THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 31, 1997 TAG: 9701310543
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 68 lines
Open minds and wide hearts.
The message of unity was clear. Their theme was strong.
``We want better houses,'' they said. ``We have community love and pride.''
``We want to work with businesses and the police,'' they shouted. ``We want a model community.''
The pews in First Baptist Church of Orlando overflowed Thursday night. Cars were lined up a block-long.
The residents of Orlando, a small neighborhood on the edge of downtown Suffolk, had hope on their minds - something that many said had not been there before.
That hope came from the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the city gathering residents to talk about the revitalization of their community. The first meeting brought out about 100 folks - all eager to describe their vision.
City officials focused the meeting on the positive aspects of the community. Residents told them what they wanted to change.
Marie Winstad, the mother of four small children, said she would like to see police in the area talking with children instead of just coming to make arrests.
Bridgett Jones said she wanted a park, sidewalks and decent housing instead of children playing in the streets and folks living in unsafe, dilapidated homes.
Essie Deloatch said she wanted the abandoned houses and cars removed from every inch of her small community.
`I'm very excited,'' said Deloatch, who has lived in Orlando more than 50 years. ``We love the neighborhood. We've needed and asked for help for these problems for so long.''
Residents had a chance to ask questions about the rehabilitation project. After spending about 20 minutes giving ideas on what they wanted for the community, they were told how the plan will work.
The housing authority and the city will work with a smaller group of about 10 residents who will represent the community.
Those residents will help the city develop a rehabilitation plan by the end of May.
The City Council and the housing authority will then hold public hearings on the plan.
All work will begin afterward.
Orlando was selected by the city and housing authority about two months ago as Suffolk's first neighborhood revitalization project.
Like many inner-city neighborhoods, the mostly minority community suffers from poverty, crime and a rise of rental property.
The eight-block neighborhood is full of rundown, boarded-up and vacant houses and empty lots full of junk.
Clarissa E. McAdoo, the executive director of the housing authority, told residents at the end of the meeting that they were off to a good start.
``This is good,'' McAdoo said. ``This is promising. It says you are motivated and you are interested. And that's the first step.''
Jones said after the meeting that she would like serve on the Orlando committee.
``I lived here, left and now I've moved back,'' Jones said. ``I'm concerned about the community. There are a lot of people here who want to make a new start. I think we're ready.''
``We love this community.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Clarissa E. McAdoo, executive director of the Suffolk Redevelopment
and Housing Authority, gets feedback from Orlando residents.