Virginia Beach Development

[zeppelin14]

Years ago in the 90s there used to be a bungee jump in the middle of the loop. I'm sure the same NIMBYs chased that away.

[HRVA]

Oceanfront fishing pier under contract

The buyer has not been identified but quite a few have stated they are not, including Bruce Thompson and Shamin. Sounds like a redevelopment in the works but at least a couple of years away. 

[Lluck002]

On 2/9/2022 at 9:28 AM, varider said:

Every comment on FB about Rudee Loop is fiercely opposed to any development. When the city is full of these attitudes, it’s no wonder we have such difficulty progressing. I’m not even against the park. It could be like South Pointe Park in South Beach— but it’s just almost a joke at this point how anti-development people can be , even when it’s public property not even in their backyard. Either way, this shouldn’t require a long, drawn-out public input process and years of debate. Put out the RFP, stipulate that the development have X amount of open space for the public and reserves public beach access, and move on.  IMO we are in desperate need of attractions and I always imagined Rudee Loop would be great for something unique and fresh and truly a signature property like the Cavalier complex has become for the North End. 

This is annoying. The loop parcel itself is zoned to allow maximum density and height so it can be developed by-right. That area could be the most lively, vibrant portion of the Oceanfront Resort but it’s just dead parking lots currently. Why do Virginia Beach residents think surface parking is the best use of land EVERYWHERE!?

[HRVA]

Ground up apartment development proposed by Marathon advanced through the Planning Commission. Site is the half-built sports complex on Baker Road. Pretty typical suburban apartment design but roughly 75% of the parking will be structured so it should have a dense look without the sea of parking. 
 Pilot Coverage

Planning Packet

[vdogg]

Nothing specific yet, but given name and location, probably a highrise. Location is currently a parking lot that fronts Atlantic.

 

[vdogg]

If it is another highrise that will be the third new tower within 3 blocks spanning 31st to 33rd street. Very transformational. I'm also liking the trend of keeping the towers on the west side of Atlantic and preserving the ocean views.

[HRVA]

1 hour ago, vdogg said:

If it is another highrise that will be the third new tower within 3 blocks spanning 31st to 33rd street. Very transformational. I'm also liking the trend of keeping the towers on the west side of Atlantic and preserving the ocean views.

If you hit the ‘View Additional Locations” link under the address, it also shows 3330 Pacific Avenue, which is an office building (the one in the background of you Streetview image). Looks like this project - same name on the rendering as the project description filed with the city. 

https://www.rbapc.com/projects/virginia-beach-mid-rise-renovations

 

Edited March 23, 2022 by HRVA

[vdogg]

46 minutes ago, HRVA said:

If you hit the ‘View Additional Locations” link under the address, it also shows 3330 Pacific Avenue, which is an office building (the one in the background of you Streetview image). Looks like this project - same name on the rendering as the project description filed with the city. 

https://www.rbapc.com/projects/virginia-beach-mid-rise-renovations

 

I'd honestly forgotten all about that one. I thought it was one of those trial balloon proposals that you'll see renderings for every time to time but aren't really destined for construction. Surprised this is a real thing. I like that they're going for the South Beach feel, but need to see a more polished rendering to pass judgement. There was another major project in the area in the same vein that had a very eclectic design. I wonder if that one's actually real too? 

Really wish they'd build something new on that parking lot though.

[Lluck002]

19 hours ago, vdogg said:

Nothing specific yet, but given name and location, probably a highrise. Location is currently a parking lot that fronts Atlantic.

 

Oh I know what this is going to be actually. We’ve seen the renderings and site plans submitted by the developer. The design team I’m on is requiring some changes though to add more ground-floor retail and some other improvements, but it is a residential mixed-use tower where that current old office building is and this low-rise parcel is associated with that development I believe. The renderings we have to the tower look a little more substantial than those in that link posted above though.

Edited March 24, 2022 by Lluck002

[vdogg]

2 hours ago, Lluck002 said:

Oh I know what this is going to be actually. We’ve seen the renderings and site plans submitted by the developer. The design team I’m on is requiring some changes though to add more ground-floor retail and some other improvements, but it is a residential mixed-use tower where that current old office building is and this low-rise parcel is associated with that development I believe. The renderings we have to the tower look a little more substantial than those in that link posted above though.

So, is it a renovation or are they going to demo and build new?

[Lluck002]

On 3/24/2022 at 4:34 PM, NFKjeff said:

The above link (provided by HRVA)  explains the mid-rise renovation. Apparently there is a high rise tower as a part of the same project which would be new construction.

