Behind closed doors, options for future of Waterside

NORFOLK

Perhaps no public project in modern times has been subject to as much community input in Norfolk as the proposed redevelopment of Waterside.

At the insistence of Mayor Paul Fraim, more than a dozen public hearings, focus groups and presentations have been held. More than 3,000 suggestions came from residents along with recommendations from a five-person panel of urban experts.

But now that the city is nearing a decision on what to do with Waterside, most of the discussion has moved behind closed doors.

Waterside Associates, a private group chartered by the city's housing authority, sought requests for proposals to redevelop the downtown riverfront retail facility last fall. City officials said that five proposals were received by the Dec. 16 deadline.

Assistant City Manager Stanley A. Stein told the City Council last week that the proposals will, for the time being, remain private. They are being examined by a six-person committee, including himself and City Manager Marcus Jones.

Until that meeting, when Councilman Barclay C. Winn asked for an explanation, council members said they were unaware of the process set up by Jones.

"I didn't have a clue," Winn said.

Stein said that if the group determines any of the proposals is worth pursuing, the council will receive a presentation in a closed meeting. The group would then try to negotiate a deal with a developer or developers. The process could take months, he said.

Jones declined to respond to a request for an interview on the issue. Spokeswoman Lori Crouch, who said she was speaking for him, said all five proposals eventually will be made public.

"Marcus is committed to making all of the proposals public," she said. "He knows it's important that the public see everything that was considered."

However, she and Stein acknowledged they likely won't be made public until after a decision is reached.

City Council largely expressed approval of the process, but disappointment that it has taken so long. In 2010, the council pledged to decide what to do with Waterside by the end of the year. More recently, Jones said a decision would be made by December.

"I was hoping we would have something we could start working on this month," said Councilwoman Theresa Whibley, who represents downtown.

Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot said he's also upset that "Marcus made a commitment to make this decision in December, and December has come and gone."

He said he also has questions about the process. Fraim and one other council member should be part of the committee that evaluates proposals, he said.

"At the end of the day, I'm going to be held accountable for this decision," he said. "All of us are. Elected officials need to be a part of this process."

Winn said he "respectfully disagrees" with Burfoot. "Marcus and his group will present us with the strongest proposals. I'm fine with that."

Stein said the committee will consider public input as it evaluates proposals. The group might also hire a consultant to help it decide.

Jones and Stein will be joined on the evaluation committee by housing chief executive officer Shurl Montgomery, Assistant City Manager Darrell Hill, City Attorney Bernard A. Pishko and Chuck Rigney, the acting development director.

Cathy Coleman, who leads the Downtown Norfolk Council, an entity funded in part with public dollars that promotes downtown, said the city is acting appropriately.

"Developers can be challenged by the public process," she said. "Sometimes you get better work if it's done out of the public eye in the early part of the process. But at some point, when it's a public space that's being considered, it clearly needs to be brought forward."

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com