mowers.
A national pool tournament is held there annually, and the city's on the edge of an unusual swamp. As a tourist attraction, however, Chesapeake ranks near the bottom of the regional heap. That's not to say most Chesapeake residents want tourists. Many prefer to be left alone to rear good families and tend to their properties sunup to sundown, or past sundown if the moon's full or their mower headlights are strong.
Still, Chesapeake could use a few more attractions.
Fortunately, I have a way to solve two major South Hampton Roads problems.
One problem is Chesapeake's shortage of things, of course. The other is the lack of regional progress, as Norfolk and Virginia Beach officials glare silently at one another.
My solution to the two problems is simplicity itself. Call me Mr. Simple.
And the solution is:
Whenever Norfolk and Virginia Beach disagree over where to put something - say, a National Basketball Association arena - put it in Chesapeake.
Stalemate ended. The region gets what the region needs. Move on.
If no agreement can be reached between Virginia Beach and Norfolk on where to put a colossal convention center, don't sweat it. Put the center in Chesapeake, the only South Hampton Roads city that shares a border with every other South Hampton Roads city.
It would be better if the five cities spoke to one another and divvied up things fairly, but you can't have everything. If Norfolk and Virginia Beach disagree on one thing, they disagree on everything. My solution keeps things moving. To Chesapeake.
Area sports fans want a major-league sports arena somewhere within driving distance, and Chesapeake would be fine. It may be known someday as ``The City with Lots of Things.'' MEMO: Mr. Lackey is an editorial writer for The Virginian-Pilot. by CNB