The site plans we received at the Department of Planning & Community Development show a slightly taller tower on the site of the current old office building but it has a similar style as the rendering shown in that link. My guess is maybe they plan to renovate and expand the current building. Possibly add some floors? I reviewed it briefly a while ago in passing so I’ll have to check again. My colleague is working with the developer so I’ll ask him today to see what’s actually going on.

[baobabs727]

On 1/28/2022 at 9:15 AM, HRVA said:

It appears the Franklin Johnston Group has been selected as they have filed plans for “The Canopy.” Hopefully they step up their designs. I’m sure we’ll see some press on this once it gets closer to going before City Council. 

Link/Source?  I got nada!    EDIT: I replied to her that, in my FOIA Request, I had specifically requested that the Dept of Econ Dev receive and review my request, as well, since they put out the RFP and were the ones to whom the RFP responses were to be delivered. Appears by her response that they did not receive/review my FOIA request. Weird.  

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  RE: Freedom of Information Request, Reference # F012085-032322.

 

Request Type: FOIA Records Request   Reference No: F012085-032322 Status:                 No Records Exist     Type of Record(s) Requested: Email and Correspondence Other   Departments: City Clerk/City Council City Manager's Office Economic Development Planning/Zoning From 1/1/2021 to To 3/23/2022 Describe the Record(s) Requested: RE: RFP #ED-21-01, Laskin Rd. Annex:---Please forward any and all contents of the winning/selected RFP respondent's/applicant's/developer's development proposal for RFP #ED-21-01, Laskin Rd. Annex., to include development renderings, elevations, site plans, emails, written correspondence, etc. Please also forward the same for all of the other unsuccessful/not selected RFP respondent's/applicants/developers, if any exist, for RFP #ED-21-01, Laskin Rd. Annex.  Thank you.

Dear David:

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information Request received on 3/23/2022.

Your request was forwarded to Planning and Community Development, Finance, and Public Works.  Nicole Dearborn, Shannon Hughes, Veronica Cromartie, Joshua Davis, and Robyn Griffin with Public Works, Pamela Sandloop with Planning, and Jon Tigert with Purchasing advised that they were unable to locate records responsive to your request; does not exist. 

If you have any questions concerning this response, please feel free to contact my office at (757) 385-4052.

Sincerely,

Melena Johnson
Freedom of Information Specialist

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by baobabs727

[HRVA]

1 hour ago, baobabs727 said:

Link/Source?  I got nada!    EDIT: I replied to her that, in my FOIA Request, I had specifically requested that the Dept of Econ Dev receive and review my request, as well, since they put out the RFP and were the ones to whom the RFP responses were to be delivered. Appears by her response that they did not receive/review my FOIA request. Weird.  

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  RE: Freedom of Information Request, Reference # F012085-032322.

 

Request Type: FOIA Records Request   Reference No: F012085-032322 Status:                 No Records Exist     Type of Record(s) Requested: Email and Correspondence Other   Departments: City Clerk/City Council City Manager's Office Economic Development Planning/Zoning From 1/1/2021 to To 3/23/2022 Describe the Record(s) Requested: RE: RFP #ED-21-01, Laskin Rd. Annex:---Please forward any and all contents of the winning/selected RFP respondent's/applicant's/developer's development proposal for RFP #ED-21-01, Laskin Rd. Annex., to include development renderings, elevations, site plans, emails, written correspondence, etc. Please also forward the same for all of the other unsuccessful/not selected RFP respondent's/applicants/developers, if any exist, for RFP #ED-21-01, Laskin Rd. Annex.  Thank you.

Dear David:

I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information Request received on 3/23/2022.

Your request was forwarded to Planning and Community Development, Finance, and Public Works.  Nicole Dearborn, Shannon Hughes, Veronica Cromartie, Joshua Davis, and Robyn Griffin with Public Works, Pamela Sandloop with Planning, and Jon Tigert with Purchasing advised that they were unable to locate records responsive to your request; does not exist. 

If you have any questions concerning this response, please feel free to contact my office at (757) 385-4052.

Sincerely,

Melena Johnson
Freedom of Information Specialist

 

The record number is 2022-DSC-014931. I don’t think they’re officially selected but Franklin Johnston is listed as the developer. It may fall under an exemption to FOIA if it’s still under negotiation. 

[baobabs727]

Thanks, I will update my correspondence with the FOIA center with that info.  She had already replied that she neglected/forgot to get it over to Econ. Dev. and would do so today.   

By the way, if there is an exemption, they would say so.  They did not. So,  I agree with VDOGG, this FOIA process is not as easy nor as transparent as one would hope, for this is the second such request (2/2) where I've been either fully or partially stymied when we have other, outside sources telling us that the information exists.

