vtfan18

I certainly agree. I'm not sure the city has the correct vision for this area. Redevelopment of this area is critical and could make or break Norfolk in terms of future development.

"The Virginian Pravda"...now thats funny!

A little FYI...Va Beach made the list at number 10 for most walkable cities. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/08/walkable....s.ap/index.html

It is on College place. Right across from Harbor Heights and adjacent to 388 Boush St. Basically two buildings down from TCC toward Boush St.

La Galleria restaurant just got sold! Right now I have no idea if the new owner intends on keeping the restaurant but my intuition tells me they are looking to do something with the land! I "hear" that the new owner might be looking to buy other parcels of land on that street. I'm still digging for more info...

I've been gone for a couple days and this is what I have to come back to...I'm a little disgusted!

This is why all of VB will eventually look like TC. We continue to allow the same local developers to sprout their cookie cutter projects. If a local developer's proposal is the best option, then so be it, but don't exclude outside developers from the bidding process. It's like only allowing Ford car dealerships in HR and no one else just because their plant is in Norfolk.

of course...yawn....zzzzz.....

I guess it depends on which side of the fence you sit. Those of us who wish for something like the Korean project like it because we realize that it's going to take that type of development to finally push Va Beach and the region to the next level. It brings outside architects and an outside perspective to the region. Many of us agree that HR needs some outside perspective b/c all the new projects coming on board are absolutely boring. Yes, the area developers have a formula that works here but outside developers have winning formulas too that can work just as well but with much better design. If you have the mentality that everything should be in porportion to its surroundings, then TC in the pembroke area should have never been constructed. Even if you're a bigger fan of a midrise complex than highrise, I'd still argue the design is bland. Nothing that the region hasn't seen before. Nothing that complements a pretty well designed convention center. The monorail proposal is not the best use of taxpayer funds for its intended purpose. And people want to scream at Norfolk for spending its money on a rail system intended to ease traffic for the region and not just convention goers!

Oh but it is a convention center hotel..."If we're right, not only have we solved the convention center hotel problem, we're also bringing year-round entertainment to the city," Armada Hoffler President Lou Haddad said. "Armada Hoffler is one of three companies in the running to build a convention center hotel. It will be the first to pitch its plan to the public, at a City Council meeting Tuesday. " Although it doesn't sit next to the convention center, its pitched as the convention center hotel. It doesn't matter where the hotel sits, it'll draw business from both markets is right, but its main objective is to complement the convention center.

ummm...I agree. This thing is completely boring! This is supposed to be the flagship hotel for supporting the convention center? Come on...its a less attractive version of Town Center. That's all they've done. Another cookie cutter project by AH.

I agree...I love me some chicken pad thai!

This is where you need city council to step in and say "no", we don't approve your design and it doesn't fit in with the overall master plan. Just like the idiot in Norfolk who bought a prime downtown lot only to use it as over flow parking for his future "red roof inn" hotel.

I'm all for Sun Rise. If it ever works out. It's the most progressive development taking Va Beach in the right direction. Hyatt will be just another hotel. Va Beach will end up being a resort of low rise stumpy buildings. Not that higher is always better but look what Westin is doing for TC and they only have two "high rise" buildings. Its already an icon of TC.

I'm glad someone agrees with me. I've thought this all along with the "houses" or flats as they actually are. They look horrible! I think there are four units per "house". Anyway, this is another great example of Norfolk wanting to "re-create" the past. They wanted structures there to replicate the old housing which use to line that particular corridor. Do people not see that architects tend to do a horrible job of replicating the past. We're not talking about restoring a historic single family here, they built an entire "subdivision" of this principle and it looks horrible! And I'll bet anything that the subsidized housing they build across St Pauls in the St Paul quadrant looks just like it! If we're gonna have subsidized housing there, they can at least come up with progressive designs. The West coast does an amazing job of building low income housing which has architectual significance!

yep, it also mentioned that the city wants full control over the design. with that being said, we can pretty much expect an un-inspiring building.

Va Beach ranked as one of the top 5 fastest appreciating home markets in the country! http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/real_esta...st_worst/9.html

Very true. But you'll find that the steps Norfolk is taking by building an inital starter line is how all major cities tackle light rail. They build in phases and what you find is ridership levels typically jump in huge numbers after the second phase is built and more accessible lines are built. Just like what would happen if Va Beach would connect to Norfolk's line. Here is a good short article. http://www.lightrailnow.org/news/n_den002.htm

I agree! I've been saying this for some time now. Although, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that competing against 6 other adjacent cities doesn't help the cause. But they really do need to step up to the plate and make some deals happen. The courts should be the easiest to get resolved considering they own the land and have full say over what can happen. Start by getting rid of Vice Mayor Paul Riddick whose behavior at a recent council meeting was childish, unprofessional, and down right embarrassing.

Its so funny to read the comments under the article from people who are completely blind to reality and make up any excuse as to why light rail wont work!

Yeah, its been empty for a while. When they first purchased the building there was a little deli in the bottom floor if I remember correctly but were then forced to move because of safety issues. Its probably going to be much much cheaper to tear it down and then redevelop the property given its current condition. If it comes down, I just hope something taller goes in. If that happens, there is going to be sooo much debate over the architecture that should replace the building! =)

Guadalajara is the Mexican restaurant next door to premiere. Its been open for some time now. Unless you are talking about "Dine" which is a very small restaurant attached to the Granby Theater and operated by the same owner. Trilogy is awesome. One of the best places for fine dining in the area.

The Clyton Lane project was the first phase of a much bigger master plan. I agree, St Pauls quadrant is large and will entail more development but I really feel that the heart of the quadrant should be mixed use and compliment downtown. Provide a shopping, eating, dining destination other than the mall. Here's a description of Clayton Lane. I think that some of the higher end retail and hotel establishments would have to be adjusted along with providing reasonably priced housing. A 700,000 square-foot, $160+ million "true" mixed-use development in the heart of the Cherry Creek North commercial district.

I had dinner at the new Thai restaurant the other night on Granby. The food was pretty good. My benchmark for comparison when it comes to Thai food is chicken pad thai and theirs was pretty good. The decor is nothing to write home about but its not a bad place for dinner. Prices are ok, maybe just a bit high for what I would expect. There were a good amount of covers that night too which was good to see for business. I haven't eaten at the new Asian grill but plan to try that this weekend. When I walked by after eating at the Thai place it didn't seem as busy.