13 replies to this topic

[urbanvb]

What happened to ... Portsmouth's Victory Crossing plans?

The first phase of construction should be completed by 2010, although occupants
should be moving in by fall 2009. All five phases of the $350 million project are scheduled
to be finished by 2018.

[vdogg]

I never realized this project was that big! I would have made a thread for this long ago. I absolutely love the urban feel of this thing.

[erdogs]

I'm happy to finally see this thing get moving. I spent a lot of my youth in that neighborhood, but it needed to go. It's time for P-town to grow up and show its potential. I'm amazed this land has stayed empty this long with such a great location.

[urbanvb]

this is a 2nd in a series of 5 stalled projects around the area so it should be interesting to see what they have to say -  especially in our much belated CityWalk/The Landing project.

[okinawatyphoon]

Hmm, that doesn't look like 388 Boush at all!  

[scm]

erdogs, on Aug 15 2007, 08:04 AM, said:

I'm happy to finally see this thing get moving. I spent a lot of my youth in that neighborhood, but it needed to go. It's time for P-town to grow up and show its potential. I'm amazed this land has stayed empty this long with such a great location.

If you haven't been to Bide-A-Wee in some time, it is fantastic on two levels -- first, the course is astonishing for a muni.  Better than Greenbriar, which is private.  Second, the land cleared just north of there , will be an first class development in NewPort phase II (see link).  Mature trees, close to the golf course.

[mistermetaj]

okinawatyphoon, on Aug 15 2007, 09:34 AM, said:

Hmm, that doesn't look like 388 Boush at all!  

Is that even a parking garage it's being built around?  It looks like they took the exact rendering and just took off the curved part at the end.

[occasio]

mistermetaj, on Aug 15 2007, 10:12 PM, said:

Is that even a parking garage it's being built around? It looks like they took the exact rendering and just took off the curved part at the end.

I purchased a house out there last winter after seeing some of the future plans.  The value is jumping like crazy too.  Its sad though that alot of the houses are for sale b/c the people can't afford the new property values.  I'm hoping to get an offer from a developer looking to build a golf community.

[vdogg]

15-story hotel proposed for victory crossing

I have serious misgivings about this. She's asking for money the city simply doesn't have. Victory Crossing is developing well enough on its own, I don't think we need to start tossing developer welfare at this one. I'd rather concentrate our efforts on more solid upcoming projects like the lincoln property mixed use development and the proposed north pier tower. Seems like there is a bit of a conflict of interest here as well.

[Padman]

Looks like the Portsmouth City Council might be careful about this.  It also looks like we're now in a bit of a hotel bubble.

[vdogg]

Please don't say "bubble". You may arouse the ire of you know who.

[spiker3]

vdogg, on Dec 22 2007, 08:04 AM, said:

15-story hotel proposed for victory crossing

I have serious misgivings about this. She's asking for money the city simply doesn't have. Victory Crossing is developing well enough on its own, I don't think we need to start tossing developer welfare at this one. I'd rather concentrate our efforts on more solid upcoming projects like the lincoln property mixed use development and the proposed north pier tower. Seems like there is a bit of a conflict of interest here as well.

I felt the same way at reading the article.  As much as i'm for development as a now Portsmouth resident, this just seems like a ridiculous sum of money in comparison to what they would receive.  Additionally, Lucas' comments are poorly chosen and she comes off very bad in the article, comments like “This isn’t about me,” said Lucas, who will lead the Senate’s local government committee next year. “This is about how the City Council is going to deal with 600 citizens in this community.”  That's just a boorish comment and has nothing to do with the council's decision.  Especially with Portsmouth needed the new courthouse and some other projects much more than this.  And why a convention center?  To compete with Norfolk and Virginia Beach?  To sit empty?  And additionally, why build it off Victory Blvd, miles from Olde Towne and downtown where a convention center would be more convienent and useful.  The hotel portion of this project makes it palatable, but not for nearly $14 million.  This project should and more than likely will fall by the wayside.

[Telmnstr]

vdogg, on Dec 22 2007, 10:47 AM, said:

Please don't say "bubble". You may arouse the ire of you know who.

I heard my name!@#?!@# Did someone call!?! Kidding! Man the new Pilot site pains me.

As far as Hotels go. I can understand the ocean front, but I can't quite understand all of the hotels near Greenbriar. Most of the people I know that ended up there did so by accidents. They didn't realize the layout of the region and the intarweb led them to those.

As far as Portsmouth, the newish hotel on the waterfront is kind of nice.

[vdogg]

Politics cloud merit on Lucas Center

Quote

In the late '90s, Portsmouth citizens readily consented to a big public investment in the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center because they were so tired of taking their civic and social events to Norfolk and Chesapeake.

To accommodate those celebrations, the ballroom at the Renaissance was super-sized to seat up to 900, much more than would be justified for a small hotel.

Now, less than a decade later, and with the city still paying off the Renaissance mortgage, the same argument is being replayed to justify another taxpayer-backed hotel and conference center in Portsmouth. It could host events and corporate meetings twice as big as the Renaissance.