VAGATOR

Last time I went to a Pizza Hut, I think it was the one in Western Branch, and ate inside, I noticed the interior was pretty dingy and worn down. I heard it was pretty much the same at the other older locations. I'm guess they went with the carryout, and fast food style with another store path versus expensive renovations.

Yea, from the Wisconsin to the Sheraton Hotel. I wouldn't mind this. I feel pumping millions into Waterside in its current forum is a waste. Let the private sector propose ideas and bid.

I was just thinking about this the other day, but does anybody else think if Waterside Drive was narrowed to two lanes and Waterside was brought more towards the rest of downtown would help the situation? Under this scenario, Waterside would be completely redone.

You would think this area was Beverly Hills east the way their residents go on and on. They need to get it through their thick skulls the "undesirables" aren't going to ride light rail to pillage their community and escape.

ODU needs to play NSU, Hampton, and William and Mary, it would be great for the region.

I agree, Norfolk is financially strapped for years, especially since they have to build that courthouse pretty much under legal order. The only hope for the near future is the Beach, and that's extremely doubtful.

This area need a new arena bad. Most Major D-1 colleges have nicer arenas than Scope and Hampton Coliseum, and that includes ODU. It's not only a professional team we maybe missing out on, we also miss out on major concerts(Look what the new arena has done for UVA) NCAA events, i.e. NCAA men's tournament, ect. Sadly, I don't see one coming anytime soon, and its just going to get more expensive.

I agree with others, this maybe the most important project in the history of Norfolk. They must look outside the box, and create a true mixed income community, and not try to dress up the projects. I hope they hire outside consultant. I hope Norfolk doesn't screw it up, but I'm not hopeful.

Most people who post on Pilotonline.com are idiots who have multiple screen names. I wish they would disable the feature, or hide it a little bit.

I'm not trying to harp on Norfolk State, all government agencies have some kind of waste and Norfolk State provides a valuable service for the community, but these outrageous actions by the leadership of Norfolk State, especially considering the stakes with this project, have people understandably upset. A few examples of Norfolk State financial mismanagement I can think of the top of my head is the recent 200,000+ "renovation" of the President's home, a recent audit among exposing among other things NSU had not collected millions of dollars in tuition from students, and had students attending the school for free for years, and the total mismanagement of the RISE Project, especially since it has come to light they pretty much didn't use any minority contractors. Info on these incidents can easily be googled.

Is there a certain reason the City of Norfolk just doesn't say we will use eminent domain? Afraid of being called "racist?" Honestly like others said, NSU probably pissed away more money and is using this as blackmail.

It makes you wonder are the people running NSU truly that ignorant? This project will be a total blessing for that school(I wonder how much ODU would pay for a stop) and they come up with all these silly objections....i.e...Light Rail bringing more crime to that area, like that is possible.

The whole situation on Granby Street with Harry's BBQ was a joke. I loved going to that place after a night on Granby Street. Serves that ripoff artist landlord right. Shame Harry's looks like its in trouble.

Only thing I can think of is that ODU low-balled the estimates and the land owners told them to take a hike since they can't sue the threat of eminent domain anymore.

Agree. It is truly embarrassing that a region of 1.7 doesn't have a decent modern arena. Could you image how much cheaper it would have been to build an arena 10-15 years ago then it is now? It's just about missing professional sports. You all miss major shows(Just look at the shows at the new UVA arena), NCAA events and conventions.

Nothing racial about, Military Circle is ghetto. Stores in their have been busted for selling bootleg products, and are fronts for drug dealers. I've had a friend pistol whipped and robbed there. The movie theater is nice though.

They probably cook the books. It's quite common practice in the state. Everybody overlooks that bogus 45% law.

Honestly, knowing how Norfolk State is run, this isn't a real surprise. The whole RISE program is a sham. Almost zero minority participation in this project, which is disgusting for a project like this. If you remember several years ago, the state audited them due to losing tens of millions of dollars and it came out numerous students were not being charged to go to school, and when they were made to pay, the student were actually angry they had pay.

Only person I could think of off the top of my head is Frank Batten. It ain't going to happen anyways. As every year passes, the cost of building a start of the art arena keeps on going up and up. The Scope is an embarrassment for this region, most if not all higher Division I universities have nicer arenas. The only professional sport that would have a chance here is the NBA, and I am not counting the NFL because they are not ever expanding to Norfolk.

Man, I wish we could blow up that parking lot next to Dominion Tower!

The state needs to force them to merge.

I can't see a new midtown tunnel without a lane dedicated to rail.

Sure some things could have been saved, but many people seem to forget how big a slum Downtown Norfolk was. It wasn't a Savannah or Charleston like some people try to make it out to be.

The city of Norfolk has just spent over 100 million dollars this year alone on a convention center, that nobody yet has explained a need for, a parking garage, and numerous tax give away subsidies, yet there is no money for arena? A complete and useless dump like the Scope being this region's largest arena is an embarrassment. Greenville, South Carolina has a new place for God sakes.