spiker3

various skyline shots from South MacArthur Deck MacArthur on Ice

'Spectacular' views from new cruise terminal Good article, looking forward to completion next year.

The Commodore is being renovated into condos to try and capitalize on the condo craze in downtown. The new owners are apparently a bit shady, my dad was handling the engineering on the building. They wanted another story added for a penthouse, and the owners were told due to the age and condition of the building, in order to add another story they'd have to reinforce the foundation and adhere to new building codes, adding another couple million to the cost. Rather than built it the correct way, they went to a shadier engineer who's friends with the building inspectors and it'll be approved no problem. The owners are looking for 450K to $1.5 million per unit, simply outrageous for what the quality and market are currently like. Construction on B&N will not begin until after January17th, when the skating rink closes. The B&N will be 20,000 square feet, roughly half or a third the size of a typical B&N. Keep in mind it will academic bookstore themed.

It'll be both, the lot originally intended for a full third anchor will basically be half and half; half for 'community' events, the ice skating rink, farmers market, etc etc, the other half new construction for the B&N. They will coexist.

There will be entrances from the store to the parking garage, and from the store to the street level (Freemason and sidewalk in from Monticello) but they are not tearing down or opening walls in the existing building to open to the store. The only feasible option would be to extend the building to encompass the existing doors and windows towards Freemason, but that would extend the building too far into the existing lot so it's not going to happen. Essentially, nothing can interfere for Farmer's Market and especially the ice rink. That's the rundown.

Spoke with the Mall GM again today about any upcoming developments at the mall, here's a synopsis: - The Barnes & Noble will 'officially' be built in the third anchor location, in the corner next to the parking garage and the mall. The store potentially will have entrances to the street and the parking garage, but not into the mall (they are not tearing down the walls past H&M to open an entrance). Look for construction to start after January, after the skating rink closes down. Currently everything is being negotiated in terms of entrances, etc. They're trying to be open in time for TCC's fall semester, but the full store will more than likely not open until November/December 2007. Possibly opening a satellite facility in a temporary location for the fall semester in the mall while waiting for full construction to complete. - EQ3 (high end furniture store opening where Jeepers formerly occupied) is scheduled to open December 14th. - Next year Ann Taylor Loft (i think i heard that right) is the only new store as of now scheduled to open in 2007.

When TC first opened there was talk of moving the municipal center to TC and using the current area as a college campus; however, the majority of VB citizens got up in arms, justifiably, about the idea. What was the sense in spending for a downtown area if we couldnt find tenants (we could obviously, it just seemed like we couldnt with this idea) and why spend a insane amount on rent and space for a offices that are perfectly fine where they are. City Council got wise and let the matter rest. As far as i know that was the last of it.

Tel has been a little quite lately, maybe this will wake him up

Update!! Sorry guys, we got Starbucks nixed...kind of, unofficially, the B&N will not have a Starbucks Cafe, it actually will be a Seattle's Best rather than anothr Starbucks. That's officially unofficially the word. I'm sure they won't announce this for quite some time now but we got that from Starbucks today. As for the location, im more skeptical about it going near the third anchor location, the idea of construction while the skating rink is operating isn't a bright one, i'll keep an eye and ear out however.

There's an empty lot on Atlantic and somewhere between 15 - 19th (dont remember which. huge lot, on the boardwalk/oceanfront, what's being built there? Link to the thread please? Anyone, thanks.

The mall bought the ice skating rink last year for like 300K or something, and are planning on increasing the scope and size of the event this year, that along with the farmer's market ongoing makes me believe that it would be built exclusively for B&N, leaving them so lee-way if they wanted other events in the 'courtyard' area. There is also more retail space available in MacArthur, and if they needed the room they'd shuffle them again like they did for H&M. There's a space next to Limited Too and Just Casual, the old Timberland store (sells Calendars and games from Waldenbooks for the holidays) Illuminations just closed down, there's empty retail next to Vans, also across from customer service (old April Cotrell) and next to Verizon on the first floor (selling Calendars also). Assuming EQ3 ramps up construction sometime soon that would still leave at least 6 available locations to shuffle if need be. Still, to get a 28K sq foot store 7 years into the mall's life as a partial third anchor is a good deal, even if it's not a full B&N or a best buy.

They've begun putting up aluminum framing with doors for balconies and windows along Bousch St, and also have mortgage/lender information posted along the fence. And yes, it looks like the parking lot is staying.

Got unofficial confirmation today about the B&N/Starbucks situation. The B&N is slated to be built on the northwest corner of the mall on the corner of Freemason and Monticello, directly next to the parking garage backing up to the rear of the mall on the first and second floors, two stories and open to the street. Our lease with the mall has a direct competition prevention clause, but only up to 200 feet, which does not apply. Apparently we're looking into our contract with Starbucks corporate, since our company operates roughly 300-500 Starbucks around the globe, a gentlemens' clause where in good business sense it wouldn't be beneficial to license the store. Something like that. Just thought you guys might want to know the location, so this will be the third 'anchor' location...sort of

