spiker3

I really don't understand the purpose of the graphic at the bottom of the page comparing the two proposals. All it does (at least to me) is highlight how much more efficient and cost-beneficial the new system is. Less per mile by over half, less operating costs by $90 million, $14 million more projected earnings in fares, and that's just for the Norfolk line. I guess depending on how many NIMBYs there are in Virginia Beach this type of propoganda could be successful (i think we've come a lot longer in 8+ years) but with the feds and state chipping in some much money (what, nearly 2/3s the project?), and not having a sales tax increase to pay for the project....where's the problem? Moron

The only thing about this project is the City Council needs to pick a project that has regional interest as well as tourist interest. It's a waste of land to build an attraction that's only good from May through September. Wave pools, indoor ski slops and extreme parks are fine on paper, and work well in Dubai, Florida, and Bahamas where there's tourism all year round, but in order for this to be viable it needs to appeal to Virginia Beach residents first, Hampton Roads residents second and tourists third. The worst thing the city council could do right now is to award the development of some gimmicky idea that looks great on a vacation brouchere. A multi-use district, with retail, entertainment and some attraction is the only realistic way for this to be successful.

You know there's a Fatburger in Chesapeake, off Battlefield, right?

My point was in no way calling anyone or anything 'ghetto', it was that around the area Military Circle mall has a stigma, justified or unjustified. And while Janaf and Military explode with new development, the mall itself is going nowhere, and doesn't appear to be moving forward or able to move forward. Retailers do not give an area a stigma, in my opinion. Having worked at MacArthur, there was a huge concern two years ago about the mall's demographics shifting due to poor security, maintenance and rules. If Military Circle instituted a dress code (not code, but no hoods on, pants on your waist, ala MacArthur) kick out riff-raff and loiterers much more frequently, and increase police presence inside the mall (MacArthur always has two uniform officers on duty during non-holidays, four during holidays) the general public would be more likely to visit. As it stands, i personally only go to MC for movies, even tho there are shops in the mall i do shop at. I just personally don't like going to that particular mall.

The weird thing is Janaf and the Military Highway corridor have redeveloped and blown up the last two - four years, while Military Circle is still a train wreck. Although it was renovated (long overdue) a few years ago, they still maintain the 'ghetto' stigma. Shootouts in the parking lot certainly don't help that image. It seems while everything around it is improving, the mall itself is stuck in a rut...and not likely to get better anytime soon. At this point it would almost take a complete shutdown and redevelopment of the mall to become a destination with the entire area again. There's simply too many poorly chosen tenants in the mall to make it feasible to be successfully redeveloped in its current state.

I'm cautiously optimistic, they're looking at great places and seeking out some good ideas. They don't seem to take Harmon Hospitality's offer to make the DoubleTree bigger too seriously to consider it a HQ hotel, which is great news. Plus the fact that Gartraub from Dallas is still planning a big is good news as well, they're proposing a Hyatt and are still putting together a serious offer a year later. I think the best possible thing the VBCC can do is adopt two proposals, one for the land immediately next to the convention center to build a luxury/upper end hotel, as well as find a proposal to turn the Dome site into a entertainment destination, ala Hoffler's initial proposal. AH got all high and mighty and demanded exclusivity and wanted a monorail which was insane, but take those two out and you had a good idea. As dedicated as they seem to be to getting this right (they've waited over a year) i could see this coming out very well.

Towne Place at Greenbrier is preparing to move forward with Phase III, 32K of retail with 110 condos above. Does anyone have any rendering or info on the condo development? The only site i've been able to find is kahndevelopment.com, i didnt know if the Ches City page might have anything.

24th and 25th are blocks from ODU, this currently is empty warehouses and run down auto shops. 24th St crosses Hampton Blvd and ends in the shopping center next to the old Food Lion/new Bottom Dollar, 25th crosses Hampton and then crosses Colley immediately before the railroad underpass. This area is sorely in need of any shot in the arm to boost economic impact, the relocation of 7-11 from 41st to 31st has helped, but it's still most run down industrial and low income housing.

Looking for some prestigious recommendations here guys, Monday is me and my girl's one year anniversary, and i'm looking to take her someplace upscale. Right now my front runner is Byrd & Baldwin Bros, but i'm open to other possibilities. I'd prefer steak, american or italian cuisine, doesn't necessarily have to be in downtown norfolk, could be anywhere....any recommendations? Or feedback about B&BB?

