THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 27, 1996 TAG: 9610250281
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 54 lines
The Redevelopment Authority issue is too important for citizens to ignore. We have only to look to our neighbors: Portsmouth and Norfolk to see what can and will happen.
I was born in Portsmouth and lived there during the Depression. My family owned one house (which we lost) on Owens Street, where I was born. Afterward, we rented and lived in several areas including the Sussex Apartments on King Street behind Trinity Episcopal Church, Court Street across from the old Post Office, in Park View on North Street where a fire forced us to move to Prentis Park on Lansing Avenue.
My mother's re-marriage took us to California returning to Virginia in 1940. We lived, at that time, in Cradock and I commuted to my job in Norfolk by way of the ferry and walking to the business area of Granby Street, where I observed the shocking scene of hovels where the poor (mostly black) lived. But I also observed nearby beautiful old houses, stately and well kept of a particular design that had both charm and quality.
Many years later, I decided to record my past with photos of places I had lived in, but when I returned to those scenes all of the places had been demolished in the urban renewal programs, including the lovely old houses I had admired and enjoyed observing in both cities! They never (in both cities) took just the blighted sections, but mowed down whole blocks, leaving only empty sidewalks. In many cases, churches were also demolished as well as corner groceries, etc. It has taken many years for the renewal to take place and in many sections of both cities has still not taken place. This happened in a time when the government began building low-rent supplements so that those who were poor may find a place to live (except when the low-rent areas began to be abolished, i.e. Robin Hood Apartments) where many families did not find places to go immediately - and where, once again, even the church in that community had to go.
I predict we will have this same scenario in Virginia Beach, which may be even worse since government subsidies are drying up these days. (A reminder too, that these subsidies are our tax dollars). Instead of one generation growing up before the ``renewal'' stage gets under way it may become two!
It would seem to me all the various religious groups would be concerned, especially since we can't even resolve the use of a government fund (again our taxes) for a shelter for the homeless, much less prevent vested business interests from taking over areas they consider unsightly (never taking into account that by the time original owners sell to them, the upkeep problems have become harder to keep up with on small salaries).
It's my understanding Jesus reminded us more of the poor among us than any other subject during his ministry - and even if we don't believe in hand outs, to try to exclude them in our lives by supporting business policies that force them out is the very contradiction of his teachings.
Virginia Hutchinson
Oct. 20
KEYWORDS: REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY DEBATE by CNB