DATE: Sunday, September 21, 1997            TAG: 9709210068

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   90 lines

IS VINYL SIDING GOOD ENOUGH FOR HOMES IN DOWNTOWN NORFOLK?

A new question has surfaced in the city's efforts to revitalize downtown: Do vinyl siding and asphalt shingles pass the good-taste test?

Members of Norfolk's Design Review Committee say ``yes.''

The city's Planning Commission disagrees.

Now, the matter moves to the City Council.

At issue are the plans of Greenwich, Conn., developer Arthur Collins Sr., who proposes using those building materials on a row of apartment buildings that eventually would consume four blocks of prime downtown property in Freemason Harbour, between Boush and Duke streets.

Touted as an upscale project that would draw people downtown to live, the $32 million residential development is viewed as pivotal for downtown's long-term success.

That's why vinyl siding, and whether it portrays an appropriate image for downtown, has stirred such a fuss in City Hall.

It's not the first such brouhaha downtown. There have been flaps for various reasons over the design of the MacArthur Center mall, Harbor Park and buildings on the Tidewater Community College's campus. They weren't fatal, however, and the differences over the Collins development aren't expected to be a deal killer, either.

Nonetheless, there are strong feelings.

``This is something of an overstatement, but I wondered why we would build something in downtown that doesn't seem so terribly different than what I see us tearing down in Ocean View,'' said Planning Commission member Robert Layton, referring to redevelopment efforts on the Bayfront.

``That's ridiculous,'' countered David Rice, executive director of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which struck a deal with Collins in January to develop the property, including land now used as city parking lots.

``I've seen other Collins projects, and I was very impressed,'' Rice said. ``An awful lot of this is subjective, and on this one we've ended up in a disagreement, I guess.''

As envisioned, Collins would construct three apartment buildings with a total of 180 rental units; a fourth building would house about 60 owner-occupied condominiums. He also hopes to develop a restaurant, a suites-style hotel and perhaps a marina.

Architectural renderings show that the facade of the apartment complexes would be constructed mostly of brick. The vinyl siding, Collins said, would be used primarily to break the monotony of solid brick walls by adding variety and interest.

``We've done it a lot, and it's very attractive,'' said Collins, the head of Collins Enterprises. ``I would not call this cheap. There's a lot of quality there.''

Vinyl, he said, holds up better than wood, an alternative.

The roof would consist of architectural-grade asphalt shingles, which, unlike typical house asphalt shingles, are irregular in pattern and create a shadow line, Collins said.

According to renderings of the first 60-unit apartment complex, vinyl siding on the Georgian-style building would be used primarily on decorative gables and in recessed areas on upper floors of the 3 1/2-story building along heavily traveled Boush and Duke streets and on College Place.

The siding, however, would cover most of the exterior wall on its less visible backside, where residents would park.

The drawings passed muster with the city's appointed Design Review Committee.

``I think the use of vinyl is minimal, and vinyl today is so refined it almost looks better than painted siding,'' said member Edward G. Carson.

``And roofs are something you don't stretch your neck too far to see. It seemed very well thought out, and I think it is going to be an asset to the city.''

At least one other residential development in Freemason Harbour, Archer's Walk, uses some vinyl. Asphalt shingles also are a feature there.

However, Planning Commission member Donald L. Williams, a real estate developer, said the materials would be fine for a suburban project or an apartment building on Military Highway or Virginia Beach Boulevard, but not downtown.

The property borders the Freemason Historic District - where vinyl is prohibited, officials said - and the downtown historic overlay district, and demands a higher design quality, Williams said.

``We ought to do a cut above, rather than a regular apartment building,'' Williams said.

Collins has said he hopes to begin construction on the first building next month.

He said his son, Arthur Collins II, plans to meet with members of the City Council Tuesday to discuss any concerns.

He said his son will bring photographs of a similar apartment complex his company built in Greenwich that will show the development's quality better than an architectural drawing could, he said.

The City Council will have final say on the vinyl siding and roof shingles, officials said.

``I think we all want the very best,'' Mayor Paul D. Fraim said, ``and we shouldn't settle for anything less.''

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