Currently the casual restaurants are CPK, Kincaids, Max & Ermas and chilis, all those stores are 1 story, with patio/balcony dining. If they're looking for a true two story set up, more than likely would be the first two levels next to parking garage where the third anchor would sit, but directly next to the parking garage. Last year MacArthur spent a couple hundred thousand purchasing (not just leasing) the skating rink, that would be a large investment to throw down the tubes, it worked so well last year they are in love with it now. As far as the Starbucks goes, i'm fairly certain we don't have a product exclusivity clause, like no other coffee, since Nordstrom Cafe and Espresso Bars but we're exploring all options. Obviously the situation for us will be held much higher up than my level or mall management's level, but will an impact of potentially a third to half our current sales? Direct competition like that, especially same brand is unheard of in a captive audience environment. And to read it in the Pilot just makes it worse. Fair point to the Pilot being wrong more often than not, but the marketing director quote about the Starbucks doesn't help either. Anyways, definitely a topic of conversation around the mall today within our company. On another note, EQ3 has done virtually nothing with their store since Jeepers left, i looked in last week, the walls were still Jeepers purple n yellow, just with all the rides stripped out. They are weeks if not months away from an opening. The layout of the store is designed to include the windows on the third level in the store to create room themes, dining rooms, living rooms etc in a 'natural' environment, with natural light, etc. Just an fyi

Our company runs the two Starbucks; the article's been out for 12 hours and we're already up in arms. More than likely the Starbucks will not come to fruition unless our company is running it; our legal department is re-examining our contract for our competition clauses and what our options are in blocking or taking over this development (Starbucks only). One on Main St and another opening on Granby is one thing, but having one directly under the roof as competition is another, i can't see our company letting that stand, unless they give us the contract which is extremely unlikely. Don't bet too much on the Starbucks making it through to the final plans of the store.

The shift is for more recognizable concepts i believe, while Freemason and Beach Bully are good for the locals, out of towners and businessman dont recognize. Also there are huge logistical issues with Bully, the BBQ has to be cooked at the beach location and transported in, the airport or the city wont allow them to cook it onsite for some reason. Just an overdue update, our company is doing this to the travel plazas up in the northeast and some of our revamped contracts in the airports. We sign an extension and update the facilities and concepts.

It hasn't been announced yet, but my company owns the company that runs some of the concessions at the airport. Next year there will be a full renovation, Beach Bully BBQ is being ripped out, Starbucks is being put in its place, Freemason is getting ripped out, im not sure for what, i believe A&W is still up in the air.

i thought it did seem rather alarmist, the pilot is usually the one pushing the, the nation sucks but we're still good image too. But if it comes to killing our first born, then we know something's really wrong in the market

Let's all pitch in 2K and buy the 'rights' to the area for $20K

Worrying signs in state of the region report and just for tel...

Meet the Norfolk...Navigators?

My point was simply that for a year there were project after project announced, yet nothing's really been heard since the announcement. 201 21st St is at least going before the commission, but what about the Ellington, 12 condos on the corner of Hampton Blvd and Redgate? That was supposed to be finished by this December, but that project went idle and now it's no more. How many fantastic projects were announced but not going to come to light? The large tracts of SFH will more than likely be developed, but it's always the condo projects that get scrapped first. That's why, in my opinion, we were concerned and frustrated with Granby Tower. Knowing how the market was going, the likelihood of the project getting off the ground decreases as time goes on. Thankfully it is finally moving forward but what about these other projects? I think the SFH market is leveling out, inventory is increasing but still moving along, but the condo market is going to go stagnant in a hurry. Westin has sold out of their lower range condos, the remaining few dozen are in the 600 - 900K range. But besides new construction, the condo market is very slow right now. Drive around Ghent and West Ghent and you see For Sale and FSBO signs on every street. I'm not a bubble-monger like Tel, but i'm skeptical as to the market in general, but especially the condo market.

The quality of the market is signified by the little things too: Drove past Bobby Wright's 400 Granby St lofts (building with Baxters in it), on the back of the building is a GIANT banner with the phone number and website, with this little tidbit across the bottom: INVESTORS WELCOME! I knew they hadn't sold out yet but wow. The Weltons i don't think sold out either, nor did the new building next to Scotty Quix. But for the craze of condos in downtown, not exactly a good sign. Of course the fact that asking prices are over 350K have alot to do with it too. There's also the slew of projects announced during the climax of the housing boom that aren't likely to come to fruition, the Kiterides (i know i didnt spell that right), the Hoffler Tower, etc, they were announced in February but i dont like the odds of them being built in the current market. The condo market is going a bit too soft, i think the high end luxury market is still stable, evidence from Westin and Granby point to that, but the medium range 250 - 400K market simply isn't strong enough in this market right now. Look at Harbor Walk in Ocean View that just cut their prices because demand wasn't strong enough. I think this is gonna become a trend around the area, developers announced a project at the upper 200s, becomes starting at $250K closer to completion then $225K at constructions end to fill the building. Supply is going to blow demand out of the water once these projects complete, and then the prices will have to come down or investors are going to lose money by the truckfull. Real estate may never go down, but condos most assuredly do, they're the first to go and last to rise.

PilotOnline Editorial Article This guy really hits the nail on the head, the Mets screwed up and wound up with the bottom of the barrel and it serves them right. But thanks for the 38 years in the Virginia Beach area, full of artic weather and our regional municipal airport. Great tone to the article, deservedly.

The Tides have officially signed with the Orioles.