mistermetaj

Norfolk's issue is that it's the historic "urban" center of the area, but not the business center. The relationship between Virginia Beach and Norfolk is the single biggest detriment to the urban fabric of the area. In comparison to small cities like Raleigh, they are strategically located close to better colleges and research institutions, thus the ability to attract businesses that attract an abundance of young talent. The growth of the biomedical industry has greatly enhanced cities around Charlotte, buttressing the growth of their financial institutions. Virginia Beach is just starting to enter this space. Norfolk has not. As schools like ODU and CNU improve, more businesses should show up in the area. When it comes to homelessness, the west coast is especially unique. Living in NY, there is certainly plenty of homelessness (and give the population probably more than any individual city in the US). However, using San Francisco as the most analogous city, it's problems are much worse in both the concentration and aggression of the homeless. I've never experienced anything like it. Not surprised it would extend further north.

Nah, it has a historical concrete dome. Better to find another place for a new arena and convert scope into something else (imagine if it were possible to convert it into a train station). Could make the area now inviting and open to development by removing the large unused elevated space around the arena.

The idea that people on government paid for living get a voice in this entire redevelopment is infuriating. They may have a right to assistance but not the location. Really disappointed with Kenny Alexander. This is all political and not in the best interest of the growth of Norfolk.

Value engineering happens in every city. NY suffers from it tremendously on most projects, megatalls included.

St. Paul's quadrant will be nothing like Broad Creek. It might not have high rises, but it will be urban in design. That has been the plan the entire time.

It's a great idea to both centralize transit options and remove that hideous station from the NEON district.

Buddy is at it again. No renderings or plans yet, and should take a few years to develop. Said he wants to build from scratch and hasn't determined if it'll have office space or retail. Norfolk developer Gadams buys properties near Chrysler Museum for apartments and retail

According the the Virginia Pilot, the No vote was almost a mirror of a Trump vote. I fail to see anything else but race playing a factor, or at best, people not being educated on the fact that their taxes weren't coming back with a No vote. There was never an understanding of the long game for No voters. It's a shame because I do believe they want better jobs for themselves and their kids, but they have taken a large piece of the package off the table to attract big businesses. Mass transit and regionalism is fundamental. They blew both.

http://pilotonline.com/news/government/sessoms-light-rail-is-dead-for-now-votes-still-rolling/article_a36b8dd8-6f6e-5f1e-a101-5b354db544c8.html The mayor said light rail is dead for now. All the anti development, anti progress, bigots, and tea partiests got their way. Kerry Daugherty is probably throwing a party with John Moss. Next month they'll work to end the stadium deal so we can never build a better infrastructure, attract business and entertainment, and lose all of our young educated minds. I hope Norfolk doesn't give up their goal of rail expansion.

This building is as bad as it gets. Looks like a 1960s lodge. Norfolk needs to maintain a certain standard of design and this falls way too flat.

Website for the hotel and residences: http://www.cavalierhotel.com/residences-2/

If they want that area to be a year round experience, they should focus on putting an outlet mall there so people will shop. Not sure an outdoor space is going to generate interest in the winter.

I hope the city lands a grocery store. With all the new apartments being built, having a grocery store within walking distance is an excellent amenity.

The use of cheap materials really hurts a lot of projects in Norfolk, but at least we're replacing a large suburban office building and street parking.

I like the move to a more industrial look. It's adding a nice bit of character Norfolk was missing on the waterfront. It's a nod to the old piers that used to jut out from the city. Norfolk's version of a historic open market.

A bigger arena, a more reputable company for attracting clientel, and none of the work or risk associated with event income. If the city can afford the infrastructure, this is going to be a major catalyst for the region.

If maglev actually worked, I could swallow this decision. However, the cheap version being proposed to the VBCC is not tested on anything other than a straight track, doesnt move as fast as light rail, and failed once at ODU. This, like the Cordish proposal for Waterside, reeks of lobbying and bribery. This is not a prudent business decision by the city.

Virginia Beach is larger in both land and population, more affluent, and is the city the stadium is being proposed. It is also the most recognizable name in the metro area. A lack of urbanity does not remove it from the mantle as "main city" in the Hampton Roads region.

I think the city is more worried about who the Dollar Tree would attract downtown. Downtown has a hard enough time fixing it's image that a Dollar Tree store puts it on very shaky grounds, especially right on Granby St. which they desperately want to be an upscale street for shopping and dining.

Referring to Waterside as a "unique architectural landmark" is a stretch. It is hardly iconic and has a brother in Baltimore. That being said, if Cordish can add some brick and steel beams and invoke the industrial look of older seaports, I'm all for it. The convention center proposal seemed to sterilize the waterfront, and its loss is negligible since a convention center is planned for Bruce Thompson's hotel off Granby St. The high line proposal should be built by the city as public space. There are many cities outside of New York that have beautiful public "walkways" within the city that adds charm and serve as their own destination. In fact, there were slides in the HL proposal with pictures listing the cities. Norfolk would benefit from such a space if the city built it correctly. Ultimately, if Cordish executes their plan and revitalizes Waterside, this project will be a success. From the city's point of view, they already eliminated $1M of Waterside maintenance from the books and Cordish assumed all risk. My hopes are high for what Cordish can bring.

Agreeing with John Moss? Well, even a blind squirrel finds a nut. I'm surprised he wasn't upset it was financed by a Chinese construction company. A privately funded stadium is impossible to turn down in my opinion. I think this deal is done.

I wouldn't get too excited. There are store vacancies in Town Center which are most likely getting filled with retail or a restaurants. It would be a pleasant surprise if you are right though.

WM Jordan and especially Bruce Thompson are local developers with a lot of pull in the area. Thompson wants to build the convention center hotel and sees this as the catalyst for it. Due to the local influence on the project, and without relying on a major league team moving, I feel much more confident than ever before that this may actually go through. However, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, fool me three times... Lets hope we are not fooled again.

I mean, that woman just screams ignorance: 1. If parking were her only gripe, there would be FREE PARKING in all the city garages they would build. Every development in TC has replaces or increased the parking that was there originially. 2. "People don't want to go downtown, they want that hometown fee." Where the hell do people get that hometown feel in the Pembroke area? She's not the only cafe in a rural area. She's in a suburban strip mall surrounded by suburban strip malls. He comment made no sense. 3. Increased urban development would INCREASE here land value and probably make her very rich. 4. The zoning will only apply to property if the property owners choose to make changes. If her business is doing well and doesn't want to change, then nothing will. Why does the "news" have to end their reporting on a sour note with one citizen's opinion who sounds like she's never left the area in her life, rather than just report the news. Too many times, these opinions convince the naysayers they are in the majority and the city isn't representing the interest of the populous.

^^^^^THIS!