Urbanlooker

https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/08/31/a-new-passenger-rail-corridor-could-connect-hampton-roads-to-blacksburg-and-beyond/ This would be great for the state and the region. Hopefully it can be opened sooner rather than later.

I totally agree right now VB, Norfolk, and really every city in America needs to do such. There are on average about 4+ parking spots for every person in a city across the US. This is unsustainable, it's worked thus far because the room has been available. But cities are become more and more confined and having 1/3 of the city covered in parking lots and roads constrains them even more. Cities must invest in mass transit be it busses, rail, or otherwise (more preferably a mix) but it must be done well.

The VPA has reported a record breaking year for FY22, in part due to the supply chain break down that's been occurring. This led to cargo initially intended for the West Coast be diverted to the East. Touting the investments made over the last few years that helped to the 14.5% increase in cargo transported through the port. https://www.pilotonline.com/business/vp-nw-port-record-breaking-year-0714-20220714-ny5u2uidefbjhpxo6lmyynbrey-story.html The Port is and will continue to be a big economic engine for the region. Now it needs to be used to lure in the companies that can use it. Further growing the port and the region as a whole.

Norfolk saw the busiest June in it's history seeing 401,517 passengers, a 20.9% increase over June 2021. https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/norfolk-national-airport-sets-record-for-busiest-month-in-airports-history/

The whole of HR does not take advantage of having momentum with anything. It must be endlessly studied until the point of spending more money on the studies than it would have to just build it...

ORF posted on Facebook that frontier is expanding non-stop service to Orlando, Miami, and Denver. https://www.facebook.com/137907066283856/posts/7404012596339897/

So I know for a fact that planning encourages retail around all of downtown with new developments. However, I have also been told that some developers request not to place in any retail as well. IMO I think the city should require retail in all new developments in downtown/neon district. That being said, it needs to be different types there needs to be diversity in the retail, it needs to be for all ages and at all times. Downtowns should have anything from clubs and bars to museums and bookstores to trampoline parks and VR arcades to street side cafes and restaurants and everything in between.

Totally different and I like it a lot from this angle. The contrast between light and dark, the back drop of the water it's quite nice. Next up tear down that office tower forward on the left and replace it with something twice as tall and 100x as nice

Up next new Terminal with international flights. Or at least one can hope right?

Great news! Maybe we need to start work that third terminal? And definitely need to get a second runway somehow someway! Hopefully ORF can continue to expand and Breeze along with it possibly becoming a full on hub!

Construction timeline has been readjusted and the opening has been pushed back by a whole year to July 2024. The ground breaking is still set for this summer. With the gaming license expected to he approved this summer that also leaves 2 years with a license but no where to gamble. This leads them to thinking of setting up a "temporary casino" either in Harbor Park, tents, trailers, or other temporary structures. Although I should note that the Harbor Park option is the only one being considered at this time. This all came from the same Instagram as my post in the military circle development thread.

I suppose this is a start I wish they would have taken the extension to the airport though. It would've added a few more destinations along with a sizeable population increase that live near a station. That being said there's no way they build this extension until they know what is going at military circle right?

This is from nfk.va on Instagram looks to extend light rail by 2.2 miles and add 2 additional stops. Along with this extension they are saying an "extensive" BRT route to Norfolk Naval will be added and a possible route to Greenbrier.

A publix is going to bring a lot of people to the neighborhood just to check it out. Or more importantly the die hards will probably journey there regularly to shop and for subs.

I don't see anything wrong with that, as long as they are well connected and a few parks thrown in

I'm not really sure where to put this but here seems it may be appropriate. The City of Norfolk is allowing people to volunteer for over 50 boards and commissions. Just pick one, to include the architectural review board, here https://norfolkva.granicus.com/boards/w/1e48a2452d0878d9/boards/ and submit your application.

Unfortunately this area doesn't think like that... they, for some awful reason, believe every block is for 1 single tower/development.

A cool thing that I've seen in Europe is that some of their busses use their light rail tracks as lanes and even have some of the same stops. It's kind of confusing driving around them, but the BRT lanes could definitely make way for LRT in the future.

Yes they do. I really think their biggest hiccup is with the 2nd runway I feel if it had been approved and built they'd already be working on a new terminal. With the increased compacity who knows what could have happened by now ... 2nd runway + 3rd terminal × Europe fights = very happy and proud HR

According to their FB page ORF saw more than 116% increase in passenger traffic in November, making it the busiest November on record.

The Domain, Downtown/Rainey/UT, The Hills plus not to mention the suburbs around have some urban areas of their own. I loved Austin, before I moved to Europe I lived about 45 min north of it for 4 years. It would be really cool for HR to have something similar but the key is creating their own little identity and feel in each. Not to compete with each other but to compliment one another.

When did a 6 story building become classified as a high rise? A mid rise yeah sure, but a high rise I don't know about that.

Interesting opinion can you explain a few of these reasons?

Wow 25 ships from NCL, next year could be a game changer indeed for cruises in Norfolk!

So I'm currently living in Belgium and I just saw an ad on Facebook for VB. Thought I'd share it because it's cool that our area is being shown around the world. It says in French: "Virginia Beach is renowned for being home to a large population of dolphins. They are visible from the beach but a kayaking observation experience remains the most fun! A few paddle strokes in a kayak and they will come and play naturally with you."