195 replies to this topic

[vdogg]

ace707, on Jun 15 2005, 09:30 PM, said:

Yeah that was almost 3 years ago and I first heard it on  WVEC and that was the first and ONLY time I ever heard about it. All I can remember was that it was basically Va Beach's TC without tall buildings like the AH tower and Westin. Basically the amusement park and retail feel of TC without high-rises. Since then, I don't know if even the heads of Chesapeake remember talk about their own TC lol 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We'll call it TC-lite   .

[ace707]

vdogg, on Jun 15 2005, 06:50 PM, said:

Preliminary renderings should never be taken literally, only as a guideline. This project probably won't look anything like it's current configuration (though they'll most likely keep the traffic circle). Our best indication is when they release the rendering of the highrise that was proposed for the Holiday Inn site last night. Then we'll have a better feel for how this will play out.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah that is true. Compared to the original rendering of Va. Beach's TC, at this rate Va. Beach's TC will have a few less high-rises than planned. It's because of that, that currently I haven't taken this proposal seriously. I love the design and look of the rendering but I won't be surprised if some view it as far-fetched. Va. Beach's TC and Norfolk's Downtown make immediate favorable environments for a "6 high-rises" proposal than P-town. Nothing personal to P-town 'cause I travel through the Downtown tunnel and Berkley Bridge alot and love how Norfolk and P-town gives that huge metro feeling traveling that way, I just see too much work and need of changes before anything like that comes around. Additionally, it's a consultants proposal and no real projects 'cept for the Holiday Inn site. At least the Va. Beach rendering was created by its developers, Divaris and Armada Hoffler. I think P-town will really see 4 new high-rises than 6 but we'll see over the next 5-10 years.

[vdogg]

ace707, on Jun 15 2005, 09:42 PM, said:

I think P-town will really see 4 new high-rises than 6 but we'll see over the next 5-10 years.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

4 is a good number. That being said i think the project may have a better chance of seeing all it's particulars come true than TC ever did. You have to remember that the reason that TC was scaled so far back initially (I say initially because the components that were scaled back were simply moved to phase 4, which is currently in the planning stages) was due to 9/11. Office, hotel, and residential demand dropped sharply in the aftermath and the climate simply wasn't right for a lot of highrise residential and office towers. Contrast that with the environment that this project is entering into, high residential demand and the resurgence of business in Norfolk, and i'd say our chances are better than 50/50 that this vision will be seen through.

[urbanfan]

Lets not forget that these towers will be mostly for Norfolk business.  The market is for people to live there and hop on the ferry in the morning directly to work. No traffic. No tunnels. A little bit of daily exercise.  These projects will definately be going through, short of a catastrophe.  It won't be over night, but as business continues its growth dt so will portsmouths towers.  Also the towers shown on the plan would be built on property next to the pavilion, not over top of the downtown tunnel.  There is plenty of land for waterside towers there.

[urbanfan]

ace707, on Jun 15 2005, 09:42 PM, said:

Yeah that is true. Compared to the original rendering of Va. Beach's TC, at this rate Va. Beach's TC will have a few less high-rises than planned. It's because of that, that currently I haven't taken this proposal seriously. I love the design and look of the rendering but I won't be surprised if some view it as far-fetched. Va. Beach's TC and Norfolk's Downtown make immediate favorable environments for a "6 high-rises" proposal than P-town. Nothing personal to P-town 'cause I travel through the Downtown tunnel and Berkley Bridge alot and love how Norfolk and P-town gives that huge metro feeling traveling that way, I just see too much work and need of changes before anything like that comes around. Additionally, it's a consultants proposal and no real projects 'cept for the Holiday Inn site. At least the Va. Beach rendering was created by its developers, Divaris and Armada Hoffler. I think P-town will really see 4 new high-rises than 6 but we'll see over the next 5-10 years.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is the same consultant who did downtown hampton's vision, at that vision is already under way.  Some mixed use condo's are already started and under construction, every thing looks about the same as propesed. True things will look different because rendering are just that, artistic drawings.  Nothing ever looks as good in person than it does in drawings.  Also, in architecture, you will find that architects don't know how to stop designing.  A building that starts out will look completely different by the time it starts construction.

[urbanvb]

Walking to work from home in HR is only a dream for many of us. It would be great to do so. No driving means no traffic and much less stress in life. Not to mention being in the outdoors and being a part of nature for a few moments.

[rusthebuss]

With the addition of these buildings and Norfolk and Portsmouth combining would be awesome! I don't know if that will ever happen, but these developments  have to be some kind of boost for the city with these possible increase of tax revenue for the city that might get the dieing city a chance to get away from the red.

[sugoiben]

guynvb, on Jun 16 2005, 09:06 AM, said:

Walking to work from home in HR is only a dream for many of us. It would be great to do so. No driving means no traffic and much less stress in life. Not to mention being in the outdoors and being a part of nature for a few moments.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have this argument with a friend of mine all the time.  I agree with you.  
Being able to get around and do things on foot seems ideal to me.  My buddy
always disagrees with this sentiment though.  He likes his car.  He likes his
suburban residence.  He values all that green space and convinient surface parking that most proponents of density and walkable areas are out to rid us of.
Odd as it might seem to anyone here, suburbia is still a dream for many.
Probably for many more than nice urban dwelling is.

