ronsmytheiii

Or the hotel/apartments at block 9.....

Small tidbit from the pilot article signals big promise: http://hamptonroads.com/2013/11/arena-proposed-again-virginia-beach-oceanfront

Oh boy: http://hamptonroads.com/2013/09/virginia-beach-light-rail-estimate-tops-1-billion

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/09/hrt-seeks-input-naval-station-tide-route

Does the EIS still cover the private part anyhow? Just thinking it would be silly to get funding for part of light rail and have part of the line fall through because of financing issues.

Chesapeake getting a town center-like development? http://hamptonroads.com/2013/08/chesapeake-city-council-delays-vote-town-center

Sorry for the non update, but still laughing at this........

I could bet there will be some kind of development deal. Looking at the strategic growth plans for Newtown, Pembroke, and Rosemont there will be a lot of TOD opportunities, and I would suspect is why the developers want to extend the line considering how quickly Norfolk capitalized on LRT. So in the end, much like the land on the transcontinental railroad, development rights probably encouraged this deal (and is a good thing). LRT is a mechanism of development, as we hoped.

Death reports on the arena in Virginia Beach see to be premature, as the move for state aid passed the first stage: http://hamptonroads.com/2013/01/state-aid-va-beach-sports-arena-clears-first-hurdle

I went by there after you posted this, only looks like enough land has been cleared for utilities near the road, not nearly enough for a building.

Its Dead Jim: http://hamptonroads.com/2012/02/virginia-beach-convention-center-hotel-deal-killed

Transit related: http://hamptonroads.com/2012/01/norfolk-weighs-new-55-million-bus-facility wish they would focus first on the amtrack intermodal station

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/01/virginia-beach-demands-action-developer-dome-site

I like the arena idea, but the engineer in me has serious doubts about building a huge arena on reclaimed land. WIll need a lot of engineering work and wont be cheap. Still like the Convention center idea, but DO NOT DEMOLISH SELDEN. Period. There are only two arcades in Virginia, it would be a travesty to demolish it. Just build the other hotel at the empty lot next to MacArthur, and leave retail space for a new anchor.

Exactly, and the NSU officials are tryng to blame it solely on the President at the time. I have a newsflash for them, it takes more than one person to push for the change, the entire college is to blame and no one else should pay to correct the move, only NSU. AS for the derailment, after talking to a light rail operaor the next day, turns out it really was the operator's error and nothing more. The operator was supposed to stop earlier but pretty much went through a "red light" as they approached the station, they saw another train and realized their error, and decided to back up but they are specifically instructed NOT to reverse, so that was why it jumped off the rails. The train was fine and should be operational after a quick realinement at the shop, but that operator obviously lost their job because of what happened. HRT officials now have operators call out when they are nearing certain spots on the radio to prevent this from happening again.

Biggest thing that has me excited is the possibility of a high line park like New York City: See these pictures from NYC:

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/01/conference-center-marina-pitched-waterside Wow

Rode the Tide for the first time to and from Downtown for the Grand Illumination parade. Going in the seats were full but only a couple people standing at about 4:30. Leaving the parade, there was a mad rush for the trains. Took about three trains to get on, all stuffed to the brim. My family and I were the last ones on the train, and did not allow anyone else to get on as it went back to Newtown. The Newtown parking lot was filled over capacity, some cars were even parked beside the curb.

Virginia Tech has a similar deal with Blacksburg Transit, and helps to provide steady income for transit operations and provides easy access to and from campus, win-win in both cases. http://hamptonroads.com/2011/11/tcc-pay-hrt-cover-rides-students-and-staff

Progress forward, though slowly http://hamptonroads.com/2011/11/va-beach-council-oks-land-transfer-development-sites

It looks great, and I will enjoy riding it this summer. But the limit on growth and disappearing jobs mean I too will be leaving Hampton Roads once graduating, DC already has what I am looking for.

I do like the stadium proposal, but I think it is in the wrong place as the Pembroke implementation plan also called for a similar venue. Then again, without light rail perhaps the Town center location is not desirable.

The only way that this will work is if 1. We get a lot of federal funding (doubtful with the Norfolk situation and Congress' cutting mood) 2. get rid of most (if not all) of the above grade crossings and just go with at grade ones (doubtful, ties up traffic.) 3. Build in phases (maybe, but many will complain and might add on to total cost) 4. Try to mix in private investment, the businesses at the beachfront/Town Center will benefit most, perhaps they can partially fund in exchange for free advertising.