Ghentite

Funny you mention Ft. Norfolk, there is a draft package for updating the ordinances and zoning downtown focused on creating the Arts district, but it also ear marks other specific areas of the city including Ft Norfolk and updating the zoning (from industrial to potential mixed use) there as well. However, apparently there is a Va Beach resident that owns most of the waterfront property there. He has business partners in it (who are minority owners) and apparently they're driving a hard bargain for all of that property (can't say I blame them) preventing the city from just taking it on the cheap and developing it.

I agree. The other place that we're starting to see some change is with the city having a healthy respect for the so-called "creative class." They've been the ones bringing up all of the issues that build a city's culture (public art, street festivals, food trucks, small business assistance) and have been challenging city council to make them happen. Council is starting to see that there are some younger folks who have great ideas and that there are indeed inexpensive ways to create vibrancy in your city. It's exciting times in Norfolk. Tonight's street festival should be fun too.

Despite it's crappy location, plans have been released for the bus transfer station. http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/04/downtown-bus-transfer-station-plans.html#!/2013/04/downtown-bus-transfer-station-plans.html Oh yeah, and Norfolk Live! is on Facebook now so give it a follow...https://www.facebook.com/pages/Norfolk-Live/156226581212034?bookmark_t=page

Two success stories came out of Better Block. This big one is that Alchemy NFK, where all of the artists gathered in the old furniture store, will become a permanent art community space. The room will be divided into 16 sections for artists to rent as mini galleries. The garage in the back will be divided four ways into soundproof rooms for bands to rehearse in. A coffee shop is also being planned. The only thing holding it back is the zoning within that neighborhood prohibiting shared spaces. The city is expected to change this in May which will allow for more places like this. Alchemy is looking to hold a grand opening in June. Another smaller success is the pop-up shop Fairview Place that sold crafts and terraniums. The owner of the building asked them to stay for a while to help enhance the area and his building. In addition, the Texaco building on the corner that had the gallery/bar/music is under negitiation for purchase. So regardless of the projects, things are certainly in motion to improve the area. On a side note, we were out there every night for a week setting up, and didn't run into a single issue with crime or anything else shady. Realize it was just a snapshot in time but we didn't feel unsafe at any point in time.

If nobody is doing anything this friday or saturday, come down to the Arts District for Better Block. A ton of young folks are working really hard to put on a show for city council on how great Norfolk can be if they'd just loosen up a bit. http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/p/better-block-way-finding-test-space.html

As part of next week's Better Block event, we're tying recycle old paint (any kind) and supplies to be used in the Arts District. Here's more: http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/04/help-paint-arts-district.html

Yeah it should be a great weekend. There's been a ton of volunteers in the planning meetings. We're running a paint drive to help our starving artists in the district in the old Zedd's lot. They're also planning on creating a beer garden there. Someone else is opening up a coffee shop/gallery for the weekend, and there are a few other pop-up shops you'll see. And of course, there are some great art ideas that have been pitched. Lots of great community involvement in this, including city leaders who have shown up at meetings to support it. Here's a small update: http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/03/arts-district-will-connect-downtown-to.html

Agreed. During the meeting, it was mentioned that City Council pursued expanding the Scope and moved on from it after a study showed it wasn't going to happen. They're really only left with two options: Don't invest in it at all and let it deteriorate while good concerts/tournaments/events bring revenue to other cities OR they can be proactive and make the building an attractive venue for years to come. People complain that Norfolk never thinks ahead, but this is exactly what they're doing in this situation.

To sum it up: http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/03/details-of-scope-renovations-released.html

Possible renovations would focus on improving the quality since the design limits expansion. http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/03/scope-renovations-would-focus-on.html

Good find...hopefully the moment picks up.

Yep. They're renovating The Scope. http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-scope-to-undergo-renovations.html

Update on everything going on...http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/02/huge-arts-district-update.html

There was a good story on WAVY last night about the Norfolk Apartment boom: http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/02/influx-of-downtown-apartments-could.html

http://ow.ly/i/1sEiA Just thought I'd pass this along. Found a rendering of the proposed bus transit center at St. Paul's. It's funny because they've been holding a series of public meetings for this to explain what their doing and apparently everyone has been asking why this isn't a part of the proposed multi-modal transportation station at Harbor Park. The only thing about it that makes sense to me is that it'll be right in the middle of everything once St. Paul's is developed, but obviously, they'd need to have the train station on their route. But I don't see St. Paul's fully developed for a long long time and right now, all it's going to do is clog things up.

I hear ya. There are projects to the east, but Ghent connects from the north and the Hague ($$$) connects from the West. And right now most of those places in the proposed area are completely vacant. It's a ghost town. So hopefully, it won't really matter.

This has been an idea for a while but it's getting closer and closer to reality. http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2013/01/push-for-norfolk-arts-district-in-full.html If you have the time, check out the video on Better Block. Very cool concept.

Nah, I've been digging for more but haven't found anything. There have been no files or plans posted anywhere. Typically, big ticket items discussed at the design and planning commission meetings, end up at the city council meetings, which can be viewed online. So we may have to wait on that. I'll post something as soon as I find it though.

Haha I recieved the same response for him.

AltDaily is trying to get folks to email city council. It seemed to work with the City Planning Commission so it doesn't hurt to try this. In my latest blog, I include their email addresses. I'd urge anyone in favor of food trucks to just drop them a short line saying how great they'd be for the city. http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/#!/2013/01/city-council-wants-limitations-on-food.htmlhttp://norfolklive.blogspot.com/#!/2013/01/city-council-wants-limitations-on-food.html

Yet another apartment building may be in the works downtown http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/#!/2012/12/even-more-apartments-downtown.html

Looks like the commission didn't take the advice of its staff (a good thing).... http://norfolklive.blogspot.com/2012/12/food-trucks-get-approval-from-norfolk.html#!/2012/12/food-trucks-get-approval-from-norfolk.html

Yeah, it's a shame a work of art like that was torn down, especially when consider passenger rail returned came back. What a waste...

Yeah, I don't know. There's definite potential for a market on Granby, but I don't think the demand is there yet. I just don't think we're going to see a huge increase in the population of downtown until either a.) more businesses move downtown creating jobs, b.) there's an increase in everyday amenities downtown such as a pharmacy, grocery store, etc., or c.) there's more to do downtown (retail/restaurants/special events - DT is a ghost town on weekends). Fortunately, it looks like most on city council are finally becoming more aware of this (through trial and error) and you can see it in the small things, such as bikeability, potential food trucks, changing ordinances to promote small businesses, parking changes. These sort of changes along with approving new residential properties, such as this one, Rockefeller, the Savoy will lay a nice foundation. Union Mission is in the dreaded "waiting to get its financing approved" mode.

I don't think we'll see an increase of people living downtown until we start to see an increase in businesses moving downtown. However, it's good that they're building the framework to support that.