[PeninsulaKiddo]

Looking at the rendering (on the first page of this thread) it reminds me a lot of European cities.  The 5-6 story buildings around tree-lined boulevards with a traffic circle is very Paris/London-esque, minus the 300 years of history lol.  Nonetheless, the design is very pro-pedestrian and I rather like the 4 highrises shown in the picture.  My mind is already drawing pictures with the skylines lol  

[rusthebuss]

PeninsulaKiddo, on Jun 27 2005, 11:11 AM, said:

Looking at the rendering (on the first page of this thread) it reminds me a lot of European cities.  The 5-6 story buildings around tree-lined boulevards with a traffic circle is very Paris/London-esque, minus the 300 years of history lol.  Nonetheless, the design is very pro-pedestrian and I rather like the 4 highrises shown in the picture.  My mind is already drawing pictures with the skylines lol 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let's hope this proposal doesn't get shot down and we do have these high rises going up in Portsmouth. I hate when things are proposed and then shot down. Raises everyone's hopes up and then drops them.

[juancapitalcitydc]

sugoiben, on Jun 24 2005, 05:04 PM, said:

I have this argument with a friend of mine all the time.  I agree with you.  
Being able to get around and do things on foot seems ideal to me.  My buddy
always disagrees with this sentiment though.  He likes his car.  He likes his
suburban residence.  He values all that green space and convinient surface parking that most proponents of density and walkable areas are out to rid us of.
Odd as it might seem to anyone here, suburbia is still a dream for many.
Probably for many more than nice urban dwelling is.

You are right.

[rusthebuss]

My wife loves the suburbs. I had to compromise by moving to the northside of Norfolk. I refuse to move to VaBeach

[willy]

Have any of you seen the Inside Business paper for this week?

If you have you know that Portmouth is taking the proper steps to make the Urban Design Associates recommendations a reality. The city is asking developers to develop plans for three publicly owned parcels to help reach this goal. The plans recommend round-abouts to be added near the North Pier and create 240,000 sq. ft. of office and retail space, add 1,300 housing units and 3,500 parking spaces. They are offering grants and tax credits to the winning developers to help the process along. It's the same grants and tax credits that has help Norfolk spur devlopment in its CBD. Each parcel that is slated for development includes a mix of condos and town homes. On the North Pier parcel the city envisions a tower with condos complemented by office and retail and possibly a hotel. The two parcels facing city hall are zoned for mixed-use development and are eligible for special grants. The city would like to see a development that "sets a tone that creates the front door image for downtown Portsmouth. It also says that the city is open to a hotel and restaurant proposal, but the hotel must be a four-star hotel with a minimum of 250 rooms.

[willy]

If all goes as planned Portsmouth will look a lot different in the next 5-10 years. If Portsmouth sticks to its guns and follows through with all the recommendations there is no reason why Portmouth wouldn't see the same type of development Norfolk has.

[willy]

As you can see Portsmouth has soooo much potential.

[willy]

[urbanvb]

Willy those are great pics. Portsmouth does have a lot to offer but its public schools programs have many problem. The last round they lost grants for the only magnet school they have. It is public knowledge that Portsmouth teachers are not paid the standard in the area and they have been leaving for years heading over to Norfolk or Chesapeake. I really wish Portsmouth could somehow begin rebuilding a good teacher network. Since the city seems to be on a cusp of a mini boom I hope they can find a way to make some signifcant changes in the way the city has been budgeting its money.

[okinawatyphoon]

Thanks for all the pics willy! You're making me a believer in Portsmouth!

[willy]

Quote

Have any of you seen the Inside Business paper for this week?

If you have you know that Portmouth is taking the proper steps to make the Urban Design Associates recommendations a reality. The city is asking developers to develop plans for three publicly owned parcels to help reach this goal. The plans recommend round-abouts to be added near the North Pier and create 240,000 sq. ft. of office and retail space, add 1,300 housing units and 3,500 parking spaces. They are offering grants and tax credits to the winning developers to help the process along. It's the same grants and tax credits that has help Norfolk spur devlopment in its CBD. Each parcel that is slated for development includes a mix of condos and town homes. On the North Pier parcel the city envisions a tower with condos complemented by office and retail and possibly a hotel. The two parcels facing city hall are zoned for mixed-use development and are eligible for special grants. The city would like to see a development that "sets a tone that creates the front door image for downtown Portsmouth. It also says that the city is open to a hotel and restaurant proposal, but the hotel must be a four-star hotel with a minimum of 250 rooms.

Take a look, there are several pictures of what the city envisions. There is so much information in this file so please take a look!!!
Here's the bid for the developers

Edited by willy, 26 October 2005 - 07:07 AM.

[willy]

Oh my, here's another one take a *LOOK*