DATE: Thursday, April 10, 1997              TAG: 9704100442

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: MANTEO                            LENGTH:   48 lines

MANTEO CONSIDERING A BUILDING FOR SHOPS AND TOWN'S OFFICES

The governing board of Manteo is considering a plan that would replace the former U.S. Post Office building on Queen Elizabeth Street with a three-story combination government-retail shop center.

The town's seven-member board of commissioners met in a workshop Tuesday, and the post office project was given top priority on a list of proposed capital improvements. The idea will be discussed during the town's budget workshops later this spring.

Cost estimates for the proposed center across the street from downtown range from $900,000 to $1 million. Town leaders say construction can be done without raising taxes, with revenue raised by the sale of the police department property, along with transfer taxes and other revenue sources.

In December, the town approved the sale of the 5.2-acre tract where the police department is now located for $245,000.

Earlier this year, the town approved the sale of a municipally owned tract where the Manteo Police Station is currently located. Under the concept, the new building would house the police department, municipal government offices and the water department on the top two floors. The first floor is slated for retail shops.

``We've worked awfully hard on this,'' said Commissioner Curtis Creech. ``I think this is a good thing. We're in a win-win situation for the town, because based on the numbers I've seen, we can do this without raising taxes. We need to do something anyway about the police department, so why not do something that will last 25 to 30 years?''

Commissioner Dellerva Collins was also optimistic about the proposal.

``We need a town hall,'' said Collins. ``And we need a new police department. I think it can be good for the town.''

This is not the first time for the idea of transforming the postal property to a municipal/retail complex. Former mayors Luther Daniels Sr. and John Wilson IV proposed similar plans.

``I think it would help,'' Daniels said of the proposal. ``I spoke with one of the hotel owners who told me that we have people coming into town with money, but no place to spend it. If it accomplishes what they set out to do, it will be a good thing for the town.''

Uli Bennewitz, a past president of the Roanoke Island Business Association, praised the town's efforts. However, he also expressed some reservations.

``I applaud the town for trying to do something with the property,'' Bennewitz said. ``But I don't think the town should be in the development business. It should sell it or lease it to a developer. I don't think the town should be in competition with existing businesses.''

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