Norfolk enlists mermaid to guide way through downtown construction

NORFOLK

She might be spotted riding an elevator at MacArthur Center, or perched in a seat at Harbor Park or hanging out at an outdoor dining patio.

The Downtown Norfolk Council on Wednesday unveiled a roaming "spokesmermaid" that will be the symbol and voice of navigating downtown while many streets and sidewalks are torn up for major construction over the next couple of years.

The council announced another tool for avoiding downtown delays - a Web-based interactive map that will offer real-time information on street and sidewalk closures as well as information about businesses and parking. It will be ready to access in July.

"We want to keep people coming downtown," said Cathy Coleman, president of the membership-based group that promotes downtown. "We want to be sure people know what route to take and where to park."

Getting around downtown by car or by foot will be more challenging as construction progresses on the city's light rail and two major commercial ventures - Wachovia Center and the Westin Hotel and convention center. A Hampton Inn and a Virginia Arts Festival building are planned, and already under construction are a Residence Inn by Marriott and the Belmont at Freemason apartment complex.

While the projects - totaling more than $700 million - are expected to boost downtown's continuing revitalization, the two- to three-year construction periods will bring travel delays, inconveniences, dirt and noise.

"It's going to be a tough two years for all who live here, work here and visit here," City Councilman Barclay Winn said.

About 30,000 people work downtown and 3,800 live there. A recent DNC survey shows that 64 percent of Hampton Roads residents made at least one trip to downtown Norfolk last year for a nonwork purpose.

"We need to pull out all the stops to make this easier for everyone to get through," Winn said.

Downtown generates 19 percent of the city taxes while occupying about 1 percent of the city's land mass, Coleman said. "The fortunes of downtown are directly linked to the fortunes of the city," she added.

The mermaid figurine will be used similarly to Travelocity's popular roaming gnome. The gnome appears in radio and television advertisements posing for photo shots in exotic locales to promote the online travel service.

The mermaid will also be used in local radio and television ads promoting downtown while offering suggestions for getting around.

Known as "downtown mermaid," the fiberglass statue sports long, flaxen hair and a cartoon-like face. The voice that will be used is high pitched and squeaky. She resembles the iconic city mermaid, only more upright and slightly smaller.

The map, which will be launched next month on DNC's Web site at www.downtownnorfolk.org, will show road closures, explain the purpose for the disruption and indicate how long it will last.

It will also offer information about downtown businesses and suggestions for the best parking for each business.

Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com