Edited April 1, 2022 by baobabs727

[Qdeathstar]

Not sure where is the best place to post this but apparently Something In The Water is going to DC.  Of course it is. And let’s be clear. It has zero to do with “toxic culture” and all to do with $$$.

 

Ride a *** Farrell.

[baobabs727]

 

From www2.constructionjournal.com  

 

Reported: 5/3/2022
	Project Title		bank of America Redevelopment
	Project Type		New Construction
	Physical Address		Laskin Road & Pacific Avenue  Map
	City, State (County)		Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (Norfolk City, Virginia Beach City Counties)
	Category(s)		Commercial, Residential
	Sub-Category(s)		Apartments/Condominiums, Food/Beverage Service, Hotel/Motel
	Contracting Method		Bids by Invitation.
	Project Status		Conceptual Design

Owner Myoung Kim      Analysis

Details

Hotel/Motel, New Construction, Apartments/Condominiums, New Construction, Food/Beverage Service, New Construction.   More on this future Development...1 Acre assemblage   https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-plans-big-dreams-virginia-160200658.html

Edited May 27, 2022 by baobabs727

[urbanlife]

On 5/27/2022 at 10:51 AM, baobabs727 said:

 

From www2.constructionjournal.com  

 

Reported: 5/3/2022
	Project Title		bank of America Redevelopment
	Project Type		New Construction
	Physical Address		Laskin Road & Pacific Avenue  Map
	City, State (County)		Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (Norfolk City, Virginia Beach City Counties)
	Category(s)		Commercial, Residential
	Sub-Category(s)		Apartments/Condominiums, Food/Beverage Service, Hotel/Motel
	Contracting Method		Bids by Invitation.
	Project Status		Conceptual Design

Owner Myoung Kim      Analysis

Details

Hotel/Motel, New Construction, Apartments/Condominiums, New Construction, Food/Beverage Service, New Construction.   More on this future Development...1 Acre assemblage   https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-plans-big-dreams-virginia-160200658.html

I like the direction that area of the beach is headed, it will be amazing to see it be fully built up as an urban district along the oceanfront.

[Lluck002]

On 5/27/2022 at 1:51 PM, baobabs727 said:

 

From www2.constructionjournal.com  

 

Reported: 5/3/2022
	Project Title		bank of America Redevelopment
	Project Type		New Construction
	Physical Address		Laskin Road & Pacific Avenue  Map
	City, State (County)		Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (Norfolk City, Virginia Beach City Counties)
	Category(s)		Commercial, Residential
	Sub-Category(s)		Apartments/Condominiums, Food/Beverage Service, Hotel/Motel
	Contracting Method		Bids by Invitation.
	Project Status		Conceptual Design

Owner Myoung Kim      Analysis

Details

Hotel/Motel, New Construction, Apartments/Condominiums, New Construction, Food/Beverage Service, New Construction.   More on this future Development...1 Acre assemblage   https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-plans-big-dreams-virginia-160200658.html

I hope they go through with the two towers on these sites. When the developers approached me to create some precedent designs for what would be permitted on the parcels by Form-Based Code, I came up with this design. They expressed wanting to maximize their return on investment with a hotel tower on the gas station site and a residential tower on the bank site. 

However, we recently got a submittal from the current owner of the gas station site for a single-story strip retail development. Then a revision adding one story for a total of two since Form-Based Code doesn’t allow new single-story buildings along Atlantic. I of course was really disheartened when I saw those plans come in, but I’m hopeful that there will be a more ambitious submittal soon.
 

[baobabs727]

9 hours ago, Lluck002 said:

I hope they go through with the two towers on these sites. When the developers approached me to create some precedent designs for what would be permitted on the parcels by Form-Based Code, I came up with this design. They expressed wanting to maximize their return on investment with a hotel tower on the gas station site and a residential tower on the bank site. 

However, we recently got a submittal from the current owner of the gas station site for a single-story strip retail development. Then a revision adding one story for a total of two since Form-Based Code doesn’t allow new single-story buildings along Atlantic. I of course was really disheartened when I saw those plans come in, but I’m hopeful that there will be a more ambitious submittal soon.
 

Love your idea.  I'm in shock that the owner has presented such an underwhelming proposal, especially given what he and his son said in the news article I linked.  I think he's got about 5M invested in the assemblage there,  so I don't understand why he would ever even consider a single-story building there. That doesn't bode well for a decent ROI, and certainly doesn't represent the best and highest use there.  What a waste of a once-in-a-half-century opportunity. 

