DATE: Thursday, June 5, 1997                TAG: 9706050472

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   59 lines

DOWNTOWN SUFFOLK ASSOCIATION VOTES TO QUIT STATE'S MAIN STREET WITH NO CITY FUNDING, THE GROUP SAID IT COULD NOT STAY IN THE PROGRAM.

With funding cut off by the city, Downtown Suffolk Association directors decided Wednesday to resign from the Virginia Main Street Program and to divide DSA assets.

Board Chairman Leroy M. Edwards said the group of 70 property owners and business people in the central business district was left with few choices.

First, the city eliminated a special tax district to fund the organization. Then, DSA was excluded from the city's 1997-98 operating budget.

The directors agreed to:

End involvement in the Virginia Main Street Program, a 12-year-old program that offers technical help on downtown revitalization. Suffolk would be only the third selected community to resign.

Leave vacant the position of its executive director. Director Robert Chisom will leave in mid-June for a job with Crestar Bank.

Discontinue economic development activities for the city, the director's role as project manager for the restoration of the former CSX railroad station on Main Street and efforts to attain historic landmark designation for the Professional Building - one of the city's two high-rise buildings.

Divide about $75,000 among a grant program for new facades on downtown buildings, new Christmas decorations, promotional activities and a low-interest loan program for facade improvements.

Offer to return voluntary self assessments by downtown property owners.

The DSA has promoted downtown for 30 years. Recently, it has worked to revitalize an area in which a $14.3 million courthouse is being built.

In the meeting Wednesday, crowded by somber downtown business people, Edwards said it was time for some tough decisions.

``A reorganization effort is going on because of lack of appropriate funding and because of the director's resignation,'' Edwards said later. ``These decisions had to be reached.''

Of 25 communities in the Virginia Main Street Program since 1985, two others have resigned, said Timothy S. Pfohl, community planner with the program. Both were for lack of funding, he said.

Suffolk was selected in 1988 as a Main Street community. Under its auspices, several downtown businesses got planning help for facelifts including awnings and facades, and new businesses opened.

Among program requirements are an active downtown association and a full-time staff person.

``In what respect has the DSA failed to live up to its goals since the Main Street program started?'' asked board member Eugene Denison. ``Have we failed in historic restoration, failed in promotions? I don't think we've failed anywhere.''

Edwards said that he expects the DSA to continue but that its role is unclear. Nor was it clear whether other agencies could take over the roles dropped by the DSA.

City officials have had little to say about DSA's future.

R. Steve Herbert, assistant city manager for development, was to have attended Wednesday's meeting but sent word that the city would meet with board members later in the month.

``I think it's mighty bad that - as big as this city is - it has no one down here to speak,'' said Irving Davis, a board member.

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