DATE: Monday, July 7, 1997                  TAG: 9707070031

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   63 lines

PETITIONERS SIGN TO KEEP THE PORTSIDE MARKET OPEN PORTSMOUTH PLANS TO CLOSE THE SITE THIS FALL TO BENEFIT A NEW HIGH STREET LANDING.

The opening of High Street Landing at the foot of High Street signals the closing this year of Portside, the tent-topped summer marketplace on Portsmouth's waterfront.

And a lot of people don't want that to happen.

Over the past two weeks, hundreds have signed a petition asking the mayor and City Council to keep Portside open. The first petition, on a large poster-sized piece of cardboard, was covered with names. Now some merchants have smaller versions for their customers to sign.

The decision to close Portside and the ferry dock in that area next to Harbor Tower evolved from the Vision 2005 plan to dig a new inlet at High Street and move the stop for the pedestrian ferry there.

City officials are convinced it's important to have one ferry landing to attract people to High Street.

Portsmouth communications director Ken Wheeler said the city has not changed the plan.

``October 12 is the last day ofthe season and the last day for Portside,'' Wheeler said. ``And the assumption is that the ferry no longer will stop there.''

However, Wheeler said, ``There is still debate on whether we are going to close the Portside ferry stop.''

He noted a recent meeting of the Vision 2005 committee for downtown, when a number of people voiced concern about the closings.

The ferry stop at Portside is convenient for commuters who live in Harbor Tower and other nearby residential developments. Parking, easily available near the existing ferry stop, will not be as plentiful at the High Street site.

Douglas Smith, the city's chief plans and policy officer, said another meeting of the downtown committee is set for July 16 to discuss the issues and come to some resolution of the ferry stop closing. He said it is possible the boat could make the stop at Portside during commuter hours only.

``I think Portside and the ferry stop are two different things,'' he said.

``Most people who are regulars at Portside are not ferry passengers. We have got to come up with a plan about what we are going to do to take the place of Portside.''

Although Portside has at times been a controversial subject with nearby residents and with some High Street merchants, it has become a special place for hundreds of people who live and work in Portsmouth.

At lunchtime, those from nearby offices take a break to sit under the tents on the water and feel a fresh breeze off the river. In the evening, folks from all over the city gather there to enjoy music, a beverage and each other.

Several men who work for Tidewater Naval Architects said people from their office look forward every spring to the Portside opening. One explained that they have half-hour lunches, not enough time to go down High Street.

Jim Obernesser and Kevin Drake, two Coast Guard officers who work nearby, took a walk on the Seawall Tuesday and then ate Chinese food under the tent.

``I'd hate to see this place close,'' Obernesser said.

``We don't come here every day, but it's nice sitting outdoors by the water.'' ILLUSTRATION: MARK MITCHELL/The Virginian-Pilot

The poster-size cover of a petition to keep Portside open refers to

the Vision 2005 report that calls for moving the nearby ferry

landing.

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