Edited June 1, 2022 by baobabs727

[vdogg]

On 6/1/2022 at 3:57 AM, Lluck002 said:

I hope they go through with the two towers on these sites. When the developers approached me to create some precedent designs for what would be permitted on the parcels by Form-Based Code, I came up with this design. They expressed wanting to maximize their return on investment with a hotel tower on the gas station site and a residential tower on the bank site. 

However, we recently got a submittal from the current owner of the gas station site for a single-story strip retail development. Then a revision adding one story for a total of two since Form-Based Code doesn’t allow new single-story buildings along Atlantic. I of course was really disheartened when I saw those plans come in, but I’m hopeful that there will be a more ambitious submittal soon.
 

All that $_&-+ they talked in that interview and they came up with a one story strip mall? On the highest valued property on Atlantic? I am absolutely dumbfounded by this decision...no words. It's like they're trying to give Michael Sifen a run for his money... 

[BFG]

Council shouldn’t even entertain the strip mall. I know money is money but that’s a waste of land, esp. on that stretch of Atlantic. They would be crazy to approve that idea. 

[baobabs727]

On 6/1/2022 at 3:57 AM, Lluck002 said:

I hope they go through with the two towers on these sites. When the developers approached me to create some precedent designs for what would be permitted on the parcels by Form-Based Code, I came up with this design. They expressed wanting to maximize their return on investment with a hotel tower on the gas station site and a residential tower on the bank site. 

However, we recently got a submittal from the current owner of the gas station site for a single-story strip retail development. Then a revision adding one story for a total of two since Form-Based Code doesn’t allow new single-story buildings along Atlantic. I of course was really disheartened when I saw those plans come in, but I’m hopeful that there will be a more ambitious submittal soon.
 

I wrote to reporter, Stacy Parker. She's the one who interviewed the property owner, Mr.  Kim, for  The Virginian Pilot article.  She says that he told her that he might have to build a one-level retail strip if he wasn't successful (soon) in attracting a development partner. Hmm. 

IMHO, with parcels as rare and as valuable  as these, it is not uncommon to have to wait years (like 10+) before the right development/developer comes along. Obviously, something's burning a hole in Mr. Kim's pocket, and so perhaps he cannot wait--at all!  That's why assemblages of this value and import are best put together and developed by experienced, deep-pocketed individuals. Wishing him luck, but the emotional impact of both his rags-to-riches, aspirational story and the burning excitement that only pure, unadulterated, dynamic verticality can bring to my life, have now fizzed into the ether. 

 

Edited June 2, 2022 by baobabs727

[Lluck002]

17 hours ago, BFG said:

Council shouldn’t even entertain the strip mall. I know money is money but that’s a waste of land, esp. on that stretch of Atlantic. They would be crazy to approve that idea. 

Well it wouldn’t need to go through City Council if what he proposes is allowed by-right in the Oceanfront Resort Form-Based Code. It would come to us at the Department of Planning & Community Development and would move forward with only our Approval. 

Unfortunately we have the responsibility to issue Approval of anything allowed by-right even if it isn’t the most innovative or exciting proposal, or the best use of land.

Of course, what is allowed by-right can always be changed, but that is a huge to-do and the Zoning Ordinance Amendments would have to go through Council after months or years of public input and debate. 

[varider]

I wouldn’t be shocked if the one story strip was built, but I would be hugely disappointed. Either way, empty surface lots at the Oceanfront are an eyesore and I wish they’d at least put a fence around the property and say “future development coming soon” so it at least appears we are making progress around here. With all new apartments on Laskin and even more proposed, I always imagined this would be the “game-changer’ parcel for the Resort. It should be large-scale mixed use with apartments/ short term rental/ hotel/ retail, maybe with a food hall concept or something. 

By the way, whats up with Atlantic park?? It’s already June now.

[vdogg]

On 6/1/2022 at 3:57 AM, Lluck002 said:

I hope they go through with the two towers on these sites. When the developers approached me to create some precedent designs for what would be permitted on the parcels by Form-Based Code, I came up with this design. They expressed wanting to maximize their return on investment with a hotel tower on the gas station site and a residential tower on the bank site. 

However, we recently got a submittal from the current owner of the gas station site for a single-story strip retail development. Then a revision adding one story for a total of two since Form-Based Code doesn’t allow new single-story buildings along Atlantic. I of course was really disheartened when I saw those plans come in, but I’m hopeful that there will be a more ambitious submittal soon.
 

Annnddd...The plot thickens. I don't know what this guy wants, and apparently, he doesn't know either. 

https://www.pilotonline.com/news/transportation/vp-nw-parking-lots-0604-20220605-zwxcihbsfrhpdoufo4ntufbolq-story.html