Not true, Crocodile Rocks in Waterside had their alcohol license revoked because they didnt hit the 45% number. I work for a bar n grille, and the 45% is a huge deal, our percentages are put onto every daily paperwork.

at the idea of turning the Downtown Plaza into a Park N Ride lot. Worst idea for prime development space. And it's the front-runner. Someone should be shot. While i'm not ignorant to the needs of the folks in public housing, and realize the political ramifications, i'm for developing, not kow-towing to the needs of the 1400 people who happen to live in the area. Here's hoping that they can be easily displaced or relocated and the open land utilized for an extension of downtown (which sorely needs the space)

I always see workers too, but my point was a lack of discernible progress. Interiors haven't been started, there's still windows and doors missing from the building, etc. They are building on a small tower addition to the rear of the building but besides that there's nothing really being accomplished on this project. It's approaching two years now, and while a conversion takes longer than new construction obviously i think the lack of sales or interest in this project is starting to take its toll on the developer. Yes the building looks much better than it used to be and so far looks great, but for a three story building, they're moving at a HH pace.

In the condo cooldown article in the Pilot today, some quotes regarding the Franklin Condos on Brambleton. 19 units in the building, and only one has sold, and that was to a relative of the developer. And besides the tower in the rear of the building this project has been stagnant for months now with no discernible progress. No interior work is being done either. Exterior windows and doors were added but they left two off like eight or nine months ago and the trash bags in their place still remain. It looks better than what was there (the old Social Services building) but marketing to high end select buyers right now is a good way to go belly up or run into difficulty (see Westin sellings the remaining 20%, GT, Harbor Heights high end) Disappointing.

After weeks n months of delays, Paradocks East Coast Grille at Greenbrier is finally opening it's doors on Friday. You guys should check it out, it's gonna be great. And it's huge (capacity of 500+)

Could someone google earth or find a map rendering showing the extension of Constitution to Midtown? I've never been back in Columbus Station so i really don't know how the road goes, or ends. Thanks

There's construction starting in River Pointe off West Norfolk Rd, i live right next door. Anyone know anything about this? There were signs for River Pointe SHoppes, those have been taken down, grading has begun and construction fencing has been erected. Anyone?

Visited to barnes and noble today, the top floor is still the only one open, the staircase to downstairs looks fantastic, and the selection downstairs looks like thats where the majority of their books will be. Definitely a solid addition to the mall. Also, the scheduled hours of operation are an hour later than the mall closes, 10 PM Monday - Saturday, 7 PM on Sundays. Carvel Ice Cream is now Hershey's Ice Cream, reducing the # of carvel's in the area to 2.

Sorry to give the wrong impression, not mine as in ownership, i'm a 'lowly' kitchen manager, but still big news for us

An article from the Clipper (i believe) about the new Towne Place in Greenbrier, including my new restaurant Towne Place

B&N Top Floor is officially open... Blog Posting about Grand Opening Pilot Online Article I know when this project was first announced i talked about the Starbucks being removed from the project. Originally it was, however due to a change in head management for HMSHost (the Food Court operators) the new manager did not have the pull, clout or wherewithall to get the deal done. And related note, for those of you having issues with Burger King, i apologize for no longer running that restaurant, and since having left it's apparently taken a rather hard run in customer service and quality. I do miss the mall sometimes though....

I wish....i wish....i wish.... It'll be decades till professional sports come to HR....and it's a travesty that Nashville has a football team AND a hockey team, Columbus has a hockey team, Oklahoma City gets next dibs, and we're @$$ out. Gator i disagree, the Scope is not an embarassment, even if we build an arena, given it's structural significance, the Scope will not be demolished, it's a first-off it's time architecture. NBA or NFL would work, NFL obviously, NBA would be a stretch, imo. Baseball plays too many home games to draw consistent crowds (an issue here even now) hockey is the same (an issue when they're not winning, and on weekdays) basketball is ridiculously expensive (as is football, but football is a once a week excursion, not two or three times a week) Anyways, it's still a pipe dream....unfortunately

The Poquoson mayor thing got old in a hurry. While i commend him for his stand the first night at the town hall in Hampton, 'resigning' was a publicity stunt, and looked especially bad when he had to rejoin the board because he was so blatantly unaware of the bylaws he helped write. Then to walk off the dias and speak to the board as a 'concerned citizen'....smacks of the foundation for a congressional campaign, or more likely a state senate campaign. Very insincere and self-serving, and the schtick is old. FYI, i'm all for the HRTA and new fees, we need the projects, and it wasn't coming for free. This is a step in the right direction, imo.

I'd look into that, the sandals thing i could see, that's common place in trendy places, an establishment can choose and set a dress code, however the age thing sounds incorrect, 21+ would be correct, but setting a age limit above the drinking age is age discrimination (not to mention setting a limit above for men is sex discrimination), and i don't think Guadalajara's would pull something as illegal and stupid as that. I'd suggest looking into it, doesn't sound right.

As the kitchen manager for the new restaurant back there (Paradocks East Coast Grille), i'm hurt

Ideally, although November 07 is more realistically the timetable. On another MacArthur note, Ann Taylor Loft has opened on the second level next to Vans, and D.E.M.O. has closed, was next to Arden B. And the Farmer's Market is back for another year