THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 27, 1996 TAG: 9610250204
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: Mary Reid Barrow
LENGTH: 78 lines
With all the political rhetoric about family values in this election season, it might be hard to find a partisan crowd that didn't lay claim to that doctrine in some form. But you'd have to look far afield to find a group that can walk such talk like the one that gathered in City Council's chambers Wednesday night.
Farmers and their friends preached a 90-minute sermon about saving the city's tempted ol' soul to the applause of an assembly of believers. They came before the throne of the almighty council to plead for the salvation of the Farmer's Market.
All they lacked was a tall, cold glass of Bergey's real buttermilk and a slice of apple pie fresh from the Country Kitchen.
Where else, they argued, can you find good, clean fun like the Farmer's Market?
``It's much more than a collection of shops and vendors,'' said Sarah Miller, who helps operate Bergey's stand at the market. ``It's a landmark.''
She said one of her customers told of hearing a news report in New Jersey about the Aug. 22 fire that destroyed part of the market.
``The market is more than a place to shop - it's a place to meet friends and new people,'' said Bill Johnson, who emcees the Friday night hoedowns at the market. There's no alcohol, no drugs, no ``skin books,'' no ``peep shows,'' he explained. ``It's all good country fun.''
And it's all about preserving a way of life, about celebrating our heritage, the speakers intoned.
While all agreed on that point, the speakers were mixed in their message about rebuilding the market on its current site or moving and expanding it.
That remains the dilemma facing council members.
Wednesday night's session was merely an exercise in harvesting opinions. The decision on where to replant won't come for at least six weeks.
Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, however, assured the faithful that getting out of the farming business is no option.
Council will get a report on projected costs and location options at its Dec. 3 meeting.
If the decision is to move it, then two questions need to be addressed immediately: where exactly on the nearby tract will it be relocated and what will be done in the interim so that merchants can survive the transition?
Council would be wise to consider a new site that provides plenty of exposure. The current site is highly visible, but its access is limited.
One compromise might be the parcel across the street that fronts on Princess Anne Road and runs back to Landstown Middle School. It actually has a built-in access road, thanks to Concert Drive. The city's current land use plan has that land earmarked for businesses supporting the higher education center.
But by trading the market's current site, the city would get an even greater business opportunity in the Dam Neck Road corner tract and the market would retain its needed exposure.
All of this would still leave a timing question.
Well, how about putting all those family values to work?
Let's organize an old-fashioned barn raising. We haven't had one of those since Kids' Cove.
The portion of the Farmer's Market that burned to the ground in August wasn't exactly elaborately engineered. With a few local businesses donating the lumber, electrical and plumbing knowledge, hundreds of citizens would turn out on a weekend to erect a new structure.
What a monument to community spirit it would represent - even if it were temporary until the Farm Park plans could be fully developed.
It's the same spirit the council saw Wednesday night. Let's unleash it into action. by CNB